Clean your dies

Speedluvn · Sep 18, 2021

I recently obtained a suitable full size 9mm platform. I started loading more 9mm rounds than I had in the past. I was having some bulging issues and my cases not “plunking” in the case gauge. I thread jacked another thread (OP of that thread, again I apologize) and some members mentioned seating issues. After some thought, I decided to clean my 9mm seating die. This die was original to my father’s die set. He loaded a lot of National Bullet Co. leaded round nose pills.
This was what was cleaned out of the seating die. I was amazed at what came out.

PowPow · Sep 18, 2021

Looks about right. :rockon:

outrider58 · Sep 18, 2021

Got to flare them cases. Shaving can be an issue with any cartridge(not to say every cartridge requires flaring or belling).

BTW, that's a healthy crimp on that 9mm there.

John from MD · Sep 18, 2021

Yup, periodically you have to clean the seating die and factory crimp die if you use one when loading lead bullets. If you bell the brass enough, no cleaning is needed when loading powder coated bullets.

pre64hunter · Sep 18, 2021

Shell Holder Too!

Clean your shell holder too now and then. The shell holder will get a little crud in it over the years and will cause the case to enter the die a little off center.

Rockzilla · Sep 18, 2021

outrider58 said:
Got to flare them cases. Shaving can be an issue with any cartridge(not to say every cartridge requires flaring or belling).

BTW, that's a healthy crimp on that 9mm there.

yes sir,
nice crimp.....a tad heavy..
plated bullets by chance??

clean my dies after every use....

the Lyman "M" Die comes in handy use it a lot

and these....

plus the old CH Tool Die Co. Taper crimp dies

shocker998md · Sep 18, 2021

I've got an old set of lyman 35 remington dies in my ultrasonic cleaner right now. I bought them used and loaded 50 or so up, then just recently I went to size and deprime another batch of 50 and when on the upstroke of my handle, as the brass comes out of the die it
Makes a pop noise and feel that's not normal.

I figure start with cleaning and see what happens.

shocker998md · Sep 18, 2021

Time to go check on mine.

Speedluvn · Sep 18, 2021

outrider58 said:
Got to flare them cases. Shaving can be an issue with any cartridge(not to say every cartridge requires flaring or belling).

BTW, that's a healthy crimp on that 9mm there.

I’ve recently learned about flaring/belling the cases on some 45acp pills.

Please explain the “healthy crimp.” This is all a learning process for me. Be critical!

Speedluvn · Sep 18, 2021

Rockzilla said:
yes sir,
nice crimp.....a tad heavy..
plated bullets by chance??

clean my dies after every use....

the Lyman "M" Die comes in handy use it a lot

and these....

plus the old CH Tool Die Co. Taper crimp dies

View attachment 322309

Some “copperized” lead round nose that I’m using from my father’s stock. It’s been a steep learning curve.

outrider58 · Sep 18, 2021

Speedluvn said:
I’ve recently learned about flaring/belling the cases on some 45acp pills.

Please explain the “healthy crimp.” This is all a learning process for me. Be critical!

This can explain it better than I.

https://gundigest.com/more/how-to/crimp-styles-uses

In context of my comment, your "taper" crimp is bordering on "roll" crimp territory. Rimless cartridges like the 9mm headspace on their rims. Over crimp and you not only over work the ~~rims~~ case mouths, you can also lengthen the headspace.

GunBum · Sep 18, 2021

outrider58 said:
This can explain it better than I.

https://gundigest.com/more/how-to/crimp-styles-uses

In context of my comment, your "taper" crimp is bordering on "roll" crimp territory. Rimless cartridges like the 9mm headspace on their CASE MOUTHS. Over crimp and you not only over work the CASE MOUTHS, you can also lengthen the headspace.

Fixed it for you.

Doco Overboard · Sep 18, 2021

shocker998md said:
I've got an old set of lyman 35 remington dies in my ultrasonic cleaner right now. I bought them used and loaded 50 or so up, then just recently I went to size and deprime another batch of 50 and when on the upstroke of my handle, as the brass comes out of the die it
Makes a pop noise and feel that's not normal.

