bullet tips "crushed in"

spitznagel · February 12, 2013, 11:03 AM

Im reloading 9mm 124gr x-treme plated bullets. When i seat and crimp, the tip of the bullet has been pressed slightly flat. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe i should flare the case a bit more perhaps?

Thanks

spacecoast · February 12, 2013, 11:06 AM

Separate your seating and crimping steps. The Lee Factory Crimp Die works well.

oldpapps · February 12, 2013, 12:10 PM

I have 'oiled' the bullet's nose that I was having problems with, squirt a blob of 'Hot Glue' on. The oil lets the glue fall off. Trim the now solid clump of glue to fit inside of your seating die and use it as a seating buffer. If I don't trim too much, the glum will stay put most of the time.

Problem solved cheap.

Be safe,

OSOK

spitznagel · February 13, 2013, 12:04 AM

thanks, i like the glue buffer idea.

serf 'rett · February 13, 2013, 12:34 AM

Sounds like there is still downward movement of the bullet while the crimp is being applied. Separate the two steps - seat then crimp.

I primarily use plated and lead bullets and don't have an issue with bullet tip deformation with the two step process.

In the worse case; ie, the problem continues, some die makers will make you a custom seating die to match your bullet.

Hammerhead · February 13, 2013, 03:37 AM

I would ignore it if it's just practice ammo. I don't think accuracy would be affected, and you could just leave them a little short on OAL.

You could put a wad of tin foil in the seating die and let the noses form their own custom seating plug. I use that for seating some soft SWC's in .357.

I would not any extra flare to the case, that would reduce bullet tension and could lead to bullet set back during the feeding cycle in the pistol.

spitznagel · February 13, 2013, 03:29 PM

well, my main concern is that i just might not be flaring enough to begin with. im very new to all of this.

Hammerhead · February 13, 2013, 03:50 PM

With 9mm and other auto pistol calibers it's very important not to over flare. As long as you are not shaving the plating off your bullets when you seat them, you have enough flare.

spitznagel · February 13, 2013, 07:09 PM

ill have to pull some out and take a look. are there any "garage" methods for pullin these or should i just invest in a puller?

thanks.

g.willikers · February 13, 2013, 07:30 PM

You might be able to see evidence of too little flare without pulling the bullet.
If the flare is causing the problem, and it takes enough effort to seat the bullet to cause the damage to the nose, there might be evidence to see.
Like shavings around the mouth of the case or plating material between case and bullet body slightly below the mouth.
Plated bullets have much thinner material covering the lead than jacketed.

m&p45acp10+1 · February 13, 2013, 07:53 PM

If you are seeing what looks like a copper hair at the case mouth of your loaded rounds then you are shaving off plating.

PA-Joe · February 13, 2013, 07:59 PM

I would check to see if your die maker has another seater plug. Most make at least two options one for flat points and the other for round noses. Some seater plugs are reversible with one end for flat and the other for round.

David Bachelder · February 13, 2013, 08:51 PM

Im betting he has the wrong seater plug too. Exact same mistake I made.

spitznagel · February 13, 2013, 10:25 PM

ive got the rcbs 9mm luger standard seating lug. in the package was an additional one but for .38.

jibjab · February 14, 2013, 02:52 AM

I would try less crimp first, with soft nose HP I seat and crimp separately.

Quote:

are there any "garage" methods for pullin these or should i just invest in a puller?

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Hammerhead · February 14, 2013, 04:24 AM

No need to pull any bullets.
When you scrape or 'skin' a plated bullet a section of the plating will wad up and will be stuck to the bullet at the rim. Just take a look, if it's happening, you'll see it.

The first time it happened to me I didn't catch it and it made it's way into my .38 Super 1911 making it jam out of battery.

I don't worry about finding fine brass hairs, I see them more with jacketed bullets and they don't seem to hurt anything.

greentick · February 14, 2013, 11:07 AM

nice homemade bullet puller jibjab!

spitznagel · February 14, 2013, 02:04 PM

ha thats a cool little puller, is that the case holder for the priming tool?

greentick · February 14, 2013, 02:38 PM

looks to be just a shell holder

jibjab · February 15, 2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

looks to be just a shell holder

Yes, it's a shell holder.
I use it when I'm adjusting my seating die, often I go to far and this works well to lengthen the COL.
It will pull a bullet but it gets pretty messy.

greentick · February 15, 2013, 05:48 PM

I was thinking you could just rubberband a bag on the end. Look like a crazy hobo but would get the job done.

