Reloading 9mm

Snipe · May 19, 2020, 04:49 AM

Hello everyone,
I have decided to reload 9mm on my turret press, has anyone installed a powder thrower on the press? I am getting mix opinions on this.

Thanks

higgite · May 19, 2020, 07:19 AM

Which turret press? Automatic advance, like Lee? Or manual advance, like RCBS, Redding and others?

I have successfully used a Lee case activated powder measure on a Lee auto advance turret press, but not on any others. The Lee combo worked very well.

littlebikerider · May 19, 2020, 07:31 AM

I have a powder thrower on my Hornady LnL. Whether I use it, or use an external digital powder measure, depends on the powder I am working with. I have found some powders like CleanShot, TiteGroup, CFE Pistol and even Bullseye to give me very consistent, repeatable powder charges. Other powders, like unique, don't meter as well and only get used with the external powder measure.

GTOne · May 19, 2020, 05:15 PM

Which powder thrower?
I don't see why it would be any problem. Keep in mind you will need a way to mount it with some kind of charging die set up and depending on measure and method of activating it can be simple or not so simple with cost being relative to that.
I have seen just about every brand of measure on every brand of press.

Grey_Lion · May 19, 2020, 07:43 PM

Let me put it to you this way - do you seriously want to increase your chances of squibs and over-charged rounds?

Never had a powder thrower myself - I weigh out each charge on a lyman digital scale.

Another consideration - if quantity is your goal - then you might want a powder thrower. If quality is your goal - you likely don't want a powder thrower......

If I'd have used a powder thrower - I might not have found the eye-glass screw I found in the last container of bullseye I ever used.....

**Aguila Blanca** · May 19, 2020, 11:12 PM

I use Lee's Autodisc on my Lee Turret press. I use the Autodisc for both .45 ACP and 9mm.

Why would anyone advise you NOT to use a powder dispenser on your press?

jetinteriorguy · May 20, 2020, 05:19 AM

I use both the Lee Autodisc and the Autodrum depending on what I’m loading. For pistol loads that I shoot in bulk I customize the discs with a tapered reamer, for small rifle (.223 and 7.62x39) I have drums already set up. In the rifle rounds these are plinking rounds, generally 2MOA or better. This is on a Lee Classic Cast turret press. For accurate rifle rounds, 1MOA or better, I use a single stage and hand weigh powder.

mikejonestkd · May 20, 2020, 06:28 AM

My setup is the same as jetinteriorguy's - Lee classic turret, pro auto disk, and auto drum measures that are press mounted.
The auto disk measure is just about idiot proof, and works very well for handgun rounds.

Hammerhead · May 20, 2020, 07:40 AM

I use my Redding 10X on top of my T-7 press.
Redding says the measure may be more accurate on a separate stand, but it's always spot on for me.

GTOne · May 20, 2020, 08:31 AM

For range fun ammo weighing every charge for auto-pistol or .223 is not really feasible unless one has a lot of spare time, in fact I'd call it downright unreasonable.
I don't want to spend 5 hours assembling ammo to only shoot it in an hour. That math sucks.
My pro auto-disks riding around on a classic turret are almost always within a tenth with any ball powder, as are my dillon measures.

Squibs or overcharges have nothing to do with the charge method, those are on the operator.

Swifty Morgan · May 20, 2020, 10:01 AM

There is a Youtuber who calls himself 76Highboy Reloading, and he has a series of excellent videos on the Hornady Lock-n-Load press. He shows people how to set a powder measure up for consistent loads. I found his videos very useful.

As for reloading 9mm, I found I can't save much money, but I can make exactly what I want. Last time I bought 9mm ammo made with brass, I paid $7.35 per box.

Snipe · May 20, 2020, 10:27 AM

Thanks everyone for the good advice, I have a redding t7 press with a rcbs thrower and just ordered a lee pro I'll see how that works.

**Aguila Blanca** · May 20, 2020, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peyton

Thanks everyone for the good advice, I have a redding t7 press with a rcbs thrower and just ordered a lee pro I'll see how that works.

