Bullet Bulges

[scowens]

Loading 9mm with range brass - not bad quality. Using Hornady's HRN35557B 115gr, RN. RCBS taper crimper/seater. COL=1.100". I'm getting bulges on the side of the casing like if the bullet's center is off from the shell's center. Not every round, not the same orientation every time: 1 o'clock, 5 o'clock, etc. Using a Dillion 550B. Shell plate is not loose. Die holder is fixed with the pins, dies are snugged. I've got an email in to RCBS. Any suggestions?

 

[ANeat]

Thats normal, 9mm has a bit more taper than most handgun rounds and it gets sized in a "straight" die basicly.

The offset youre seeing is more than likely brass that varies in thickness slightly, start turning case necks and you wil really see it.

For 9mm or about any handgun round it really doesent matter

 

[booey50]

my brass did the same thing when I started out reloading, the one thing that really helped was messing with the expander die. this really helped for some reason. another thing I did was start using all the same brass, the federal ammo from walmart is really nice for this.

 

[kwatters]

I haven't noticed this using Dillon dies. My brass is a variety from range pickups.

 

[scowens]

my brass did the same thing when I started out reloading, the one thing that really helped was messing with the expander die. this really helped for some reason. another thing I did was start using all the same brass, the federal ammo from walmart is really nice for this.

What did you do to/with your expander die?

 

[booey50]

What did you do to/with your expander die?

I took what was recommended from lee and just made it a little bigger. Basically just made the mouth of the case expand more so the bullet would fit in the case a little easier.

 

[Leo]

Max OAL on a 9mm is 1.169" the last I remember. Can you try seating the bullets for 1.150? It may clear up the problem

 

[scowens]

Well, "stupid is as stupid does"... for what ever reason, I looked in my die box and to my surprise I saw another bullet seater plug. However, this one was marked with ".38" and not 9mm TMJ like the one I was using. Looking at the bottom of the plug, it was nice and round like the nose of my bullets I am wanting to load. So, I guess what I did in the past was see that the other one said .38 and I chose to use the 9mm w/o looking at the type of bullet the plug seats. Using the other seater plug and all is well. The TMJ is for SWC and the other is for RN.

Thanks for all the replies.