My first steps in reloading

[tdogg]

Congrats!  Any day at the range beats the alternative. 

I'd take a look at your crimp die setting.  It looks like the case mouth still has a little flare.  Your case mouth diameter (right at the edge) should be ~0.377-0.378 inch.  Or you can seat a bullet with an unflared case and measure the diameter to get your target crimp setting.

Cheers,
Toby

[Rcher]

Congrats!  Any day at the range beats the alternative. 

I'd take a look at your crimp die setting.  It looks like the case mouth still has a little flare.  Your case mouth diameter (right at the edge) should be ~0.377-0.378 inch.  Or you can seat a bullet with an unflared case and measure the diameter to get your target crimp setting.

Cheers,
Toby

Thank you!
My case mouth diameter is 0.375-0.376. I think that's because Blazer Brass has very thin wall - 0.010 in my measurements.

[Rcher]

I found interesting topic about various brass wall thickness. Sounds like Blazer Brass can be used for plated or casted bullets with no less that 0.356" diameter. All FMJ bullets with 0.355" require brass with thicker walls.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/myth-busting-neck-tension-and-bullet-setback.830072/page-4

[eastman]

I found interesting topic about various brass wall thickness. Sounds like Blazer Brass can be used for plated or casted bullets with no less that 0.356" diameter. All FMJ bullets with 0.355" require brass with thicker walls.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/myth-busting-neck-tension-and-bullet-setback.830072/page-4

At the factory, Blazer Brass is loaded with thin plated bullets.

[George16]

I personally use S&B,and  Fiocchi for both minor and major load ammo. It’s thicker and has tight primer pockets. I swage them first before reloading them. No setbacks at all.

[Wobbly]

I'd take a look at your crimp die setting.  It looks like the case mouth still has a little flare.  Your case mouth diameter (right at the edge) should be ~0.377-0.378 inch.  Or you can seat a bullet with an unflared case and measure the diameter to get your target crimp setting.

Cheers,
Toby

Thank you!
My case mouth diameter is 0.375-0.376. I think that's because Blazer Brass has very thin wall - 0.010 in my measurements.

I think Toby is correct, I see it too. If you can see it in a photo, then it's more than 0.005". And I don't think it has much to do with the brand of brass.

What are you measuring with ? And where are you measuring ?

[Rcher]

I personally use S&B,and  Fiocchi for both minor and major load ammo. It’s thicker and has tight primer pockets. I swage them first before reloading them. No setbacks at all.

My plan is to use BB/Speer/F.C. brass for plated bullets and S&B, Geco brass for Precision Delta FMJ.

BTW, I measured some random cases from the brass I collected on the range (made 3 measurement on each case and took medium).

PPU: 0.012" wall width
PMC: 0.0105"
TZZ: 0.010"
F.C.: 0.010"
CBC: 0.0105"
S.B - R: 0.0115"
S.B. : 0.0125"
Geco: 0.0115"

[Rcher]

I'd take a look at your crimp die setting.  It looks like the case mouth still has a little flare.  Your case mouth diameter (right at the edge) should be ~0.377-0.378 inch.  Or you can seat a bullet with an unflared case and measure the diameter to get your target crimp setting.

Cheers,
Toby

Thank you!
My case mouth diameter is 0.375-0.376. I think that's because Blazer Brass has very thin wall - 0.010 in my measurements.

I think Toby is correct, I see it too. If you can see it in a photo, then it's more than 0.005". And I don't think it has much to do with the brand of brass.

What are you measuring with ? And where are you measuring ?

I see flare on the photo too, however it is not visible on the real case without magnification.
I'm using iGaging EzCal caliper: https://www.amazon.com/iGaging-Electronic-Digital-Fractions-Stainless/dp/B001AQEZ2W/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=igaging+ezcal&qid=1593846870&sr=8-2
which gives 0.001" + 0.0005" accuracy. I was measuring at the very edge of case mouth.

And I had zero malfunctions on two pistols I fired (40 rounds total).

[Rcher]

One interesting lesson I learned.

I was very diligent and careful doing my first reloads, spent about 2 hours to load 60 rounds on Lee Turret pres. Checked powder load on every 10th case.
I already new that empty brass weight is inconsistent, but out of curiosity decided to check weights of all 60 loaded rounds.
Most rounds weight was in range 190.0 - 191.6 grains, but one sucker was 187.0 grains. It was scary, did I miss a powder load (which in my case was 3.9-4.0)?

