9 mm reloading issue

corney

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I am loading 9mm with a lee 1000 and I have a final product that appears skinny in the middle. I miked the two ends and it meets tolerance. What is not set right that it narrows in the middle.

OK I have to admit some of the brass I am using is wider at the bottom before sizing.

Any suggestions?
 
Don't forget that the 9mm is a tapered case. Not straight like a 45ACP.

I would check the dimensions against a factory round to make sure. I remember when I loaded my first ones I thought they looked strange. But they were fine.
 
9mm

Wierd - make sure your full length resizer is set properly and your cases are going completely into the die. Thats all I can think of.

Good luck, I`m sure others will give their opinions of your dilema.
 
An hourglass shape is not necessarily a bad thing. Take a measurement at the case mouth and see if you're in-spec. Take a measurement at the skinniest part of the hourglass shape, and tell us how many .000s of an inch difference you've measured. I'm sure you're sizing die is undersizing at least slightly, and then flaring and seating your bullet is widening out the mouth to spec, causing the shape you're seeing. It's not a bad thing.
 
They look that way because a slight hour glass shape is what is proper. The base of the case cannot squeeze down, and the mouth of the case is expanded for the diameter of the bullet. With longer cartridges (.357, .44, .45 Colt) it is even more apparent.
 
I will check that the sizing die is down all the way. I checked the ends with a mic comparing them to spec's in a reloading manual and all is good. The comment on the tapered case is a good one. I am used to loading 38,357,44 mag and 45 colt. This might be why I noticed the difference as I have never seen it before.

Thanks for the reassurance.

corney
 
Is you sizing die carbide? If so it is sizing the case like it was a straight wall case. The 9mm is a taperd(sp) case and you would not be szing it on a lee1000. This is totally normal.
hs
 
i have 3 lee 1000's I do not use the lee sizing dies. I think they are junk. I have RCBS dies for sizing.

The lee's do get picky and need to be tuned up as things loosen up.

Make sure on your sizing die that the die comes all the way down to the disc and I calibrate the rest of the power flow and,bullet seat and crimp from that. This ensures a good resized case first which is important.

I also run a semi lubed case through ever 20 or so to keep things flowing nice.

How do the reloads fit into your chamber?
 
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