Why are 9mms such an issue?

[XTR]

@Jdne5b see, I know how well you shoot handguns. That’s not surprising.

just a thought. Blowing out the base is a sure sign of high pressure.

@H2OBUG , how are you crimping? I have been a fan of factory crimp dies since I shot USPSA back in the dark ages. (Before there was IDPA or classes). If I got the right poster in this thread you may have mentioned that it’s a problem with jacketed rounds. They send to be somewhat smaller diameter than cast and far more likely to slip. My guess is that your getting bullet setback either in the mag on recoil, or more likely being pushed in during feeding. The results are high pressure.

just a hunch from the internet.

 

[Jdne5b]

@Jdne5b see, I know how well you shoot handguns. That’s not surprising.

just a thought. Blowing out the base is a sure sign of high pressure.

@H2OBUG , how are you crimping? I have been a fan of factory crimp dies since I shot USPSA back in the dark ages. (Before there was IDPA or classes). If I got the right poster in this thread you may have mentioned that it’s a problem with jacketed rounds. They send to be somewhat smaller diameter than cast and far more likely to slip. My guess is that your getting bullet setback either in the mag on recoil, or more likely being pushed in during feeding. The results are high pressure.

just a hunch from the internet.

It’s also a sign of out of battery detonation, unsupported chambers, poor quality brass, or a combination of these. The CZ Scorpion is also known to do this once and a while, but I have no experience with the CX4.

You can certainly blow out the web of a 9mm case with a sane and normal pressure load if any of the above is true.

 

[Jdne5b]

Great groups. Cast or jacketed bullets; factory or your own? My 9's shoot groups about like these, but at 25 yards. I have a SIG P320 Legion that is probably my most accurate pistol. My EDC is a Glock 36. With the 12 round mag and its' pinky finger extension I can stay in the IPSC center out to 25 yards on a good day.

My older brother belonged to a gun club in St Louis county. He cut a deal to scoop up all the brass; he was a machinist/tool and die maker at the local power plant. He made some special parts for a LE agency. I did not ask, and he did not volunteer any information.
Bottom line; I brought him about half a ton or old wheel weights, and took seven five gallon buckets of 9mm commercial (mostly Federal) 9mm brass home with me.

I cast my own bullets for handguns, and my Sharps and Winchesters. Have to, with the the cost of commercial bullets. My Sharps 50-90 eats 650gr RFN bullets like candy.

As I said, those targets are really nice. Any chance you'd share load data? You can PM me with it if you prefer.

ISS

4.1gr Titegroup, 115gr Zero JHP

 

[GotRDid]

Watch out for brass that has an insert, or stepped brass. I think magtech? Maybe a couple others. They have greatly reduced case volume and can get you in trouble quickly.

As described by Mike McCormick, I have culled cases with exactly these features…

 

[DirtySteve]

Three 50 yard groups from my 9mm. Black dot is 4 inches.

View attachment 1585600View attachment 1585601

Bianchi Cup shooter are you? (NRA Action Pistol)

 

[Jdne5b]

Bianchi Cup shooter are you? (NRA Action Pistol)

Yes sir.

 

[markm87]

To the original post sentiment... I've been fighting the 9mm loading the last few weeks too. My old Dillon Carbide sizer doesn't squeeze FC or Blazer Brass down far enough to get bullet tension. I have to sort that off, or size it with my Lee Die.

Primer pockets on mixed/import brass are pissing me off too.

I finally increased my case mouth belling and that helped greatly with bullet seating straightness.

 

[DRK]

Tonight I loaded almost 1k of 9mm tonight to feed my UZI SMG. I ran about 30 rd rounds as a QC check. Ran in semi & full w/o any issues. Here's my load, I do NOT have any 9mm brass w/ a step in it, all mine is before that non-sense started.

