9 mm case bulge
- Thread starter Bushbasher
- Start date
The Lee factory crimp die with the carbide ring in its base is a cheat for cases not trimmed to the same length.
The longer cases can bulge below the crimp and the carbide ring irons out the bulge.
The OP stated he had bulge near the base of the case and not a bulge below the crimp.
The longer cases can bulge below the crimp and the carbide ring irons out the bulge.
The OP stated he had bulge near the base of the case and not a bulge below the crimp.
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Did the same thing 5yrs ago and since then, never had a feeding issue. I also use a Lee undersized sizing die on stage 1.
Likely you know your limitations better than anyone. so thats a good decision on your part. Some people shouldn't reload.
I loaded Xmetals on my square Deal for the first time this summer and found that you have to flare the bass "A LOT" more compared to a plated projectile. If you don`t the seating die will build up with the coating and lead, you may want to check it. Once set up properly all is good. The 147's Round Nose (Paragon) are awesome. Good luck!
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- Location
- Banana Republik of Kebekistan
Had similar difficulties when I first used the 9mm 126 gn X-Metal bullets. I have a 50 chambers type of case gage (EGW) and the vast majority of my reloads would not chamber completely. A Lee factory crimp die was already part of my die set.
Then I realized 2 things: the bullet diameter was .357 on average (instead of the more common .356) and the bullet nose was more round that my Berry's 9mm 124gn HBRN. Solved the issue by seating deeper: COAL went from 1.1600 with my Berry's to 1.1000 with the X-Metal. Had to reduce my load by 1 or 2 tenth if I recall.
In short, your bullet ogive maybe such that for a given COAL, it sits on the lands and prevent your reloaded rounds to fully chamber. If the case, reduce your COAL.
Just for the hell of it, do check if your resized case (without primer, powder and bullet) fit your case gage (or barrel chamber).
If they fit: case bulge is not an issue.
If they don't fit: a Lee factory crimp die may fix the issue on most of them. They will always be a few that develop a memory and those should be scrapped.
Then I realized 2 things: the bullet diameter was .357 on average (instead of the more common .356) and the bullet nose was more round that my Berry's 9mm 124gn HBRN. Solved the issue by seating deeper: COAL went from 1.1600 with my Berry's to 1.1000 with the X-Metal. Had to reduce my load by 1 or 2 tenth if I recall.
In short, your bullet ogive maybe such that for a given COAL, it sits on the lands and prevent your reloaded rounds to fully chamber. If the case, reduce your COAL.
Just for the hell of it, do check if your resized case (without primer, powder and bullet) fit your case gage (or barrel chamber).
If they fit: case bulge is not an issue.
If they don't fit: a Lee factory crimp die may fix the issue on most of them. They will always be a few that develop a memory and those should be scrapped.
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