By "lee pro" do you mean the Pro Auto Disc? The Lee Auto Disc (and the Pro version) work with Lee's powder through charging and flaring die. I don't know if it works with any other brand of dies, so I hope you ordered a die to go with it.

pete2 · May 21, 2020, 09:14 AM

I've never even considered mounting a powder measure to my Lyman turret press. I throw the powder in to all 50 cases and then look in each case to check for no charge or a double, then put the bullets in all 50, then on to the press to seat them. I use a Dillon 550B for my normal loading and just use the Turret press for misc loading these days. I use the turret press just like any other single stage press except I don't have to screw the dies in and out, I have 4 heads for it. It ain't a lot faster than a single stage press but it is handier.

GTOne · May 21, 2020, 11:13 AM

Quote:

I use the turret press just like any other single stage press

I would think one could at least double their efficiency and speed with the same margin of safety using a turret press in what I would consider conventional use of the turret, as a multi stage press. The more I can do without removing the case the more ammo I can assemble. I would have no qualms about dropping my dillon measures on a turret press if I had the need.

If I were loading precision rifle/big rifle, only time I would use single stage mode. To each their own, though, whatever one is comfortable doing is what matters.

Baldwin · May 21, 2020, 11:21 AM

My first press was a Redding T7 and I used a case activated Hornady powder measure. As someone else mentioned, the powder measure probably would have been more accurate if it was stationary but for loading plinking rounds in 9mm and .45acp, it worked fine.

308Loader · May 21, 2020, 03:46 PM

Lee auto drum has worked perfectally for me. Ive had it for a few years, never an issue over 1000's of rounds.

Schlitz 45 · May 22, 2020, 12:47 PM

+1 for the Lee auto drum. I've found it to drop very consistent loads once dialed in. Never have to touch it until I change caliber or bullet weight.

libiglou · May 22, 2020, 07:05 PM

I have a lyman turrent press and use a rcbs powder dispenser mounted on lyman powder/expander dies.Use it for all of my calibers except rifle. It works great. I've loaded 10's of thousands of rounds without a problem and its actually pretty quick. Each die is labeled so changing calibers is a breeze. The powder/expander die comes with everything you need to load most major calibers.

Prof Young · May 22, 2020, 11:52 PM

I use a Lee turret press with the auto drum. I've loaded hundreds (thousands maybe) of 9mm with no squib problem. The auto drum is very consistent with plus or mins 0.1 grains. I make a visual check of the case to make sure the powder came down (it always does but . . . ) and every ten or twenty rounds I re-weight the throw just to make sure. I use it to make all my hand gun loads (25 acp, 380, 9mm, 38 spl and plus p, 357, 44 mag, 45 acp and 45 colt) and they all run just fine.

Go for it. Stay within trusted formulas. You won't be sorry.

Prof Young

sparkyv · May 24, 2020, 09:05 PM

Lee auto drum or auto disc, regardless you'll need the Lee powder through charging die or the flaring die as the die insert activates the "auto" feature of those measures.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aguila Blanca

By "lee pro" do you mean the Pro Auto Disc? The Lee Auto Disc (and the Pro version) work with Lee's powder through charging and flaring die. I don't know if it works with any other brand of dies, so I hope you ordered a die to go with it.

Snipe · May 25, 2020, 07:44 AM

I ordered the lee auto disc with the lee powder through die and a hornady powder cop die to let me know the charge amount. I am only using this set up for 9mm and 45 acp.

**Aguila Blanca** · May 25, 2020, 11:39 AM

I think you'll find that the Powder Cop is wasted on 9mm. The differences are small with handgun cases and powders. My understanding is that the Powder Cop is intended for rifle rounds. If it works for you with 9mm, please let us know so I can revise my understanding.

Swifty Morgan · May 25, 2020, 11:47 AM

I just got a Powder Cop for pistol reloading, and I would call it useless for short cartridges. I can see into my casings when they go by. The Powder Cop is just a distraction.

Even for deep casings, I think it needs an alarm or a light in order to be useful. It's hard to stare at a little steel rod all day. I have not tried the Dillon device, but ad copy says it's electric. It doesn't look like it will detect low charges.

My press is mounted very low, and I find that to be a big bonus. Seeing into cases is one of the pluses. I would never want to have a press mounted high again.

