I just bought 4000 147 grain 9mm FMJ Zero bullets from Powder Valley and am having some issues that I have not seen before. I typically load 147 grain Berry plated bullets, but have read good things about the Zero bullets and since they were jacketed instead of plated, and not much more expensive than the Berry's, I thought that I would try them. When I started to load these i noticed that the case seemed to be bulged starting just below where the bullet sits and all the way to the top of the case. I am putting a good bell on the case so don't think that the bullets are crushing the case, but the case looks deformed after seating the bullet. I have tried multiple presses (Dillon 650 and Lee 1000) and also both Lee and Dillon sizing dies. I am using once fired brass with different headstamps that have been cleaned and inspected. Has anyone experienced anything like this before? I assume that they are safe to shoot, as I am loading at the lower end (3.2gr Tightgroup with 1.15 OAL), but would certainly welcome your thoughts and opinions. I have attached a picture. Please let me know if this is normal for these bullets. Thanks.
Problems with Zero 147 gr 9mm FMJ bullets?
- Thread starter Bobwat
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ApplePie
Member
I've never used those bullets, but lots of 9mm reloads have some case bulge around the bullet. I have not seem quite as much bulge as your pictures indicate, however. It's possible those bullets are slightly larger diameter than your other ones. Measure their diameter and find out.
After seating a bullet, measure your taper crimp by measuring the mouth of the case and compare it to the diameter of the case just slightly back from the mouth. The measurement at the mouth should only be about 1/2 to 1 thousandth of an inch less. If the case mouth diameter is 2 or 3 thousandth of an inch smaller, than you are crimping too much.
Also, try using as little case mouth belling as you can get away with. Less is better.
After seating a bullet, measure your taper crimp by measuring the mouth of the case and compare it to the diameter of the case just slightly back from the mouth. The measurement at the mouth should only be about 1/2 to 1 thousandth of an inch less. If the case mouth diameter is 2 or 3 thousandth of an inch smaller, than you are crimping too much.
Also, try using as little case mouth belling as you can get away with. Less is better.
FROGO207
Member
Have you measured the diameter of the bullets before you assemble the rounds?? If the diameter is larger than the Berries bullets the casings will show more of an hourglass shape. If the round will chamber with the "plunk" test and fall out afterwards it should fire OK if the charge is a safe one. 9 MM jacketed bullets should be .356 in diameter and 38 SPL/357 are .358. Did you get some of those instead??
Certaindeaf
member
That looks normal for a bullet larger than .355.. looks like they are .356-58
1SOW
Member
+1 on checking for .355" from the Zero. Berry's is .356".
Are the zeros longer than the Berry's bullet? The nose shape may be more pointed on the Zeros. They look like they're seated mighty deep into the case. This will exagerate the "coke-bottle-shape" if so.
Are the zeros longer than the Berry's bullet? The nose shape may be more pointed on the Zeros. They look like they're seated mighty deep into the case. This will exagerate the "coke-bottle-shape" if so.
Jim Watson
Member
That's probably what you are going to get with a hard heavy flatbase 9mm.
Do they chamber?
Carry on.
Do they chamber?
Carry on.
pbcaster45
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I had the same problem with some plated .357 diameter bullets I was using (The Bullet Works 147 gr. RN). They shot great in my two 9mms but I was getting too much case bulge. The one exception was with Federal 9mm cases. They don't have as much inside case taper as other brands and that could be your answer.
bluetopper
Member
Is there a problem with chambering them? If not, do they seem to fire OK? If so, Load, shoot, repeat, enjoy.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Ahhh?
You didn't screw the .380 sizing die in by mistake did you??
I have never seen anything quite that bad in my 50+ years reloading handgun ammo.
What brand of dies are you using??
rc
You didn't screw the .380 sizing die in by mistake did you??
I have never seen anything quite that bad in my 50+ years reloading handgun ammo.
What brand of dies are you using??
rc
longdayjake
Member
Lee dies.
Thanks everyone for your help. The bullets calipered out between .356 and .357. They are 9mm 147 grain bullets. Tried both a Lee and and Dillon sizing die with the same results. The OAL is 1.15, which is toward the upper end of the scale. The bulge does seem more pronounced with the WIN and the CBC cases than the others. I tried them in a case guage and all of them would drop in but some would not fall out. I ended up running the ones that would not fall out through a Lee Factory Crimp Die and that fixed them where they would fall out. I shot them today and they shot great, so I guess that it wasn't as much of a problem that I had thought. I did feel better about shooting them after your replies. Thanks again,
Bobwat
Bobwat
LiveLife
Member
9mm jacketed bullets should be .355" diameter. Do you have other bullets you can measure?Bobwat said:
Unless the Zero jacketed bullets are oversized, I am guessing the caliper readings are off.
dragon813gt
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