Problems reloading IMI 9mm cases?

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DMFSchnarr

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Hey Everyone,

I wanted to post this to see if this is an issue in my process, or something else. I have reloaded 9mm rounds with various cases. I experienced two stuck cases, both were with IMI cases. All of the other brands of cases have been fine. I have confirmed that the IMI cases (purchased by me from CanAm, shot once) are not steel.

Here's the background. I have a cartridge gauge. Stock ammo gauges just fine. All of my non-IMI ammo gauges fine (>1000 rounds). 70% of my IMI cased ammo does not gage. When I resize a spent brass (non-IMI) they gauge fine, but the IMI, immediately after sizing, does not gauge.

Has anyone had this experience? I am using a Lee sizing die. I can confirm that the cases are going all the way into the die. My theory at this point is that the IMI cases are made from a stiffer alloy, causing more springback and therefore the re-sizing operation is not adequate.

Thoughts?

DS
 
Military brass is thicker near the base / primer pocket. I can see how it doesn't reform a slight bulge that regular brass would have back to spec.
I don't use IMI and Norinco brass as it's crimped and a pita to process, so it goes in a 'maybe someday if I have lots of time' bucket.
9mm brass is so plentiful (at least where i'm at) I would just sort it out of your regular reloading run and use something better.
 
I load a lot of range pick up brass. My die set is in a Dillon 550 tool head and has not been adjusted for years. Suddenly, I found I was getting problems with some rounds not chambering. Turned out to be one particular brand of case.

I bought a Lee Factory Crimp die. This die runs the loaded round through a sizer and irons out any bulges or fat cases that would have a chambering problem. It is like a guage that also fixes the problem.

That die solved the problem. I subsequently bought one in 40 and 45ACP.
 
Ganderite said:
I load a lot of range pick up brass. My die set is in a Dillon 550 tool head and has not been adjusted for years. Suddenly, I found I was getting problems with some rounds not chambering. Turned out to be one particular brand of case.

I bought a Lee Factory Crimp die. This die runs the loaded round through a sizer and irons out any bulges or fat cases that would have a chambering problem. It is like a guage that also fixes the problem.

That die solved the problem. I subsequently bought one in 40 and 45ACP.
Click to expand...

That sounds like the best strategy the dies are not expensive and work well
 
Ganderite said:
I load a lot of range pick up brass. My die set is in a Dillon 550 tool head and has not been adjusted for years. Suddenly, I found I was getting problems with some rounds not chambering. Turned out to be one particular brand of case.

I bought a Lee Factory Crimp die. This die runs the loaded round through a sizer and irons out any bulges or fat cases that would have a chambering problem. It is like a guage that also fixes the problem.

That die solved the problem. I subsequently bought one in 40 and 45ACP.
Click to expand...

X2 I find this method works great. I had no issue again
 
I bought a case of 1000 rounds of 9mm fro IMI, reloaded most of it once or twice with Hornady dies. Nothing got stuck anywhere to date. I don't have a gauge, though, but nothing gave me any issues in the Cx4 I shoot them with.
 
Interesting feedback guys. Thank you. I have Lee everything, I wonder if Hornady dies are a little different.

I did get the Lee Factory Crimp die. No change. Hmm.

DS
 
Tolerances are everywhere in the manufacturing of these things. Maybe it is the gauge?? Really the only gauge that matters is your barrel. Take it out of your gun and do the "plunk test".
 
I ran across some very hard to size 9mm Turns out they were IVI. Loaded just fine, but I could always tell the IVI in the press whether sizing,belling, inserting bullet, and crimping. Single stage press.
Will have to separate them and see if they shoot any different.
 
The sized IMI cases may not go into your gauge, but will an empty sized case drop freely into the barrel of the gun you are using? If so, they are sufficiently sized for your gun. If not, I would try an undersized sizing die.

If loaded rounds fail to chamber, the most common cause is not seating the bullets deep enough. This is likely not the problem if only one brand of brass is doing it, but, once again, use the barrel of your pistol to gauge both IMI and other rounds just to be sure. The round needs to drop freely all the way in and fall out without sticking.

If your cartridge length is good, check for bulges on the IMI rounds. It could be that the IMI cases are a bit thick-walled, so the loaded round ends up oversize when bullets are seated. If this is it, try a Factory Crimp die with the sizing ring. This may not work if you are using lead bullets; it can size the bullet to a too-small diameter, such that you get leading and keyholing.
 
After you deprime a IMI case did you check to see if it would fit in the chamber ?? if it does then the next step I'd take is load a round to the proper length and see if it chambers.
 
tjhaile said:
The sized IMI cases may not go into your gauge, but will an empty sized case drop freely into the barrel of the gun you are using? If so, they are sufficiently sized for your gun. If not, I would try an undersized sizing die.

If loaded rounds fail to chamber, the most common cause is not seating the bullets deep enough. This is likely not the problem if only one brand of brass is doing it, but, once again, use the barrel of your pistol to gauge both IMI and other rounds just to be sure. The round needs to drop freely all the way in and fall out without sticking.

If your cartridge length is good, check for bulges on the IMI rounds. It could be that the IMI cases are a bit thick-walled, so the loaded round ends up oversize when bullets are seated. If this is it, try a Factory Crimp die with the sizing ring. This may not work if you are using lead bullets; it can size the bullet to a too-small diameter, such that you get leading and keyholing.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the difference between the gauge and the gun. The problem originally surfaced when I had some stuck cases in the chamber. The cases that fail to chamber also fail to gauge. I was doing the "plunk" test as I was reloading, but I did not plunk every round. The cases are all mixed together, so it's likely that I just didn't run across these larger cases.

The length is not the issue. Not the case length nor the COAL. They're identical to the rounds which work properly.

When I size a non-IMI case, they gauge properly in the gauge and the gun. When I size an IMI case, they don't. This is before flaring, bullet installation, all of those factors.

Right now I am convinced that it is the material providing more springback than the non-IMI cases do. If anyone is in Kitchener-Waterloo and wants a few of these IMI cases to try, I'd love to provide them. Also, if you have a Hornady or other brand of sizing die, I'd be happy to try them out.

Thanks everyone
 
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