Schlitz 45 · May 26, 2020, 07:42 AM

I just loaded up my first 50 9mm loads yesterday to try out using my old Lee hand loader. If all goes well with the recipe I'll go into production on the turret press that I have a Lee Auto Drum mounted on that's been a very accurate & consistent tool. I also started using a digital color inspection camera mounted to the press so I can verify powder's in place at a glance before seating a bullet, really increased safety & production.

May 19, 2020, 04:49 AM	#1
Snipe Member Join Date: March 30, 2017 Posts: 55	Reloading 9mm Hello everyone, I have decided to reload 9mm on my turret press, has anyone installed a powder thrower on the press? I am getting mix opinions on this. Thanks

May 19, 2020, 05:15 PM	#4
GTOne Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2011 Location: IL Posts: 210	Which powder thrower? I don't see why it would be any problem. Keep in mind you will need a way to mount it with some kind of charging die set up and depending on measure and method of activating it can be simple or not so simple with cost being relative to that. I have seen just about every brand of measure on every brand of press. __________________ You can lead someone to knowledge, but you can't make them think.

May 19, 2020, 11:12 PM	#6
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	I use Lee's Autodisc on my Lee Turret press. I use the Autodisc for both .45 ACP and 9mm. Why would anyone advise you NOT to use a powder dispenser on your press? __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

May 20, 2020, 06:28 AM	#8
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,717	My setup is the same as jetinteriorguy's - Lee classic turret, pro auto disk, and auto drum measures that are press mounted. The auto disk measure is just about idiot proof, and works very well for handgun rounds. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

May 20, 2020, 08:31 AM	#10
GTOne Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2011 Location: IL Posts: 210	For range fun ammo weighing every charge for auto-pistol or .223 is not really feasible unless one has a lot of spare time, in fact I'd call it downright unreasonable. I don't want to spend 5 hours assembling ammo to only shoot it in an hour. That math sucks. My pro auto-disks riding around on a classic turret are almost always within a tenth with any ball powder, as are my dillon measures. Squibs or overcharges have nothing to do with the charge method, those are on the operator. __________________ You can lead someone to knowledge, but you can't make them think.

May 19, 2020, 07:19 AM	#2
higgite Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Posts: 1,025	Which turret press? Automatic advance, like Lee? Or manual advance, like RCBS, Redding and others? I have successfully used a Lee case activated powder measure on a Lee auto advance turret press, but not on any others. The Lee combo worked very well.

May 19, 2020, 07:31 AM	#3
littlebikerider Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2018 Posts: 131	I have a powder thrower on my Hornady LnL. Whether I use it, or use an external digital powder measure, depends on the powder I am working with. I have found some powders like CleanShot, TiteGroup, CFE Pistol and even Bullseye to give me very consistent, repeatable powder charges. Other powders, like unique, don't meter as well and only get used with the external powder measure.

May 19, 2020, 07:43 PM	#5
Grey_Lion Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2018 Location: Baton Rouge - Louisiana Posts: 407	Let me put it to you this way - do you seriously want to increase your chances of squibs and over-charged rounds? Never had a powder thrower myself - I weigh out each charge on a lyman digital scale. Another consideration - if quantity is your goal - then you might want a powder thrower. If quality is your goal - you likely don't want a powder thrower...... If I'd have used a powder thrower - I might not have found the eye-glass screw I found in the last container of bullseye I ever used.....

May 20, 2020, 05:19 AM	#7
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,176	I use both the Lee Autodisc and the Autodrum depending on what I’m loading. For pistol loads that I shoot in bulk I customize the discs with a tapered reamer, for small rifle (.223 and 7.62x39) I have drums already set up. In the rifle rounds these are plinking rounds, generally 2MOA or better. This is on a Lee Classic Cast turret press. For accurate rifle rounds, 1MOA or better, I use a single stage and hand weigh powder.

May 20, 2020, 07:40 AM	#9
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	I use my Redding 10X on top of my T-7 press. Redding says the measure may be more accurate on a separate stand, but it's always spot on for me.

