9mm neck expanding issues

[fredj338]

"(My 9mm alloy runs about 15 BHN)" This to me is a key factor in loading 9 mm that a lot of shooters try to ignore and use soft alloy.

My alloy is much softer, usually just range scrap, about 9-10bhn. I powder coat & water drop out of the oven for about 12-13bhn. Shoots fine in all my various 9mm, Glock to 1911.

[mdi]

FWIW; my alloy of 15-16 BHN was not an attempt to cast "hard bullets" for my 9mms, but as an experiment. My "normal" alloys run about 9-11 BHN with a lot of range scrap mixed with many wheel weights, my "Mystery Metal" alloy...

[Drew P]

I use a soft alloy as well and occasionally get a shaved bullet. I cut a custom powder through expander on my lathe starting with a hornady 357 piece. It works well but I have to put an aggressive flare to keep from shaving which I don’t like.

[ioon44]

I use an aggressive flare when loading .359" to .360" bullets in 9 mm to prevent shaving, this does not seem to hurt the brass as long as the seater die and taper crimp die are set up to allow the loaded round to pass the plunk test.

[243winxb]

Pulled bullets measure .360" from a 38 S&W . 38 S&W expander to big?

Not all 9mm brass have this taper.

As the expander goes deeper into the case, the thicker wall may bulge.
Not a problem if rounds chamber freely.

[Taterhead]

I size my 9mm bullets to .358 and the standard j word expander shank does not always open the neck ID sufficiently.


The RCBS 358 Cowboy M expander plug is the perfect diameter, but the shank is too long. I ordered a couple from RCBS (they just gave them to me). I'm going to turn down some of the length on a bench grinder (probably somewhat crude), so that the shank extends to the length of the bearing surface inside the case. I have a 401 Cowboy finished in a sinilar manner that works perfectly for 40 S&W. Of course an RCBS expander die is needed, but RCBS will sell for $6, I think if you call them.

[jsanch03]

I use a Lyman m die and a Hornady bullet seating die with the alignment sleeve. The combination of these 2 does on my Dillon produces good ammo with no lead shaving or bulges. I did have a bulge on a tulammo brass case that slipped through and found its way in the brass pile.

[gloob]

a lot of shooters try to ignore and use soft alloy [in 9mm].

There's a whole lot of people who know it's because 9mm has too high of a twist rate. I know 10-11 bhn can work just fine, if the cases are opened up enough to take them without damage.