9mm Case Gauge - Rejected Rounds

[Airbob10]

I find that most of my fails are because the cases are bulged near the base. Glocks have a tendency to bulge the case. I load thousands of 9mm every year and check every round I make. I use both Lee and Dillon dies.
Lee does have a 9mm bulge remover die you could buy and try, but I just remove the projectile, powder and primer and toss the case.

 

[Zee705]

Some good info in this thread. I think I'll be able to figure it out.

Thanks fellas.

 

[4n2t0]

"Glocked" brass in 9mm doesn't really exist. The photo provided above is from 2009, possibly earlier. I've shot many rounds from my 17/34 and have never needed to use a Lee FCD. In fact the Lee FCD causes more problems than it solves. As long as your resizing die is setup properly you shouldn't have any problems with sizing.

 

[Ganderite]

I used to have a similar failure rate. problem was little bulges at crimp or slight bulging of the case.

Problem solved with a Lee Factory crimp die. Use your seater to seat, but not crimp. Let the factory crimper take off the bell mouth.

 

[bigedp51]

The Lee bulge buster kit pushes the cases through the carbide factory crimp die to size the base of the case above the extractor groove.

Any range pickup brass or bulk once fired cases I buy are run through my bulge buster kits. For the 9mm a makarov FCD will size the base or you can try a EGW undersize die.

I just sized and prepped 500 once fired Winchester military 9mm cases and ran them through the bulge buster.

 

[Zee705]

The Lee bulge buster kit pushes the cases through the carbide factory crimp die to size the base of the case above the extractor groove.

Any range pickup brass or bulk once fired cases I buy are run through my bulge buster kits. For the 9mm a makarov FCD will size the base or you can try a EGW undersize die.

I just sized and prepped 500 once fired Winchester military 9mm cases and ran them through the bulge buster.

The Bulge Buster Kit + Single Stage Press is roughly $200, seems like an expensive fix for 3 rounds in 100 that don't pass the case gauge check....

 

[bigedp51]

The Bulge Buster Kit + Single Stage Press is roughly $200, seems like an expensive fix for 3 rounds in 100 that don't pass the case gauge check....

Size your cases and drop them in your case gauge, if they do not drop all the way in the gauge you have bulged a case and then trash them before loading.

After the first sorting if the loaded rounds do not fit the gauge the cases are bulged at the taper crimp.

You can also buy the EGW undersize 9mm die, it is .001 smaller in diameter and the base is modified to size further down the case.

The EGW die is made by Lee but is not made to the same specifications the as the standard undersized Lee die that is .002 to .003 smaller in diameter without the modified base.

I do not have a 9mm and I'm loading for my sons 9mm pistols (4) and dad isn't going to be blamed for any problems.

EGW Undersize Reloading Die, 9mm Luger
http://www.egwguns.com/smithing-tooling/undersize-reloading-die-9mm-luger/

A must for the serious reloader: EGW offers custom designed, carbide sizing dies that are 0.001" smaller in diameter than typical dies. Not only is it smaller in diameter, but the bottom corner is also radiused which sizes the case further down. This helps prevent feed failures from cases that bulged near the base during reloading- which is typical of brass fired in Glocks and other loose chambered guns.

The dies are made out of carbide.

Undersized Reloading Dies will work with a Dillon Press if they are 550, 650, or 1050. They will not work if they are squared.

 

[4n2t0]

The Bulge Buster Kit + Single Stage Press is roughly $200, seems like an expensive fix for 3 rounds in 100 that don't pass the case gauge check....

Yup, plus you don't need it or any other thingamajig.

 

[LeadMonkey]

...

 

[Temps]

3.1gr seems a little light. I was getting some FTE/stovepipes at 3.6gr with my Ruger SR9. I increased to 3.8gr and have been running flawlessly. 3.8gr titegroup, cci primers, 124gr canpro fcprn

 

[4n2t0]

3.1gr seems a little light. I was getting some FTE/stovepipes at 3.6gr with my Ruger SR9. I increased to 3.8gr and have been running flawlessly. 3.8gr titegroup, cci primers, 124gr canpro fcprn

3.1gr was for a 147gr projectile.

 

[4n2t0]

Bad Info Right Here.

Barrel can not case gauge unless you spin every single round a full 180 degrees when fully seated in the chamber.

Breaker61's info was good. You definitely don't need a case gauge. Plunk and spin, plunk and spin, plunk and spin...

 

[bigedp51]

Reloading dies and chambers can vary in length and diameter and a "good" case gauge checks case diameter.

And if you check your sized cases "before" loading them it will eliminate cases bulged at the base or a damaged rim. After that the only cartridges that won't drop all the way into the gauge have a crimping problem or the bullet is not concentric with the case.

Bottom line a good case gauge ensures the case diameter meets SAAMI ammunition specifications. Meaning smaller than minimum chamber dimensions. But do not forget a ding on the case rim will prevent the case from dropping all the way into the gauge.

Below the Wilson and Dillon case gauges do not check case diameter and the JP Enterprise gauge does. The JP Enterprise is made with a finish chamber reamer and the Wilson and Dillon gauges only check shoulder location.

The cases were reversed below and placed base first into the gauges and the Wilson and Dillon gauges are much larger in diameter.

Reloading Tips: The Plunk Test
http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloading/reloading-tips-the-plunk-test/

 

[bigedp51]

Below is also a problem with 9mm case gauges, the rim can be a larger diameter than the base diameter above the extractor groove.

Meaning smaller bulges the same diameter as the rim in the base of the case will pass a gauge test and still not chamber.

I was checking some Federal 9mm cases and the rims were .391 to .394 and above the extractor groove it was .386 to .388. But my once fired military Winchester cases had a rim diameter approximately the same as base diameter. Meaning when the Winchester cases were run through a bulge buster the rims were not touched but many of the Federal rims were.

Bottom line check the diameter of your cases gauges, the max rim diameter is .394 and the base diameter can be .007 smaller in diameter. Meaning reverse your case and put it in the gauge base first. And you will see that only the top half of the case is being checked by the gauge for diameter.

 

[MET]

3.1gr seems a little light. I was getting some FTE/stovepipes at 3.6gr with my Ruger SR9. I increased to 3.8gr and have been running flawlessly. 3.8gr titegroup, cci primers, 124gr canpro fcprn

wow, 3.1 grains of titegroup is really light. I think most guys I know load 3.4 grains, but to each his own.
As for the sizer, I check all my loaded ammo with a 100 round case gauge. If it fails the 100 round gauge, I have a single gauge by Dillon.
Typically it fails because the brass is bulged near the base/primer. If that's the case, then I just put the cartridge in a "special box" that I use for plinking.. basically some fun rapid firing at the range.
Your length should be fine, I load them between 1.10 and 1.12 for the 147's.

I wouldn't pull them apart, if they fit in your barrel fine, just shoot them (assuming brass and everything is ok)

3.1gr of TiteGroup under CamPro's has been working great for me in both my 9mm's, BUT....I use lighter recoil springs to soften muzzle dip found in stock heavy recall springs.

The load will likely be light in a box stock untuned gun.