May 20, 2020, 10:01 AM	#11
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	There is a Youtuber who calls himself 76Highboy Reloading, and he has a series of excellent videos on the Hornady Lock-n-Load press. He shows people how to set a powder measure up for consistent loads. I found his videos very useful. As for reloading 9mm, I found I can't save much money, but I can make exactly what I want. Last time I bought 9mm ammo made with brass, I paid $7.35 per box. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

May 20, 2020, 10:27 AM	#12
Snipe Member Join Date: March 30, 2017 Posts: 55	Thanks everyone for the good advice, I have a redding t7 press with a rcbs thrower and just ordered a lee pro I'll see how that works.

May 21, 2020, 09:14 AM	#14
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	I've never even considered mounting a powder measure to my Lyman turret press. I throw the powder in to all 50 cases and then look in each case to check for no charge or a double, then put the bullets in all 50, then on to the press to seat them. I use a Dillon 550B for my normal loading and just use the Turret press for misc loading these days. I use the turret press just like any other single stage press except I don't have to screw the dies in and out, I have 4 heads for it. It ain't a lot faster than a single stage press but it is handier.

May 21, 2020, 11:21 AM	#16
Baldwin Member Join Date: April 23, 2017 Posts: 30	My first press was a Redding T7 and I used a case activated Hornady powder measure. As someone else mentioned, the powder measure probably would have been more accurate if it was stationary but for loading plinking rounds in 9mm and .45acp, it worked fine.

May 21, 2020, 03:46 PM	#17
308Loader Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 639	Lee auto drum has worked perfectally for me. Ive had it for a few years, never an issue over 1000's of rounds. __________________ Just a dude with stuff.

May 22, 2020, 12:47 PM	#18
Schlitz 45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2018 Location: Colorado Posts: 385	+1 for the Lee auto drum. I've found it to drop very consistent loads once dialed in. Never have to touch it until I change caliber or bullet weight.

May 22, 2020, 07:05 PM	#19
libiglou Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2017 Posts: 184	I have a lyman turrent press and use a rcbs powder dispenser mounted on lyman powder/expander dies.Use it for all of my calibers except rifle. It works great. I've loaded 10's of thousands of rounds without a problem and its actually pretty quick. Each die is labeled so changing calibers is a breeze. The powder/expander die comes with everything you need to load most major calibers.

May 22, 2020, 11:52 PM	#20
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	Use Lee stuff with no problems. I use a Lee turret press with the auto drum. I've loaded hundreds (thousands maybe) of 9mm with no squib problem. The auto drum is very consistent with plus or mins 0.1 grains. I make a visual check of the case to make sure the powder came down (it always does but . . . ) and every ten or twenty rounds I re-weight the throw just to make sure. I use it to make all my hand gun loads (25 acp, 380, 9mm, 38 spl and plus p, 357, 44 mag, 45 acp and 45 colt) and they all run just fine. Go for it. Stay within trusted formulas. You won't be sorry. Prof Young

May 25, 2020, 07:44 AM	#22
Snipe Member Join Date: March 30, 2017 Posts: 55	I ordered the lee auto disc with the lee powder through die and a hornady powder cop die to let me know the charge amount. I am only using this set up for 9mm and 45 acp.

May 25, 2020, 11:39 AM	#23
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	I think you'll find that the Powder Cop is wasted on 9mm. The differences are small with handgun cases and powders. My understanding is that the Powder Cop is intended for rifle rounds. If it works for you with 9mm, please let us know so I can revise my understanding. __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

May 25, 2020, 11:47 AM	#24
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	I just got a Powder Cop for pistol reloading, and I would call it useless for short cartridges. I can see into my casings when they go by. The Powder Cop is just a distraction. Even for deep casings, I think it needs an alarm or a light in order to be useful. It's hard to stare at a little steel rod all day. I have not tried the Dillon device, but ad copy says it's electric. It doesn't look like it will detect low charges. My press is mounted very low, and I find that to be a big bonus. Seeing into cases is one of the pluses. I would never want to have a press mounted high again. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

May 26, 2020, 07:42 AM	#25
Schlitz 45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2018 Location: Colorado Posts: 385	I just loaded up my first 50 9mm loads yesterday to try out using my old Lee hand loader. If all goes well with the recipe I'll go into production on the turret press that I have a Lee Auto Drum mounted on that's been a very accurate & consistent tool. I also started using a digital color inspection camera mounted to the press so I can verify powder's in place at a glance before seating a bullet, really increased safety & production.