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Posted: 11/15/2009 1:12:03 PM EDT
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I have a 550B and was loading 9mm and seem to have some sizing issues.
Every other round or so after the powder so the 3rd die, when I put the bullet on the case the case was just a tad too large....so the bullet would slide in to easily. So after the crimp the bullet was in place, but you can twist the bullet around the case. I took the dies all apart and got the same thing. I even had the powder die just put the smallest bell on the case as I could. So I did try this. I have another sizing die (not a dillon) and put it in the 1st place. I did a few sizing and ran a few with not a single case too large. So when a sizing die wears out is this the way it "acts"? My set of dies has done about 20k of 9mm. It is the dillon carbite die and I almost always use a small amount of lube. I am thinking my next try is to get another dillion 9mm size die and see what happens..... This has been driving me nuts all day.....did not get but more that 100 rounds this afternoon, when I could do 1k. And to top it off....my dang bullet puller broke 
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Were the problem cases a brand you haven't loaded before, or maybe some that have been loaded dozens of times?
I don't think your dies are worn out after 20k loads. I think the cases are thin for some reason. Take a look at the expander ball from your die to see if it is damaged or really dirty and causing the cases to be opened too far when it withdrawn. If it's a new expander, check the diameter to make sure it's not too large. |
| My Dillon 9mm dies did the same thing with Win brass. Win is very thin in the mouth area. The die simply will not squeeze the brass enough to hold a .356 bullet properly. See if you can identify the brand of brass that is causing the problem. You could segregate that brand(s). Or just leave the non-Dillon die installed and get after it. |
| My Dillon dies have sized over 35,000 cases and still leave the brass small enough to cause the bullet base to be noticeable as a slight bulge. There is no way the carbide ring has worn away to cause this. Even if that were possible, it would occur gradually, not all at once. As others have said––this could be a brass problem, though it would have to be some really out of spec brass. Please let us know what you find out when you call Dillon support. |
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20k cases.............brass vs. carbide........
I'd bet on the carbide die going for more. 
Aloha, Mark PS........from an old post....... Consider for a moment...........
A die manufacturer has no control over the producers of brass. Brass is made in various thickness. Foreign or domestic, brand A or brand B or lot to lot...............variation happens. So, the die manufacturers will use their best judgement (guess) about the brass that will be encountered by a reloader. A spec will be decided upon. The carbide ring will be manufactured to the drawing spec and installed into the die body. Finally, when used............the die w/ carbide ring will resize the oustide diameter of your brass. However, the inside diameter of your resized brass will vary due to the thickness of your brass. And, I'm not even mentioning the small amount of "brass spring back." So anyway, I pointed out the brass thickness issue because for some, it's an easy fix. Just change your brand of brass. The difference in thickness might be enough to get you a slightly tighter bullet fit. And, you could always "play" with the expander size and adjustment. |
| This is probably way out in left field, but I read a thread a couple of months ago where someone had resized a 9mm MAK (actually 9.2mm) case in their 9mm Luger dies and had cracked the carbide ring. I'd think that would affect every case, but might be something to check. |
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Aero, I don't think 9mm resize dies have an expander ball. On a 550 the powder drop funnel does the expanding. It bells, not expands. This could be an issue with the powder measure drop tube adjustment. It should just "kiss" the case mouth, and barely bell it at all . . . |
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Thanks for the info here is some back.
My brass is all sorts, I have a small private range so I have about 15k-20k brass of 9mm. There has not been a pattern by brand, it seems to go across all. This sizing issue is very easy to see before I seat the bullet, so I would guess my issue is not with the bullet seat and crimp. What is very interesting is that my other die set (Lee) works fine in its place (for the size and decrimp). I plan to call Dillon later today and talk to them about the issue. Brian |
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Quoted:
What about the current batch of bullets? Check the diameter, this wouldn't be the first time someone bought some that are undersize. I did .355 and .356 like it should be....However I don't think I checked one that was an issue. I am going to try some more things tonight. Called Dillon and they said to make sure the die is hitting the plate..... I normally adjust as hit the plate the back off 1/4 turn. They said have it hit the plate. I will test it tonight and if no go they would replace the die. This die was from about 2001 and they did say they had a size issue around 2000, but I may have one from then..... Brian |
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