9mm Bulge Busting.. still revelant?

[TommyD11730]

So I guess I got into 9mm reloading after Lee discontinued the 9mm bulge buster kit. With the new found chatter of the roll resizer it got me to thinking.

Can I just buy the Lee Bulge Buster kit, add the 9mm Makarov carbide roll crimp die and have at it?
Yes, I'm to understand you still have to full size resize after the Mak die.

Or is this just a solution looking for a problem?

 

[DHD]

I use the 9mm Makarov die with the corresponding ram. It has been awhile and I don't remember if it was the FCD or not, but it came with the red Lee die holder.

I sized some once fired 9mm brass and wanted to get it down to size before I started running it through my Dillon Square Deal. I only sized that brass once.

Using that die on 9mm will give you an education on sizing lubes but it works well.

 

[TIMO]

I haven't loaded for the Makarov, but, have a tight 9x19mm chamber on a Hi-Powe and use the attached Lee 9mm die for sizing. Check it out, it may work for you. Amazon link below;

ref=sr_1_3

Tim

 

[Richard Jones]

FWIW, I will concur with @TIMO re: the Lee U(ndersize) FLS die. Have used them for almost 30 years in 9mm, 38 Super/SC, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. It's very rare that a piece of brass, after using the U die, will not drop easily into a case gauge/checker/barrel. It replaces the 'standard' FLS die, not necessary to use both. And all work with my 550, if that helps.

 

[piie]

So I guess I got into 9mm reloading after Lee discontinued the 9mm bulge buster kit. With the new found chatter of the roll resizer it got me to thinking.

Can I just buy the Lee Bulge Buster kit, add the 9mm Makarov carbide roll crimp die and have at it?
Yes, I'm to understand you still have to full size resize after the Mak die.

Or is this just a solution looking for a problem?

Could you please verify which "bulge" you are referring to - the "Glock bulge" at the head due to unsupported chamber, or the "bulge" caused during bullet seating that makes the loaded round have an "hourglass" look.

 

[TommyD11730]

FWIW, I will concur with @TIMO re: the Lee U(ndersize) FLS die. Have used them for almost 30 years in 9mm, 38 Super/SC, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. It's very rare that a piece of brass, after using the U die, will not drop easily into a case gauge/checker/barrel. It replaces the 'standard' FLS die, not necessary to use both. And all work with my 550, if that helps.

Ok, I quoted you RE the undersized Lee die. I'm under the impression it's not a small base die. Rather it resizes 003" more than the standard die, but no further down the brass where "Glock bulge/smiles" appear.
If I'm wrong, please let me know.

 

[TommyD11730]

Could you please verify which "bulge" you are referring to - the "Glock bulge" at the head due to unsupported chamber, or the "bulge" caused during bullet seating that makes the loaded round have an "hourglass" look.

Yes, the Glock bulge near the base.

 

[Richard Jones]

@TommyD11730
Not sure where you're getting that info. I've tossed very few over the years utilizing the 'U' die and the overwhelming majority of that was pick-up brass from USPSA matches. Most of the 'rejects' from the case gauge still fit in a gun, but I would never take them to a match. Those were chrono or practice fodder. I have never, ever, never lubed a pistol case prior to using a 'U' die. Cleaned, yes, lubed, no.

I've bought all of my 'U' dies from EGW. "EGW offers custom designed, carbide sizing dies that are 0.003" smaller in diameter than typical dies. Not only is it smaller in diameter, the bottom corner is 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." At the end of the day, It's a $30 die. Probably slightly cheaper than that roll sizer you mentioned, although I do not know what they cost. (You could probably buy several years worth of new brass for what that piece of gear cost, but it is a nice looking piece of equipment and I like good stuff.)
EGW 9mm 'U' die

Go to Brian Enos' forums if you want to get more info.

Send me a few pieces of your worst offenders and I'll size them in my 'U' die and send them back to you. Mark them if you like so that you'll know I can't do a switcheroo. Maybe they'll gauge, maybe not.

 

[TommyD11730]

Ok, I quoted you RE the undersized Lee die. I'm under the impression it's not a small base die. Rather it resizes 003" more than the standard die, but no further down the brass where "Glock bulge/smiles" appear

@TommyD11730
Not sure where you're getting that info. I've tossed very few over the years utilizing the 'U' die and the overwhelming majority of that was pick-up brass from USPSA matches. Most of the 'rejects' from the case gauge still fit in a gun, but I would never take them to a match. Those were chrono or practice fodder. I have never, ever, never lubed a pistol case prior to using a 'U' die. Cleaned, yes, lubed, no.

