Getting ready for my first reload... primers question

[gifbohane]

Use the dimension of the un-belled . (Usually 0.377 to 0.379" with 9mm Luger.)

All the best.

Wobbly- I am fairly certain that the un-belled dimension of my re-sized 9mm cases at the top are .373. I am going to check that this afternoon when I am working on my brass.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Great JOB! we all remember our 1st first.

My 1st was 7mm STW, brass was impossible to find, but I did find 8mm RemMag brass, And it’s the parent case. Well after stuffing it with 80g of powder and 165-ish A-Tip. Slide it into my Ruger #1 and So Nervous.... BOOM! it worked.

Don’t forget the Macarena!!

 

[film495]

at 12 yards that about all the practical accuracy you really need, and your loads performed as well as factory it appears, so - yea - well done for a first set of hand loads.

the bulge you have there I've only seen on a few 32 acp rounds I did a while back. some of them would plunk in and out fine, and some I could not visually see the bulge at all until I did the marker test, and there it was. I've wondered if a tiny bit of mica or some dry lube would prevent that bulge when seating, but I've not experimented with it. I did find one type of brass would do that more than the others, figured it was just thinner brass - and I worked around it by just being real slow and easy with the press arm. Think it is also something that can come from too much neck tension, but also - have not really had enough experience to figure out how it works exactly, but measure the case diameter before and after seating, and the differnence I think should be between .002 - .003, any more and you'll get bulges, any less and you're risking the bullet not being press fit well enoug and it could adjust itself.

 

[rfwobbly]

Wobbly- I am fairly certain that the un-belled dimension of my re-sized 9mm cases at the top are .373". I am going to check that this afternoon when I am working on my brass.

"Use the dimension of the un-belled cartridge as your guide." Cartridge meaning case + seated bullet.

If the bullet is 0.356" diameter, then for the assembled cartridge to be 0.373", then the case walls would need to be (0.373 minus 0.356)/2, or 0.0035". In other words, thinner than standard copy paper.

I'm not doubting you, just saying that the numbers don't seem to make sense.

 

[gifbohane]

Wobbly

I was measuring the case only.. and yes it is .373. Will take a look at my measurement of Cart + seated bullet.

I am sure that you are correct.

 

[BOISE BADWOLF]

Many, many, MANY thanks to all of you who took the time and patiently provided such helpful pointers, advice and other suggestions. You helped making my first reloading venture safer and more self-assured!
My first 10 home-made rounds seem to have been a success . For a (rough) comparison I used two targets at 12 yards. The image below is pretty much self explanatory.
Looks like I'm an equally-bad shot whether it's commercial or home-made ammo. The reloading was as good as it could be; shooting on the other hand - not so...

View attachment 984463
One thing I was a bit concerned with after the reloading was how the case looked where the bullet is seated (see image below). It looks a bit bulged, but I could not feel it. The neck size (tension?) was at 0.376", and OAL 1.156". The "plunk & spin" test looked and felt good. I did use Lee's 4-dies carbide set. Was crimping incorrect here?

View attachment 984446

Anyhow, it was an incredible day of first reload and testing; the fact that I came home with all appendages intact was definitely a bonus !
(and yes - I DID do the Macarena upon my return )

Cheers, Zevi

That bulge is fine. Often factory loads look that way. Pass plunk test? ...its fine