Mixed brass
CCI 500 primers
5.5 gr Ramshot Silhouette (Winchester Action Pistol)
125 gr cast, wax lubed w/ ALOX
1.16" OAL

 

[tommeboy]

To the original post sentiment... I've been fighting the 9mm loading the last few weeks too. My old Dillon Carbide sizer doesn't squeeze FC or Blazer Brass down far enough to get bullet tension. I have to sort that off, or size it with my Lee Die.

Primer pockets on mixed/import brass are pissing me off too.

I finally increased my case mouth belling and that helped greatly with bullet seating straightness.

Thats because of the thinner brass that I mentioned.

 

[markm87]

My old Dillon Carbide die does not size all flavors of brass down far enough. I went ahead and chrono'd the set back against a good round.

Interestingly enough, the set back round ran 1079, and the good round ran 1126. The huge jump to the lands appears to bleed off some pressure. (small sample of 1, of course)

 

[drop_point]

One thing many don’t consider, brass picked up from USPA matches where guys shoot open-division 9mm, the guns need lots of gas to work the comps, but they also need lots of speed to attain major scoring. 9mm major brass is one and done when loaded to that pressure.

 

[Rwfish]

One thing many don’t consider, brass picked up from USPA matches where guys shoot open-division 9mm, the guns need lots of gas to work the comps, but they also need lots of speed to attain major scoring. 9mm major brass is one and done when loaded to that pressure.

That’s not necessarily the case. You just have to be more diligent about inspecting your cases and use good brass. I get several reloads on my open Major gun brass unless it’s nickel plated, that I just use for my minor guns..

 

[Rwfish]

My old Dillon Carbide die does not size all flavors of brass down far enough. I went ahead and chrono'd the set back against a good round.

Interestingly enough, the set back round ran 1079, and the good round ran 1126. The huge jump to the lands appears to bleed off some pressure. (small sample of 1, of course)

Do that with a hotter powder / load and your results will be less than pleasant…..

 

[Medic505]

Yes sir.

Is that a pistol or a rocket ship?

(He's also very proficient with a .308)

 

[AckleymanII]

I use Speer and Winchester 9mm attained from ranges were Homeland Security qualify and LEO. I have never had a problem, and purchase the brass in large flat rate boxes, FULL.

Picking up range brass is asking for BOO COO problems, and I had rather just buy new brass if I was forced to do so.

It is amazing how varying seating depth in .005 Increments can vary group size, shocking.

Some loads just work in all pistols I have shot:

124g Cast, powder coat or not, 3.4g of Tight group

124g Gold dot, XTP, etc with 7.8g of AA#7 is simply amazing, FAST and super accurate
Each bullet will have a sweet spot where it dumps the bullets in a hole, no telling what that OAL will be, as Trial and Error will tell all.

I use the pistol barrel as a "bullet Checker" on all rounds loaded, especially in establishing an OAL on each bullet.

 

[troupe]

I think the OP has given up on 9mm, I noticed he had his 9mm stuff for sale on another forum. There has been some very good info from many great members on this forum. The 9mm is easy to load, just as easy as the rest of the pistol cartridges. Just need the correct components.

 

[markm87]

The 9mm is easy to load, just as easy as the rest of the pistol cartridges. Just need the correct components.

For me, getting a larger case belling made a big difference in my struggle.

9mm is best reloaded if you have old stock of cheap components. Buying new components at current prices wouldn't make sense for me. With the lost time that I could be working on rifle ammo, it would be net loss.

 

[padom]

For me, getting a larger case belling made a big difference in my struggle.

9mm is best reloaded if you have old stock of cheap components. Buying new components at current prices wouldn't make sense for me. With the lost time that I could be working on rifle ammo, it would be net loss.

Or you could reload 9mm while your making rifle ammo like I do...‍

 

[markm87]

Or you could reload 9mm while your making rifle ammo like I do...‍

Skynet! The machines will rise up!

 

[Cashflow]

I have several sets of Lee dies but the set I bought for 9mm just did not work right. Sounds strange but I fought them for awhile in my Dillon 550. Went to my local gun shop, bought a new set of RCBS carbide dies and zero issues since. YMMV