New to reloading Please help

wkymaki · March 2, 2009, 10:14 PM

I am trying to reload 9mm. I will be using 124 grain hp/xtp bullets, unique or blue dot powder, cci 500 primmers. my book says a c.o.l: 1.060". With my
rcbs dies it seems to short. My reloads leave a "coke bottle" shape. Bullet looks like it is seating just past my Expander dies limit. I would like to increase the col to 1.100 or close to. Does any one have a load that would work? Supplys are limited along with money, But , I do have 600rnds of bullets, 1000 primmers, 2lbs of powder, and a ton of time do. Would like to push out fast rounds safely threw a "Baby Dersert eagle and a barreta 92fs".

Jung918 · March 3, 2009, 05:13 AM

I am slightly confused. Have you read any of the reloading manuals? What press are you using?
If you are getting a coke bottle shape, you have too much crimp.
This is the order that I use my dies:
decapping/resizing
expanding die
seating die
crimping die (the rcbs dies that I have has the seating die and crimp die in one)

I think what you are trying to say is that you are crimping and seating in one step. You should use one step for seating and another step to crimp.
When seating your bullets, put the cartridge in the shell holder and run the ram all the way up. Install your die until it touches the case and then loosen it. I believe RCBS says to loosen it a half turn. You should check the manual that came with the dies. Tighten the lock nut on the die and then install the seating stem and press the projectile to your desired COL (cartridge overall length). After that, take the seating stem out and loosen the locking nut on the die.
To crimp the cartridge, run the finished cartridge all the way up without touching the die. Then run the die without the seating them down until it touches the bullet. Lower the ram and slightly tighten the die until you achieve the desired crimp.

WESHOOT2 · March 3, 2009, 10:04 AM

Then, yes you can safely increase OAL to 1.100"; still function in both guns ("make ten test ten")?

Do so with Unique.

BUt first get your handloads to function before concerning yourself with how fast they go....

wkymaki · March 3, 2009, 12:36 PM

Great help here, thanks again

Don P · March 3, 2009, 04:49 PM

Reloading will require you to pay attention to details. Read your manuals and the name of one of the guns you name is Beretta, not Barreta. Details! Pay attention and when in doubt double check what you have done

March 2, 2009, 10:14 PM	#1
wkymaki Junior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: portland, oregon Posts: 8	New to reloading Please help I am trying to reload 9mm. I will be using 124 grain hp/xtp bullets, unique or blue dot powder, cci 500 primmers. my book says a c.o.l: 1.060". With my rcbs dies it seems to short. My reloads leave a "coke bottle" shape. Bullet looks like it is seating just past my Expander dies limit. I would like to increase the col to 1.100 or close to. Does any one have a load that would work? Supplys are limited along with money, But , I do have 600rnds of bullets, 1000 primmers, 2lbs of powder, and a ton of time do. Would like to push out fast rounds safely threw a "Baby Dersert eagle and a barreta 92fs".

March 3, 2009, 10:04 AM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	ignore the coke bottle Then, yes you can safely increase OAL to 1.100"; still function in both guns ("make ten test ten")? Do so with Unique. BUt first get your handloads to function before concerning yourself with how fast they go.... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

March 3, 2009, 12:36 PM	#4
wkymaki Junior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: portland, oregon Posts: 8	Thank you will try again Great help here, thanks again

March 3, 2009, 04:49 PM	#5
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Reloading will require you to pay attention to details. Read your manuals and the name of one of the guns you name is Beretta, not Barreta. Details! Pay attention and when in doubt double check what you have done __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

March 3, 2009, 05:13 AM	#2
Jung918 Member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 16	I am slightly confused. Have you read any of the reloading manuals? What press are you using? If you are getting a coke bottle shape, you have too much crimp. This is the order that I use my dies: decapping/resizing expanding die seating die crimping die (the rcbs dies that I have has the seating die and crimp die in one) I think what you are trying to say is that you are crimping and seating in one step. You should use one step for seating and another step to crimp. When seating your bullets, put the cartridge in the shell holder and run the ram all the way up. Install your die until it touches the case and then loosen it. I believe RCBS says to loosen it a half turn. You should check the manual that came with the dies. Tighten the lock nut on the die and then install the seating stem and press the projectile to your desired COL (cartridge overall length). After that, take the seating stem out and loosen the locking nut on the die. To crimp the cartridge, run the finished cartridge all the way up without touching the die. Then run the die without the seating them down until it touches the bullet. Lower the ram and slightly tighten the die until you achieve the desired crimp.