Question

[Vecco]

I have been reloading for about 3 years. I use a Dillon 650 and reload 9mm, 45acp and 223. I have never had any problems until recently with 9mm. I wanted to use up some Hodgdon Longshot powder that was left over from the great primer/powder shortage of 2009 before I was able to get the powder I wanted to use. I had used this powder before with no problems. Before I used 5.4 with a COL of 1.06, 115 FN and all was fine. The max COL for 9mm is 1.169( Hornday 7th Ed, pg 795). This time I used 5.7 (still not the max of 6.0 for longshot) with a COL of 1.11 and 115RN. About 1/3 of my load will not fit all the way into a setting depth gauge, they get tight right at the end. I have pulled some apart and they are not double loads and I do have a powder sensor on my Dillon that beeps if the powered is low or high for what you set it at. Again 2/3 are fine and 1/3 are not. I do use range brass but the mixed head stamps are on both the good and bad side of the loads. Any idea as to what is making this happen?

Load used.

9mm 5.7g Hodgdon LongShot, COL 1.11, 115RN
Dillon 650 progressive press
Mixed head stanps.


Hodgdon reloading data for 9mm/longshot from their websight.

115LRN, COL 1.10, Min G 5.0 Max G 6.0

 

[contender]

Are you saying that the loaded ammo is sticking in a chamber check guage? Or, are you experiencing the tightness as you are loading them?
If it's "tight" when you are using a chamber check guage, and range brass, then I suspect that some of the range brass is being fired in a larger chamber, and your sizer is not getting it all completely resized.
If it's during the reloading cycle, then it might be a bit harder to figure out the problem.

 

[Vecco]

Are you saying that the loaded ammo is sticking in a chamber check guage? Or, are you experiencing the tightness as you are loading them?
If it's "tight" when you are using a chamber check guage, and range brass, then I suspect that some of the range brass is being fired in a larger chamber, and your sizer is not getting it all completely resized.
If it's during the reloading cycle, then it might be a bit harder to figure out the problem.

Yes it’s not going all the way in to the check gauge... or if I take a barrel out of a 9mm its sticks at the very end. I noticed it when it jammed a gun up, so I started checking all the loads. Some stick right at the very end. But if you turn the gauge upside down, they will not fall out and have to be pushed out, that’s from dropping them in the gauge not pushing them in. I have used range brass for years and never had this problem and its only 9mm... Not 45 or 223. (Yet)

 

[Vecco]

This is one of the worst..

When I measured it, it is flared at the bottom, but again only some not all...

 

[mike7mm08]

Range brass can come from many different guns and you have no way of knowing how many loads. Seems to me you have some brass that is from a gun with a not fully supported chamber. The area of the case right above the rim is expanding more than the rest of the case. If the brass has already been loaded numerous times this expansion increases greatly. You can try adjusting your die to size that last little bit. If only a 1/3 of your loads do this I would just shoot them. Provided they chamber and feed reliable. I had a bunch of 9mm that did not gauge but fed and functioned just fine in my SR9. Keep in mind that a case gauge is the minimum spec for the cartridge. How many chambers are min spec? 9mm has been the only caliber that has given me any troubles reloading. I have encountered a lot of soft cases that expand greatly and do not like to hold neck tension after resizing. To save myself the headache I now batch load all my 9mm by headstamp which gun and times loaded. If I have a problem it is much easier to isolate.

 

[GAR]

Glock bulge?

Tom

 

[WESHOOT2]

Glock bulge?

The lower case bulge can come from ANY brand. It depends on the chamber of the gun in hand.
Near every brand lets out some examples with 'generous' chambers, even Ruger.
Any 'generous' chamber can create bulged brass.
Certain steps can be taken to reduce or even alleviate the bulge, but it is something to be very aware of.

I mount a LEE Carbide Factory Crimp Die in station 5 of all my XL650 9x19 toolheads.

May we assume you've changed bullet?

 

[edfardos]

Too much flare on the mouth? the seating die should be setup to knock all flare off. it should be straight wall ammo -- easy to measure with mics, but short of that, look for a bend in the reflection of a bright light on the brass.

--edfardos