I figure start with cleaning and see what happens.

OT

You know I have a brand new(25yrs) Lyman die set for 35 that did something similar but can remember what it was.
It's been so long that I looked at them I'm not sure. The first few cases I resized with them.
Anyway, I immediately quit using them and you can have them if you want.

Speedluvn · Sep 18, 2021

outrider58 said:
This can explain it better than I.

https://gundigest.com/more/how-to/crimp-styles-uses

In context of my comment, your "taper" crimp is bordering on "roll" crimp territory. Rimless cartridges like the 9mm headspace on their rims. Over crimp and you not only over work the rims, you can also lengthen the headspace.

GunBum said:
Fixed it for you.

Thank you gentlemen for the info.

outrider58 · Sep 18, 2021

GunBum said:
Fixed it for you.

Sticky · Sep 18, 2021

Speedluvn said:
I’ve recently learned about flaring/belling the cases on some 45acp pills.

Please explain the “healthy crimp.” This is all a learning process for me. Be critical!

I don't know of a pistol round of any caliber that I have ever loaded that didn't require flaring/belling. It is a fundamental step in reloading of pistol rounds. It matters not whether it's lead, coated, plated, jacketed, you should bell the case before seating to prevent any damage to the projectile.

You only need to crimp enough to just remove the flare/belling of the case.

Rockzilla · Sep 19, 2021

in this case...9mm
9mm is a tapered case. It head spaces off of the case mouth..so therefore
in most cases the roll crimp is not Recommended (Semi-auto), a taper crimp is. the amount of case mouth
flaring / belling depends really on the type of bullet, jacketed / lead cast / plated (or copperized) and also
what the bullet was sized as. the way I do it is Chamfer the mouth a little, flare the mouth (using a Lyman "M" die)
just "enuff" to start the bullet base (trial n error) once set it's done for that bullet. / seat the bullet to desired
over-all length / Taper crimp just enuff to remove the flaring / belling and to pass the "plunk test" in the barrel.
being since the 9mm is a "tapered case" you may notice some bulging of the case where the bullet base is, in
some cases depending on brass that will be ample to hold the bullet in place with a slight taper crimp. I also
seperate my military brass (WCC / WMA / IVI ) from commerical you really don't have to. Also make a "Dummy Round"
no powder / no bullet / no primer, it makes the setup easier if you change bullets......

To add: it will sometimes help if you have the proper "Seat Stem" Round Nose for round bullet tips and SWC for the bullets
that have more of a flat point. They seat better and remain more or less square on the case mouth, less chance of the bullet
"canting" when being seated...

Then you may run into cases that have a "shelf" on the inside, some reload them, I prefer to "trash" them

"Pistol Rounds" ... does this include, the Herretts, JDJ rounds, 7mm TCU...others thanks to the Contender...(just having some fun)

-Rock

John from MD · Sep 19, 2021

Good info. :thumbsup:

Rockzilla · Sep 19, 2021

shocker998md said:
I've got an old set of lyman 35 remington dies in my ultrasonic cleaner right now. I bought them used and loaded 50 or so up, then just recently I went to size and deprime another batch of 50 and when on the upstroke of my handle, as the brass comes out of the die it
Makes a pop noise and feel that's not normal.

I figure start with cleaning and see what happens.

I don't really know about Lyman sizers, but if it has a vent hole in the
side of the die...it may be plugged ..take a "paper-clip and check it.
RCBS dies have the "vent" hole plus some others, they will get plugged with
lube and if you leave them sit for a while, the old lube makes a nice plug.
every die set I get, gets cleaned with Acetone or Denatured Alcohol as
well as after each use. Then either Rem oil / Eezox / Boeshield T-9

-Rock

Speedluvn · Sep 19, 2021

I’ve adjusted the Lee powder expander so that the case is flared just so that the projectile will
Fit in the casing. After seating the bullet and before crimping, the bullet won’t fully seat into my case gauge. The bullets will fit into the chamber of both firearms.

Looking for leads to follow to resolve this issue.

Clean your dies

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