Long time reloader new to 9 mm Parabellum

[hdwhit]

I have been reloading for roughly 40 years. I have reloaded 30 Carbine, 223 Remington, 25 ACP, 30 Special and 45 ACP, but never 9 mm Parabellum.

I was recently given a bunch of once-fired 9 mm brass so I figured why not start reloading it? I separated the brass by head stamps with Winchester, Remington, Blazer, Federal and PPU predominating. The brass stored in 50 round plastic containers each containing the same head stamp.

Following longstanding practice, I measure the case length, mouth diameter and web diameter using a micrometer set to SAAMI maximum dimensions. Any case that does not pass those measurements is discarded. Thus, I know I don't have any seriously out-of-spec brass in my reloading stream.

I still use a 1977 vintage RCBS Reloader Special press WITHOUT compound leverage. I use a Lee carbide sizer die set up in accord with the instructions included with the die set.

My question is this; as I go through a container of brass and resize it, most of the brass goes into the die easily, but five, maybe seven cases from each box I really have to struggle to resize. This happens regardless of the head stamp.

While I have experienced some variability with 223 Remington and 45 ACP, it has been nothing as extreme as this. Has anyone else encountered this sort of inconsistency? And do you have any idea what is causing it?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Brass thickness in the 9x19 is all over the map. Even some of the basic measurements can vary too, such as rim diameter, base diameter, etc.

You'll find that a small squirt of case lube will greatly facilitate sizing the 9x19, even though you're using a carbide sizing die. Just tumble the sized brass for about 20 minutes in corn cob to remove the lube after sizing.

The round is really pretty easy to load. I don't go to the extremes of measuring each and every round that you do, since I tend to load in batches of 1,000, but my ammunition is as accurate as I am. I have several 9x19 handguns (pistols and revolvers) and a 9x19 Carbine. All my ammunition is loaded to fit in all of them and to shoot accurately in all of them.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Shaq]

As "ReloaderFred" suggested, I also use a bit of case lube when resizing 9mm; otherwise it's much more difficult. Additionally, the 9mm case is slightly tapered.

 

[greyling22]

Wow, you do a lot of prep and sorting. Fred's right about the case lube, those little tapered cases take a lot more effort than straight cases.

But to your question, it might be the chamber of one of the guns your brass came from was oversized, so they require more work to get back in shape.

 

[kcofohio]

You also have to take in consideration that the 9mm case has more taper to it than most straight wall cartridges. And depending on the chamber dimensions, it can cause more resistance. Just a thought.

 

[Hangingrock]

First of all I do not separate cases by head stamp. Thus I have a mixture of cases Winchester/WWC/Remington/federal/Blazer/Speer/RWS& Geco. None acquire special attention other than Mil-Spec cases which are nettlesome requiring the primer pocket crimp to be removed.

I’ll load a batch of a thousand with mixed head stamp cases employing Winchester or CCI primers, either HP38/W231 or Win-AutoComp and 124Gr-FMJ bullets. This is all done on a Dillon SDB progressive. Also I do chamfer the case mouth, do not trim to length, and do not clean out the primer pocket.

As a gauge I utilize a Bar-Sto, KKM, or as an example Glock or S&W OEM barrels for the Plunk Test for chambering.

I don’t set on my backside bench resting to test the accuracy of the ammunition. Its stand up and shoot rapid fire at 10Yds and slow fire at 25Yards.

I don’t pretend to be a Handloader but I am a Reloader in order to shoot. Some individuals find enjoyment in the processing details of hand loading. There is nothing wrong with that if that’s what the individual likes to do. I on the other hand rather be shooting.

 

[Schwing]

I also use a bit of lube, even though my dies are carbide. It really smooths things up. I use the lee lube. I dissolve a tube of it combined with around 20oz of alcohol in a spray bottle. It only takes about 2 spritzes over 500 or so cases to do the trick.

 

[hdwhit]

I want to thank everyone for the helpful and consistent advice.

I did chuckle when I read several people say something to the effect:

I tend to load in batches of 1,000

I don't yet own a 9 mm pistol. I was given the brass and figured, "Why not?" So when I was sorting it out, my wife gave me "that look" and I just shrugged my shoulders and said that at the rate I shoot a handgun, this would probably last me the rest of my life. The contrast between someone who loads a thousand at a time and someone who expects a thousand to be a lifetime supply just struck me as humorous.

Of course if 9 mm is as fun to shoot as everyone says it is, then 1,000 might not prove to be enough.

 

[hdwhit]

Thanks also to those pointed out that the case was tapered.

I had forgotten that due to the taper, even with carbide dies, the 30 Carbine I used to reload had to be lightly lubricated.

 

[kcofohio]

Shaq, greyling22, sorry, missed your post about the case taper. I should know better than posting before I get down the first cup of coffe.

 

[David4516]

I had the same problem. When I first started loading 9mm about a year ago, I thought I'd do it with my Lee hand press from the comfort of the recliner in my livingroom. No such luck. Have to lube the cases and even then some of them are tough to work with. I think it takes more force to resize 9mm than alot of the rifle cartridges I load for.

.380 is alot easier...

 

[Hangingrock]

I fully understand that if you are a low volume shooter that reloading (1000) rounds would make one chuckle.

