Why are 9mms such an issue?

[H2OBUG]

I have reload just about everything under the sun and I struggle with 9mm.
Not sure if it is crappy range brass or what but I keep having issues with 9mm cases.
I have had several 9mm case failures last one just blew up my CX4 bolt and it will have to go back to beretta. I am to the point where I will not load 9mm any longer. I am not loading +p or any of that stuff. Just base target 9mm. I have had case failures in several different guns the most recent one in my CX4 was the worst. It damaged the bolt. These rounds showed zero signs of pressure. All I can figure is bad range brass. 9mm is cheap enough to buy factory. Think that is what I will do.

 

[6BRA]

9mm.reloads just like rifle reloads shoot twice as good as factory.

 

[DRK]

I load thousands of 9x19mm a year to run in my Uzi SMG w/o any problems. Something is not right, what are you loading including OAL?

 

[RegionRat]

Sorry to hear about the damage. I know what a drag it is to have to send things back to big outfits.

It comes with the territory when using unknown range brass. Around here we have a few ranges where there is a higher than average LEO and MIL usage. That often means the brass on the range has been run through poorly supported chambers and/or poorly maintained FA rigs.

When I used to help those range owners with their brass, the 9mm used in first gen Glocks and others with huge or unsupported chambers was often ruined. The cull rate was high even after roll sizing. Those friends have closed or moved away so I am no longer playing with those problems, but I understand from current operations like LAX and such, that those issues have never completely gone away because a range has no controls over what rigs are used or the condition/pedigree of the brass on the floor.

If the reason you were reloading was to tune a particular recipe to your gun, then I would recommend you either collect your own brass from known factory ammo, or try some virgin decent quality brass when it goes on sale. Starline for example is decent and a decent value. When I load ammo that counts in 9mm, I start with virgin brass and have had no issues.

 

[joshb]

^^^^ Same question as DRK. What are your loads and procedures? I started loading 9mm a year and a half ago. I’ve loaded over 4000 rounds and shot 1500 of them without a hitch, except for a few FTF from bad primers or seating them wrong. All were loaded from scrounged range brass.

 

[H2OBUG]

I load thousands of 9x19mm a year to run in my Uzi SMG w/o any problems. Something is not right, what are you loading including OAL?

OAL to bullet spec. Moderate powder loads nothing hot.
Probably loaded 50k 45 ACP with maybe one or two bad cases in 30 years.
10k or so 10mm never an issue
44 45 357 41 454 480 lots of bad ass mag stuff and it is the 9mm that I have issues with.
9mm I am snake bit.-

 

[joshb]

OAL to bullet spec. Moderate powder loads nothing hot.
Probably loaded 50k 45 ACP with maybe one or two bad cases in 30 years.
10k or so 10mm never an issue
44 45 357 41 454 480 lots of bad ass mag stuff and it is the 9mm that I have issues with.
9mm I am snake bit.-

What bullets and powder are you using?

 

[6MMsteve]

I had bad brass bulge until I changed barrels, from ebay 64 bills and it shoots tons better than the factory glock barrel more case support, more accurate less pressure than the glock barrel

 

[H2OBUG]

What bullets and powder are you using?

The issues have been mostly with jacketed bullets. Winchester 115s Hornady 115s
Powder is unique and BE-86 very moderately loaded to book OALs
Failures in my 1911, my Hi Power and my CX4
The HP and 1911 the unsupported area blew out into the mag. Bad but not destructive.
The CX 4 took the complete case head off.
Also loaded a pile of cast 124s on Unique- no real issues with those.

 

[JT27]

I started my reloading hobby with 9mm, some 10 yrs ago. Every single piece of 9mm brass I’ve ever loaded has been picked up of the ground. I usually go through 6-8k a year. And this stuff is picked up after USPSA, Steel Challenge, and my club’s steel matches, And I’d say half of that has been loaded previously by someone else.

Never an issue with brass-ever. Same can be said for 3 or 4 of my buddies, who are also regulars at the same matches. Get their brass the same place.

Never an issue with “the Glock bulge” either. Not to discount others experience, it just has never been an issue. That is more of a 40 thing anyway

I doubt it’s the brass.

 

[nettle]

I probably have the worst assortment of mongrel 9mm brass and have had problems with a about 4% of the reloads not passing the case gauge or plunking. A Lee Factory Crimp Die fixed this but be careful with the Lee die and make sure your case sizing and bullets are correct before using it because the Lee FCD will squish everything back to factory dimensions. It will squish bullets and although the rounds may chamber squished bullets are not very accurate.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

What dies, press and ammo checkers are you using?

 

[Rwfish]

Are you lubing your cases? Allot of people think with carbide dies lubing is not necessary. The taper of 9mm cases can stick when full sizing thru a press. If this happens you can exert quite a bit of force on the case when pulling down out of the die and that strain is at the groove. I’ve always used one shot spray lube just for that reason. Make cycling thru die a breeze..

 

[H2OBUG]

I probably have the worst assortment of mongrel 9mm brass and have had problems with an about 4% of the reloads not passing the case gauge or plunking. A Lee Factory Crimp Die fixed this but be careful with the Lee die and make sure your case sizing and bullets are correct before using it because the Lee FCD will squish everything back to factory dimensions. It will squish bullets and although the rounds may chamber squished bullets are not very accurate.

I am using Lee dies and these run through the FCD no feeding issues at all.

The FCD has been the deal for my 45 ACP for years.
I have been loading since 1987 rifle and mag pistol mostly. Only started the 9mm a couple years when I picked up a bunch of components in a package deal.

 

[H2OBUG]

Are you lubing your cases? Allot of people think with carbide dies lubing is not necessary. The taper of 9mm cases can stick when full sizing thru a press. If this happens you can exert quite a bit of force on the case when pulling down out of the die and that strain is at the groove. I’ve always used one shot spray lube just for that reason. Make cycling thru die a breeze..

This could be part of my issue. I may be working my brass too hard.

 

[H2OBUG]

What dies, press and ammo checkers are you using?

Lee dies
Lyman case gage

 

[WSnyder]

Some brass has very short and weak webs. GFL used to be a huge contributor in 40 SW blowups. All GFL went in the trash and was never reloaded.

Did you keep track of which brand cases caused the issues?

 

[DRK]

Do this and report back.

Clean 100 cases of the same maker, i.e. Win.

Lube
Size/deprime
Reprime
Flare/charge
Seat bullet longest OAL that will run, likely 1.16" OAL
Taper crimp in separate step.
Do not run the FCD.

I would use between a book min to Midway Unique load depending on what will run your gun.

 

[H2OBUG]

Some brass has very short and weak webs. GFL used to be a huge contributor in 40 SW blowups. All GFL went in the trash and was never reloaded.

Did you keep track of which brand cases caused the issues?

There was some of that in the mix.

 

[Rwfish]

This could be part of my issue. I may be working my brass too hard.

I’ve loaded several thousand of once fired 9mm brass of mixed stamps.using a Lee undersized die & Lee FCD to Major power factor loads. Pressures on these loads run well above +P and I can count less than 5 case separations.. If your shooting in an unsupported chamber or the round is sticking in the chamber during extraction it can compound the issue..