reloading 9mm brass and bullets

[matthew40s&w]

Newbie question.... been reloading .40 s&w for 2 weeks now and have had no problems. Once fired brass, lead cast boolits. Now my brother has started reloading 9mm and is using once fired brass and we have been attempting to use fmj new bullets. The problem is that the brass seems to be to big after resizing or bullets too small. Checked and changed how much bell we are putting on the case ... didn't work. Being new to this I really could use any helpful advice. Thanks

 

[Dean1818]

Did you happen to get 380 bullets instead of 9mm?

Or...... Are you putting 9mm into 40 brass?


Do you have a caliper?

 

[jstein650]

Gotta measure the bullets with a micrometer or calipers. What kind of sizing die are you using? What type of press setup? Weight of bullets? (even .380 bullets should be a fairly tight fit after re-sizing) Need more info.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

What die are you using? if you do have calipers it would make this a lot easier and if you don't go buy some they are a great tool for reloading maybe the most important, maybe not.

If hes running FMJ hes probably not running a sizing die.

 

[matthew40s&w]

Do have calipers... bullets measure .356 . Lee progressive 1000 with Lee carbide 9mm dies and yes the brass is 9mm.

 

[Walkalong]

Both .380 and 9MM both use .355 jacketed bullets. .356 or more for lead.

The 9MM case is tapered, so having the sizer all the way down is more critical than with a straight walled case like the .40. Might check that.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

Make sure your dies are all setup correctly. Youtube is your friend should go over it really quick.

Is the resizing die setup correctly?

If that doesn't help check your expander or maybe your process you should just flare the case enough to start the bullet if you can't start the bullet you'll crush the case and if you over expand it you can have neck tension problems and it wears out the brass. Expander plug should measure .354

 

[matthew40s&w]

Have calipers using Lee progressive 1000 with Lee 9mm dies bullets measure .356 double checked sizing die and its fully resizing...

 

[Starter52]

The brass is likely not resized properly. Try dropping a resized brass case (not flared)into the chamber of a 9mm pistol. If the case slides in easily then you are resizing it correctly.

If it doesn't, well..... then your bullets are the problem, but I've rarely seen undersized FMJ 9mm bullets in 30+ years of reloading. Likely resizing is the culprit. Your brother is using a 9mm sizing die for the cases, right? Not one made for .38/.357?

 

[matthew40s&w]

Used YouTube for setting dies. Even just after sizing the bullets still slip in and out ...

 

[matthew40s&w]

Correct the dies are Lee carbide 9 mm

 

[matthew40s&w]

OK. Bullets are not the problem , resizing is! Now where do you go from there? Brass slid into chamber about 50% before it stopped.

 

[Walkalong]

Screw the sizer down farther but first make sure it isn't a .38 sizer.

 

[rcmodel]

Ram up, screw the sizing die down until it contacts the shell holder lightly.

Size, then expand only enough to get the bullets started when you seat them.

If all else fails?

Measure the expander stem.

Lee has a bad habit of making them too big around.

It should measure no more then .350" - .352" or so for .356" bullets.

rc

 

[SpentCasing]

I had neck tension issues with Hornady and RCBS dies. I sent Hornady dies back with my brass and even after 2+ months there the issue wasnt fixed.

Lee U-die fixed all my problems and all is well. Maybe look into that. The U-die "under-sizes" the brass just enough to make everything all well. Good luck!

 

[Paul24]

Matthew, after sizing look at the case. Just above the web there should be an obvious change in diameter. Once thru the expander die it should be hour glass shaped with a small flare at the lip. If you are doing good with the 40's, 9's are the same process. Remove expander plug and measure it could be the wrong plug should measure .353 or .354 inch.

 

[Fire_Moose]

Am I mistaken in that the bullets are slipping in right after the brass is sized?

Sent from my CZ85 Combat

 

[matthew40s&w]

After doing what RC had suggested I was able to set the bullets and get the length correct without the bullets sliding into case freely. Still puzzles me that the 9mm would cause issues when the 40 s&w was a breeze. Thanks for all the tips and help guys !

 

[beatledog7]

Still puzzles me that the 9mm would cause issues when the 40 s&w was a breeze.

The 9mm Luger case is slightly tapered from web to mouth, while the .40S&W is not. You have to get the case mouth into the narrowest portion of the die to get it sized down properly. Neck tension will suffer if your die is not turned in far enough to get the mouth all the way in.

 

[caz223]

Oops, gotta read better.....

 

[Walkalong]

Still puzzles me that the 9mm would cause issues when the 40 s&w was a breeze. Thanks for all the tips and help guys !

Post #6: "The 9MM case is tapered, so having the sizer all the way down is more critical than with a straight walled case like the .40. Might check that."

Post #19 : "The 9mm Luger case is slightly tapered from web to mouth, while the .40S&W is not. You have to get the case mouth into the narrowest portion of the die to get it sized down properly. Neck tension will suffer if your die is not turned in far enough to get the mouth all the way in."

 

[GLOOB]

^Unless he had $200.00, special-order steel dies, this wouldn't hold true, now would it?

OP, check your die. Maybe it is stamped "9x18" or "9mm mak?"

 

[Walkalong]

Yes it would. It has cured more than one posters 9MM sizing problem. My old $20 Lee carbide sizer has a tapered insert. Many dies have such a large chamfer on the opening now you really need to get them all the way down. The OP followed rcmodels advise, which got the sizer turned down further, and his cases now hold the bullets.