Hi all! Need Reloading equipment expertise...

[O_Blade_O]

Hi there,
I'm a new member here and after some lurking around I've decided to join in for some questions... i know i'm a rookie but all of us are sometime, so please be patient
I have a new 9x21mm handgun, and due to the price of ammunition and need of practice, i've decided to get into economy reloading. Economy in the way of using more time instead of more money to obtain my ammo.
I live in Italy and so things maybe a little different. But as far as I can tell, the main differences are for numbers and quantities allowed, other things i can find here and we have almost anything you have in the US.
Another thing, i've already done some reloading thanks to a friend of mine that reloads and is teaching me the first things to do.



So, let's go for the asking... i'd like to state that I'm not on a budget but don't want what i don't need. Just the essential.. thanks.
I have a RCBS Partner Press like new, (I traded it from a reloader for a case of shotshells ) but i don't have the Dies.

So first of all i'm needing the Dies and Shellholder. My dealer has the Lee's die set but i'd like to take a RCBS set, AFAIK, Lee should be the "cheap" brand of the pack, but i like your opinions.
On the dies... i saw with my first reloads that the round came a little "tapered" compared to the commercial ones, here's a picture:

The center round is a factory one [Magtech]. Is that any good? I've read that there are Taper and Roll crimp dies... i guess that i've used a Tapered one... is that the result?
Thanks.

Another thing is the Scale. I'd like an Electronic one, mains feeded (no batteries), easy to use no overkill for my application... here i'm blind. Any advice is welcomed!

Any other thing that come in your mind for the essentials...

Many, many thanks to all, sorry for my eventual bad english and all my questions, i'm relying on you to have advice for my to-buy list!

 

[oneounceload]

Press, dies, balance beam scale, powder thrower, components (powder, primers, bullets, cases), calipers, kinetic bullet puller would be on my minimum starter list for things you need.

 

[skipsan]

I use a Dillon digital scale--a little expensive, but very stable and repeatable when used with AC power adapter. A little unstable on batteries.

I would add a case gage to the equipment list. Cheap quality control.

 

[loadedround]

Several suggestions, first get a good set of pistol dies, but make sure they are CARBIDE dies. Carbide pistol dies do not require your cases to be lubed before sizing. Secondly, buy a decent electronic balance and plan to spend over 100.00+ for it. The 25.00 ones sold on the internet are POS...RCBS, Lyman and PACT make decent balances. Third, buy a quality powder measure, again RCBS or Lyman. Most of my dies are Redding dies, which are the highest quality dies made in my opinion, but RCBS, Lyman, and Hornady make decent dies also. I am not a fan of Lee dies, but they are cheap and adequate. 9mm cases are taper crimped and can be done with your seating die once it's adjusted properly. You do not need a 4th die to taper crimp unless you want to create an extra reloading step. Hope this info is helpful.

 

[mongoose33]

+1 on the Dillon D-Terminator digital scale. Pricey, yes, but worth it. I'm amazed at how well it works, how it settles quickly on a weight, and it's a nice form-factor.

 

[Ol` Joe]

You might want to e-mail Dillon or whom ever digital scales you are considering. The power supply here is 120 60hz not the same as your 220 50hz. You will need either an adaptor or and scale made for your electrical.

 

[hydraulicman]

those rounds in the picture on the left and right look just like my 9*19 (9MM) reloads. and yes you want to use a taper crimp

 

[The Bushmaster]

"and yes you want to use a taper crimp." But not as much as indicated by your two outside cartridges. All you want to do is remove the bell and no more.

If you can find one. an RCBS digital electronic scale with a wall plugin power supply will do good. Not sure what your voltage is in Italy, but... I've been using a RCBS Powder Pro for the last 22 years without failure...

If you read the "Sticky" above it will give you a better idea of what you need. Also a Lyman's 49th Edition Load data manual is another good loading bench item.

Calipers are a necessity, but they don't need to be the expensive ones.

Welcome to THR...

 

[O_Blade_O]

Well,
thanks for everyone for the replies. That's what i was looking for
The problem that baffles me is that "heavy" taper.

I remember when i reloaded these rounds, i used the last die (seater?) without the seater plug until it was hard by hand, then i lowered the press, did another turn in on the die, blocked in that position and then crimped them all.

So, was me that I've put the die too low or was the die itself that does this heavy taper?
The die was a RCBS non carbide.

For the scales there's no problem, every maker has the 220V version or the adapter. If not, how could they sell outside US?

As for now, i've decided to take these:

RCBS 3dies set 9mm carbide
RCBS #16 shellholder
RCBS Rangemaster 750

Other things are available at my dealer (funnel, bullet puller, spoons, etc)

 

[dmazur]

Even if you have a combination seater/crimper die, I believe the idea is to "sneak up on" the crimp by gradually adjusting the die until you have just removed the "belling" of the mouth.

9mm, .45ACP and many other pistol calibers theoretically headspace on the case mouth, and you can cause various problems if you bury the case mouth in the bullet.

Many who reload these calibers (cartridges, to be correct) use a separate taper crimp die that isn't as fussy to adjust.

 

[Walkalong]

So, was me that I've put the die too low or was the die itself that does this heavy taper?

Die was too low. It just takes a little bit of a turn to make a difference in crimp, once you get it close.

The bottlenecked look (more narrow in the middle vs factory round) is because your sizer is tighter than needed and sizing a bit more than needed, but it won't hurt a thing. Better a little more than needed than not enough.

Lee is the cheapest way out for dies. RCBS is one of the best values. They make very good stuff.

I like beam scales, but there are many happy digital scales users out there, like my buddy The Bushmaster. Hard to argue with RCBS equipment.

 

[The Bushmaster]

But, O Blade O...You should have a balance beam scale too. I would recommend the RCBS 5-0-5. This will back up your digital.

And remember. The electronic scale will need about 10 to 15 minutes to warm up before you calibrate it.

 

[oneounceload]

Irecommended the balance beam scale - I have the old RCBS 5-10. Having had electronic ones, even with incorporated powder dispensers, I went back to my old reliable manual balance beam. It works without fail

 

[O_Blade_O]

I know about warm up time. I've used a Lyman 1200 that is scale and dispenser, had to wait 30 minutes but in the meantime i decapped and did other things, so it's not that issue.

The beam scale... i was thinking about it but; I have a strange feeling about them, in the sense that i don't think they are wrong but i want to eliminate any error because of me, in other words - a digital measure written is that, if the scale serves right.
That's why i'm putting money on the scale.

 

[The Bushmaster]

What I'm saying is you should have both...I do and the 5-0-5 comes in handy every once in a while...Though the Powder Pro is used 95% of the time...

 

[O_Blade_O]

Oh ok i'll consider if i get a bargain... there are some that are leftovers when the old time reloaders buy their electronics... maybe i can check for one.

Another advice, please.

What type of powder/bullet should i look for? I'm interested in Vithavuori and plan to do some sport shooting... so 124 grain round nosed?

Any advice welcome there

 

[Walkalong]

N340, 3N37 for performance, N320, N330 for more leisurely loads in 9 X 21.

 

[Walkalong]

This might help. Vihtavuori 1995 2nd Edition Reloading Manual

You may have to open it and resize to 100% to read it.

 

[O_Blade_O]

Thanks for the info about reloading!
That is very nice for you however today is very easy to find reloading manuals, on the internet every manifacturer put their recipes
By the way nice literature about the 9x21, perfectly describes how dumb our laws are
For example the .50BMG is outlawed here, but rumors says that they are doing something like the 9x19 -9x21 roundabout to get the 12,7 mm caliber

Shuush...