Last (for now) 9mm question

[45Badger]

What crimp do you guys use on 115gr, fmj, 9mm rounds? Thanks!

 

[D. Manley]

.376/.377 depending on brass. About .377 +/- should be fine.

 

[glockgod]

Taper crimp because the 9mm headspaces on the case mouth(rimless design).

 

[rfwobbly]

I increase the taper crimp until the finished round will drop fully and completely into a 9mm cartridge gauge using only its own weight. Then I stop.

 

[armoredman]

Lee FCD, 'till smooth feed.

 

[evan price]

.378

 

[The Bushmaster]

Remove the bell and just a tad more...

 

[Walkalong]

The Bushmaster is right........

 

[NC-Mike]

I have 15 9mm loads in my garage. They are my first reloads and I'll shoot them today to see how it goes.

I measured factory ammo and got .378 at the roll crimp. I think I went a tad heavy on mine. Most are around .376 and one is .375.

I had it right at one point but I thought the die wasn't doing or working enough so I gave her a little more crimp.

I'm going to shoot for "less is more" on the next batch.

 

[Cloudpeak]

Mike, The "crimp" isn't like a crimp you'd use on a revolver or rifle on the 9mm pistol round (or any other pistol round that headspaces on the case mouth.) It simply removes the case mouth bell so the round will chamber. In fact, if you crimp too much, you can loosen the tension on the bullet. The tension on the bullet is controlled by the sizing die and expander plug.

To avoid bullet setback, I load up some dummy rounds and chamber them multiple times after getting a caliper measurement on the overall length. When I had a setback problem after 6 or 7 chamberings, I slightly reduced the diameter of the expander plug (chucked in a drill press and polished the diameter down just a bit using red and/or gray ScotchBrite) until there were no more setback problems.

Cloudpeak

 

[NC-Mike]

To avoid bullet setback, I load up some dummy rounds and chamber them multiple times after getting a caliper measurement on the overall length. When I had a setback problem after 6 or 7 chamberings, I slightly reduced the diameter of the expander plug (chucked in a drill press and polished the diameter down just a bit using red and/or gray ScotchBrite) until there were no more setback problems.

Cloudpeak

This is way above my pay-grade, interest, desire, whatever you call it...


Seriously, I understand now. I just thought I wasn't doing anything so I cranked in some more crimp.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Mike...In most cases, especially on .40, 9mm X 19 and .45 ACP a crimp to remove the bell is all that is needed. I have had very little problems with bullet setback to the point that I really don't worry about it. If you do, then just crimp these above rounds just a very little bit more then just removing the bell.

If you will note most of the cases with the bullet seated show a ring or slight bulge where the bullet is in the case. Set back is or will be negligible unless you insist on racking the same round in and out of your chamber.

I carry my own (Wait for it...Here it comes) reloads in my CCW weapon and rarely unload it. When I do I visually inspect each cartridge and if I suspect setback I break out my calipers and measure. I rarely see it in my reloads.

 

[JDGray]

I carry my own (Wait for it...Here it comes)

Man, a good lawyer would.......

I carry my own reloads, too

 

[TooTaxed]

Keep it simple...use a Lee Factory Crimp Die, which also ensures that the completed cartridge meets specs.

 

[The Bushmaster]

If you buy a Lee FCD for the post resizing you need to look at your reloading procedures...Yer doin' something wrong...Excellent crimping die though...

 

[45Badger]

Thanks folks. I used Dillon dies ina 550. I was just checking for crimp because I kind of crushed the first couple dummy rounds I made. Fgured it would be easier to ask rather than destroy a few more.