9mm Expander

[30yrcaster]

Hello again,

For those of you using cast 9mm bullets in your pistols that are .357-.358, what expanders are you using when reloading? I mic'd my Lee powder thru expander and it's .353. I think that's a bit small even for .356 lead bullets and I'm sure it will swage .357-8 bullets smaller. My old Speer manual says you need an expander .001 smaller than the bullet dia so how then do you get an expander that's oversize for this short round?

Thanks

[curator]

I use the expander from my Lee .38Spec/357Mag which mikes .356. I shoot .358 diameter air-cooled WW boolits in My Beretta 9mm. And you are correct in assuming the smaller diameter expander results in sizing down your boolits when seating them.

[30yrcaster]

I use the expander from my Lee .38Spec/357Mag which mikes .356. I shoot .358 diameter air-cooled WW boolits in My Beretta 9mm. And you are correct in assuming the smaller diameter expander results in sizing down your boolits when seating them.
Will the Lee or anyone else's .38Spec expander adjust ok for the 9mm or is there a modification needed since it's a shorter round?

Thanks

[NuJudge]

You can make them smaller with sandpaper. To make them larger you buy another one.

[Jailer]

I use a 38/357 expander in my Lee powder through die. You'll have to make a spacer to make the powder drop activate with the shorter 9mm round though.

[crabo]

Anyone ever checked to see what the Dillon Square Deal does with 9mm?

[gefiltephish]

I had Buckshot make a custom 9mm plug for my M die. Works for me. In fact I've had Buckshot make plugs for all my M dies.

[rayzer]

I size my 9 MM. boolits to .358 for use in my Beretta M9. The bore slugs out at .3573". I use my .38/ .357 Mag. expander, to size my 9MM. brass. I am waiting on a 9MM. Lyman M die though.

[30yrcaster]

I use a 38/357 expander in my Lee powder through die. You'll have to make a spacer to make the powder drop activate with the shorter 9mm round though.
Any idea what to use as a spacer? I checked the expander and I'd need something 9/16". Don't see any tubing or rod that's 9/16".

It's obvious the 9mm being oversize is common. Surprised the die mfgrs don't have something available for this.

Thanks

[CPL Lou]

What I do, to save money, is expand my case mouths using my 9mm die. Then I run them through again using my .38 Special case mouth expander. This adds an extra step, but it also allows me to adjust how deep the larger expander goes without compromising how wide I bell the case mouths.
I can also adjust the 2nd expander depth so that my bullet actually sits inside the case on its own shoulder, helping to keep my bullets from getting pushed deeper into the case.

Hope this helps.

[Jailer]

Any idea what to use as a spacer? I checked the expander and I'd need something 9/16". Don't see any tubing or rod that's 9/16".

It's obvious the 9mm being oversize is common. Surprised the die mfgrs don't have something available for this.

Thanks

The link below shows what I did. I probably put a lot more work into this than most would, but I wanted my powder measure to work with the modified powder through expander.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=124464

[ku4hx]

I use the one that came with my Dillon 9mm shell plate kit. No idea what it's diameter is but .356", .357" and .358" boolits all load easily and shoot quite well. Larger diameter boolits may be getting swaged down upon seating but I never argue with success. Just cast 'em, size 'em, load 'em and shoot 'em.

[Bullet Caster]

Is it really necessary to size a .356 TL from a Lee mould? I think I know the first step and that would be to measure what the mould is dropping in dia. and see. I've heard that sizing was not necessary esp. if the expander die swages the seated boolit during seating. I would like to identify any problems before they arise esp. since my 9mm will be my carry weapon. Any help would certainly be appreciated. Thanks. BC