But as an example if one were to take two, seventeen round capacity 9mm-luger semiautomatic pistols to the range with seven magazines each the total rounds consumed would be 238. The quoted range session consumption of 238 rounds would be low consumption to a certain percentage of shooters. At that rate of consumption four range sessions would consume 952 rounds. If one only employs one pistol then eight range sessions. Now if you only consume fifty rounds per range sessions then that works out to twenty sessions which going every 2.5 weeks you are two weeks shy of a year.

As for case taper and applying minimal lubricant while employing carbide sizing dies during sizing, apparently there are those that do find it necessary but on the other hand there are those that do not and I am one of those whom do not.

The 9mm Luger case more difficult to size than certain rifles cases That's all I got to say.

 

[splattergun]

Make certain that your dies are clean. I'm a Lee die user, and have found that they often come with a lot of manufacturing dirt still in place. This can cause the trouble you're experiencing.

It's very easy to shoot over 100 rounds in less than an hour at a very casual pace. I am happy for you that you've come upon such a grand reason to increase your shooting fun and gun collection!

 

[hdwhit]

... take two, seventeen round capacity 9mm-luger semiautomatic pistols to the range with seven magazines each the total rounds consumed would be 238.

That's how I got the 9 mm brass in the first place. I went to my church's men's retreat and the Saturday morning activity is shooting on an extemporized range the land owner sets up for us. I asked if anyone was a reloader and everyone said I could keep their brass if I wanted it, so rather than shoot I made my way behind the firing line collecting the cases as they feel into the grass. The grass was tall. It was the first time in my life I had actually wanted to mow grass.

 

[RecoilRob]

Scrounging range brass can be lots of fun, but around here everyone scours the line and finding anything reloadable is a rare treat. Used to always be tons of you name it calibers littering the ground...but not anymore.

If the 9mm's you encounter had been fired in a Sub-gun, they can be dramatically swelled up sometimes. Most any locked-breech modern gun is going to be pretty easy on the brass..but some of the auto's can mangle it pretty well and be a bit of a challenge to resize.

You, of course, realize that loading 9mm is a disease that will likely spread rapidly and soon your ammo stash will be overflowing with them. I cast a really neat Lyman 147 boat-tail that shoots extremely well and ended up with about 5 50 caliber boxes full of them. Midway, Wideners and other suppliers often have once fired brass for a good price so picking up a few thousand is easy on the pocket and man...it's nice to have a good supply of 9mm's!!

 

[quaid]

The lube makes resizing easier so you can put a smaller press lever in place, smaller press lever equals less leverage and less physical movement to reload. Less physical movement results in a faster throw and a faster time to load your 1,000+. (Thanks Brad for that 3k bullet bundle deal, really saves on the shipping.)

Avoid lubes that need to be removed. A second pass in the tumbler is just more handling and lost time. Besides, 9mm cases are cheap- who cares if you lose that dirty old tarnished case- you'll likely find a dozen extras because it's so prolific.

Make sure that rcbs lockout die is working and go to town.

But... I wouldn't be scrounging brass when there are new/different guns to shoot at retreat... You never know when you have a guy like Hangingrock in your group and a little competition gets going...

 

[Average Joe]

Same here, a shot of silicone spray on the die every so often helps .

 

[highlander 5]

I load 9 mm on my 650 using Dillon dies and yet to have any sizing problems. I have used Bullseye,231/HP 38 and Red Dot in my reloads,going to try Universal Clays next.

 

[hdwhit]

Scrounging range brass can be lots of fun, but around here everyone scours the line and finding anything reloadable is a rare treat.

All the commercial ranges that I know about around here make you leave your brass where it falls so that they can sell it back to you the next time you visit.

We were out in a cow pasture using the berm of a stock pond as a backstop. The land owner had mowed the grass down to about six inches to provide a clear space to shoot, but that still left lots of cover for the brass to get lost in.

I didn't mind giving up my chance to shoot since I had shot the guns everyone was willing to share on prior retreats. The prospect of getting free brass - and then having an excuse to buy a gun to shoot it - was more intriguing.

 

[Hangingrock]

Commercial ranges serve a purpose. That said I do not employ commercial ranges as a venue for shooting. I'm a land share owner in a shooting association thus I pay no dues to belong and seldom go there. When the opportunity came to become a land share owner in a range association I did so which provided an opportunity for others to have a shooting venue which has now grown to over 800 members.

I also have on my dwelling property a range set up for handgun shooting. One thing about owning property is you become a steward of the land. As such I allow hunting on the property by permission only.

So when I shoot I'm not picking up brass that belong to other individuals unless I attend a match. With that said most of the time I come up short which is no big deal.

But I'm still perplexed by those that have a problem with the ease of sizing 9mm luger casings. Its just not that difficult.

 

[joem1945]

I put my cases in plastic food saver dishes and spray a bit of Dillon case lube on them. I don't bother to separate them or measure them. Size /decap, tumble in crushed walnut, prime and load.

 

[FROGO207]

I only remove the steel casings and discard when I inspect my brass for defects. Also I segregate the military ones to remove the crimp before first use. No other special treatment to any of my pistol brass and then just size them and reload. I will check length of revolver brass and trim but it is only for getting a consistent crimp. Glad the OP got a bunch of free brass though. FWIW I have three 5GAL buckets of 9MM brass in reserve presently and wonder if it actually will be enough to last me the rest of my life. Yeah everybody has a different level of enough extra on hand I guess. I have however given several new reloaders I have helped to learn the craft 1K or so 9MM to start their stash. It seems most never think of saving fired brass until they actually start to reload.