So, I pulled the bullet out - hmm, powder was in place. So I checked weight of the empty brass case and yes - it was 3-4 grains lighter than other empty cases.
(All my brass was once fired Blazer Brass).

[George16]

I personally use S&B,and  Fiocchi for both minor and major load ammo. It’s thicker and has tight primer pockets. I swage them first before reloading them. No setbacks at all.

My plan is to use BB/Speer/F.C. brass for plated bullets and S&B, Geco brass for Precision Delta FMJ.

BTW, I measured some random cases from the brass I collected on the range (made 3 measurement on each case and took medium).

PPU: 0.012" wall width
PMC: 0.0105"
TZZ: 0.010"
F.C.: 0.010"
CBC: 0.0105"
S.B - R: 0.0115"
S.B. : 0.0125"
Geco: 0.0115"

Keep in mind that the S&B have tight primer pockets. I had to swage the primer pockets to prevent crush primers during the loading process.

[Philintheblanks]

Following this thread closely. My reloading experience has yet to begin since I am still living in Europe. The information and helpful attitudes from the forum members certainly makes it less daunting.

[Wobbly]

Following this thread closely. My reloading experience has yet to begin since I am still living in Europe. The information and helpful attitudes from the forum members certainly makes it less daunting.

How's the C-19 in your area ? We had a trip planned for Italy in April. Obviously, we spent all of April looking at each other while sitting on our back porch, and saying, "Right now, we're supposed to be eating [insert mouth watering local dish here]" and crying. April was a very long month.

These last 4 or 5 posts... these guys are getting into reloading minutia. I shoot mixed brass and it all shoots fantastically. You can go there if you want, if you are interested in that level of detail, but it is absolutely not required. When you get to where your collection consists of several thousand 9mm cases, then you may want to toss out several of the less desirable brands they mention. But what they are talking about is way on down the road for you.

 

[Philintheblanks]

Following this thread closely. My reloading experience has yet to begin since I am still living in Europe. The information and helpful attitudes from the forum members certainly makes it less daunting.

How's the C-19 in your area ? We had a trip planned for Italy in April. Obviously, we spent all of April looking at each other while sitting on our back porch, and saying, "Right now, we're supposed to be eating [insert mouth watering local dish here]" and crying. April was a very long month.

These last 4 or 5 posts... these guys are getting into reloading minutia. I shoot mixed brass and it all shoots fantastically. You can go there if you want, if you are interested in that level of detail, but it is absolutely not required. When you get to where your collection consists of several thousand 9mm cases, then you may want to toss out several of the less desirable brands they mention. But what they are talking about is way on down the road for you.

 

It's pretty much under control in The Netherlands. 37 new cases and 4 deaths yesterday. April in Italy would, in normal circumstances, be heaven. I was stationed there for three years back in the early '80s. I've only been back once since. Love the place.

Yeah, I don't expect to have the opportunity to be choosy particularly with component shortages expected to continue. I am just trying to assemble my beginning components before I return. I bought several types of powder based on recommendations I've seen here and I was able to buy some large pistol primers. Still looking for small primers. I expect a little less difficulty getting cases and projectiles.

[lewmed]

When I set up my new XL750 for 9mm I was getting bullet set back with mixed brass I ended up replacing the dillon sizing die with a U-die and the problem went away. I also noticed the Dillon die didn't do a very good job resizing the lower part of the case unless the die made a hard full contact with the shell holder.

[Wobbly]

It's a die designer's dilemma. Do you bell the sizing die entrance so much that all the cases will enter easily, or worry about true full-length sizing ? IME, the average case shot in the average CZ will in all likelihood not need more sizing than the Dillon dies provide. This because the brass gets physically thicker near the head and simply doesn't expand out of shape in those lower regions. But I can see how an unsupported or other special chamber might generate the need for more complete sizing.

There's nothing special or magical about the die touching the shell holder. The die is simply sizing more of the case the deeper it's set. I adjust my dies to miss the shell holder by the thickness of a sheet of paper. In that way I get the maximum sizing distance without the collision. (The collision which could break the glass-fragile carbide ring.)