I've bought all of my 'U' dies from EGW. "EGW offers custom designed, carbide sizing dies that are 0.003" smaller in diameter than typical dies. Not only is it smaller in diameter, the bottom corner is 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." At the end of the day, It's a $30 die. Probably slightly cheaper than that roll sizer you mentioned, although I do not know what they cost. (You could probably buy several years worth of new brass for what that piece of gear cost, but it is a nice looking piece of equipment and I like good stuff.)
EGW 9mm 'U' die

Go to Brian Enos' forums if you want to get more info.

Send me a few pieces of your worst offenders and I'll size them in my 'U' die and send them back to you. Mark them if you like so that you'll know I can't do a switcheroo. Maybe they'll gauge, maybe not.

Well what do they say about a fool and his money?
I made the statement (regarding the dies attributes) after watching a UTUBER'S review of the die.
So end of the day I screw out the old Lee and screw in the new. Hopefully it gives me a little piece of mind.

 

[Richard Jones]

Do you have a link to the video?

 

[shoot4fun]

Yes, the Glock bulge near the base.

Please see this link and read what the Lee Undersize Die is made to do. As @Richard Jones has told you the die will (used properly) six farther down the case head and relieve the Glock Bulge.

Undersize Reloading Die, 9mm Luger

Optimize your reloading with EGW's Undersize 9mm Luger Die, designed for precision and durability. Experience improved case performance without lubrication. Perfect for serious reloaders!

egwguns.com

BTW, if you have never done business with EGW you should. They are great people and have been catering to the pistol shooters for many years.

 

[Richard Jones]

@shoot4fun
"BTW, if you have never done business with EGW you should. They are great people and have been catering to the pistol shooters for many years."

Absolutely, well said.

 

[Richard Jones]

More importantly, if you get a 'U' die, what do YOU think of it......

 

[NW42]

I also use the Lee U die and have had good results. I’m also picky with what I size with it. Any 9mm case that’s visibly bulged at the base is scrapped. There’s no need to even attempt those when 9mm range brass is selling for 18-20.00 per k.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

@TommyD11730
Not sure where you're getting that info. I've tossed very few over the years utilizing the 'U' die and the overwhelming majority of that was pick-up brass from USPSA matches. Most of the 'rejects' from the case gauge still fit in a gun, but I would never take them to a match. Those were chrono or practice fodder. I have never, ever, never lubed a pistol case prior to using a 'U' die. Cleaned, yes, lubed, no.

I've bought all of my 'U' dies from EGW. "EGW offers custom designed, carbide sizing dies that are 0.003" smaller in diameter than typical dies. Not only is it smaller in diameter, the bottom corner is 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." At the end of the day, It's a $30 die. Probably slightly cheaper than that roll sizer you mentioned, although I do not know what they cost. (You could probably buy several years worth of new brass for what that piece of gear cost, but it is a nice looking piece of equipment and I like good stuff.)
EGW 9mm 'U' die

Go to Brian Enos' forums if you want to get more info.

Send me a few pieces of your worst offenders and I'll size them in my 'U' die and send them back to you. Mark them if you like so that you'll know I can't do a switcheroo. Maybe they'll gauge, maybe not.

Thanks for the tip on the special EGW die.

 

[Richard Jones]

@Kracken McGraw

I remember George actually explained exactly what he did to them. I'll see if I can find that article/excerpt. Been a while....

 

[piie]

Yes, the Glock bulge near the base.

When I first got my Glocks I bought a special "Bulge Buster" feed-through die/contraption from Redding - cannot recall the exact model numbers, but I think it has also been discontinued since. However, since purchasing and moving to Lee Carbide dies, never needed it again on either my .40 or 10mm Auto - cheap dies, but very effective.

 

[TommyD11730]

Do you have a link to the video?

I'm sorry work has kept me very busy. This is a 45 U die. Probably the video I was thinking of...

 

[nettle]

If you use a Lee Factory Crimp die it will cycle through your reloader and your gun. Make sure your ducks are in a row before using a Lee Factory Crimp die because it will squish everything to where it should be and that's not always a good idea.

 

[Richard Jones]

@Kracken McGraw

So this is what an excerpt from 'U' die description on EGW's website said in 2012.

"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, the bottom corner is 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.
Why does my die have Lee packaging? Lee Precision, Inc manufacturers the dies to our specifications, meaning these dies are made solely for us. The Lee dies you can buy from other suppliers are not the EGW undersized dies."

They've since modified their description of the product for whatever reason. The '.001' quoted above doesn't make much sense to me. An .001 U die probably wouldn't work on most of the suspect cases, but that's a guess on my part. Seems wonky. Everything else I've ever seen has stated .003. It certainly verifies that EGW does/did something to them that Lee doesn't.

Edited to Add: I copied the above from a 2012 post on brianenos.com so cannot verify authenticity.....