February 12, 2013, 11:03 AM	#1
spitznagel Member Join Date: February 5, 2013 Posts: 18	bullet tips "crushed in" Im reloading 9mm 124gr x-treme plated bullets. When i seat and crimp, the tip of the bullet has been pressed slightly flat. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe i should flare the case a bit more perhaps? Thanks

February 12, 2013, 11:06 AM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 3,405	Separate your seating and crimping steps. The Lee Factory Crimp Die works well. __________________ My guns include S&W and Colt revolvers, Colt and Ruger pistols, Remington 870 shotgun, Henry and Marlin .22LR rifles, Hi-Point 9mm carbine and Lancaster Arms AK. I reload handgun rounds with a Lee hand press, over 18K rounds since Nov. 2009 with nary a squib nor kaboom.

February 13, 2013, 12:34 AM	#5
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart Posts: 1,040	Sounds like there is still downward movement of the bullet while the crimp is being applied. Separate the two steps - seat then crimp. I primarily use plated and lead bullets and don't have an issue with bullet tip deformation with the two step process. In the worse case; ie, the problem continues, some die makers will make you a custom seating die to match your bullet. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part. Last edited by serf 'rett; February 13, 2013 at 12:42 AM.

February 13, 2013, 07:30 PM	#10
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,544	You might be able to see evidence of too little flare without pulling the bullet. If the flare is causing the problem, and it takes enough effort to seat the bullet to cause the damage to the nose, there might be evidence to see. Like shavings around the mouth of the case or plating material between case and bullet body slightly below the mouth. Plated bullets have much thinner material covering the lead than jacketed. __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

February 13, 2013, 07:53 PM	#11
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,116	If you are seeing what looks like a copper hair at the case mouth of your loaded rounds then you are shaving off plating. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

February 12, 2013, 12:10 PM	#3
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 297	I have 'oiled' the bullet's nose that I was having problems with, squirt a blob of 'Hot Glue' on. The oil lets the glue fall off. Trim the now solid clump of glue to fit inside of your seating die and use it as a seating buffer. If I don't trim too much, the glum will stay put most of the time. Problem solved cheap. Be safe, OSOK

February 13, 2013, 12:04 AM	#4
spitznagel Member Join Date: February 5, 2013 Posts: 18	thanks, i like the glue buffer idea.

February 13, 2013, 03:37 AM	#6
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,182	I would ignore it if it's just practice ammo. I don't think accuracy would be affected, and you could just leave them a little short on OAL. You could put a wad of tin foil in the seating die and let the noses form their own custom seating plug. I use that for seating some soft SWC's in .357. I would not any extra flare to the case, that would reduce bullet tension and could lead to bullet set back during the feeding cycle in the pistol.

February 13, 2013, 03:29 PM	#7
spitznagel Member Join Date: February 5, 2013 Posts: 18	well, my main concern is that i just might not be flaring enough to begin with. im very new to all of this.

February 13, 2013, 03:50 PM	#8
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,182	With 9mm and other auto pistol calibers it's very important not to over flare. As long as you are not shaving the plating off your bullets when you seat them, you have enough flare.

February 13, 2013, 07:09 PM	#9
spitznagel Member Join Date: February 5, 2013 Posts: 18	ill have to pull some out and take a look. are there any "garage" methods for pullin these or should i just invest in a puller? thanks.

February 13, 2013, 07:59 PM	#12
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 661	I would check to see if your die maker has another seater plug. Most make at least two options one for flat points and the other for round noses. Some seater plugs are reversible with one end for flat and the other for round.

February 13, 2013, 08:51 PM	#13
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 409	Im betting he has the wrong seater plug too. Exact same mistake I made. __________________ David Bachelder Rookie reloader, but learning fast Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, .40, 38 S&W, .38 Special, .357, .45ACP, .45 Colt, .243 and 30-06

February 13, 2013, 10:25 PM	#14
spitznagel Member Join Date: February 5, 2013 Posts: 18	ive got the rcbs 9mm luger standard seating lug. in the package was an additional one but for .38.

February 14, 2013, 04:24 AM	#16
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,182	No need to pull any bullets. When you scrape or 'skin' a plated bullet a section of the plating will wad up and will be stuck to the bullet at the rim. Just take a look, if it's happening, you'll see it. The first time it happened to me I didn't catch it and it made it's way into my .38 Super 1911 making it jam out of battery. I don't worry about finding fine brass hairs, I see them more with jacketed bullets and they don't seem to hurt anything. Last edited by Hammerhead; February 14, 2013 at 04:46 AM.

February 14, 2013, 11:07 AM	#17
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 153	nice homemade bullet puller jibjab! __________________ NYS expat happily living in the deep South

February 14, 2013, 02:04 PM	#18
spitznagel Member Join Date: February 5, 2013 Posts: 18	ha thats a cool little puller, is that the case holder for the priming tool?

February 14, 2013, 02:38 PM	#19
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 153	looks to be just a shell holder __________________ NYS expat happily living in the deep South

February 15, 2013, 05:48 PM	#21
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 153	I was thinking you could just rubberband a bag on the end. Look like a crazy hobo but would get the job done. __________________ NYS expat happily living in the deep South