9mm: Case Gauge = Pass; Plunk = Fail

[Walkalong]

one with "Resistance + 3/4 turn" and one with "Resistance + 1 full turn".

I would be cautious with 3/4, and feel like 1 full turn will be too much. 1/4 to 1/2 after you dial it down to touch the case mouth of the loaded round should do it.

Measure diameter at the case mouth and just below it until you get to a point halfway down the part of the bullet in the case.

Not 9MM, but you get the idea.

 

[RAT807]

I have been through this as well. Ultimately, seating the bullets deeper solved my issues. Things I found along the way... Different dies do not all size the same, brass thickness does vary from manufacturers, shell holders can vary in deck height. So if you have a tight chamber, you may need a smaller sized case than what your die, brass and shell holder will produce. Measure your cases and loaded rounds that will plunk in your tight chamber And use them as a guide.
Bullets also need to be measured. High quality bullets will still have about .004 difference in bearing surface length. If your bullets are seated too long, it's not the bullet tip that is touching the lands. It's the bullet ogive! So passing a plunk test with one or two rounds will not alway give you the correct length you need for the other bullets pushing .004 longer bearing surface lengths. I have seen .029 variances in a box of 100 bullets. So, after all of that, I know what every measurement should be as I resize, flare and seat bullets. I no longer crimp rounds as my process has proven to not need it.

 

[otisrush]

Back from the range. Last night I loaded up (HP-38) 3.9g, 4.0g, 4.1g and 4.2g. All cycled just fine. No signs of pressure in anything. The 4.0g performed VERY consistently. Over 9 shots I had an Extreme Spread of 18 ft/sec.

In the attached photo you can see a nick in the bullet. It's the horizontal line a little over half-way between the case mouth and bullet tip. This nick shows up when the round is chambered, hitting the slide release after inserting the mag. I did this to check bullet setback/COL after chambering. The COL didn't change, but the bullet had this nick in it.

Where should my concern level be with this? I figure it's hitting the top of the chamber given how short the COL is.

OR

 

[Blue68f100]

No concern at all, will not hurt any thing. I've seen new bullets with more nicks/dings than that. It may be the hitting the end of the magazine as it feeds or the feed ramp. Hitting the top of the chamber normally puts a flat spot on them, not a nick.

 

[CoalTrain49]

You can measure crimp. I use a Wilson gauge to check all my sized brass. I scrap any that don't fall out from their own weight. Doing this ensures all my reloads will fit my tightest chamber (EMP). I set my C&H taper "crimp" die to remove the bell on the shortest cases, which means the longest ones will get a hair (.001ish) of inward "crimp".

That's what I do also. I don't want to be screwing around with brass that won't size, waste of time. I'm surprised at the cull rate for range brass using that method. I would say it's 10% or more. My theory is those cases are poor quality brass, used up, or deformed beyond all hope. I also gauge my completed round. Even with all the checks some still won't make the cut.

 

[Nature Boy]

I just crossed 1,300 reloads of 9mm with mixed range brass using Dillon dies. I'm also gaging each completed round in a Dillon case gage. So far, I've only had one stick in the gage. Doing all of that checking cases up front, having a 10% fall out and still have some not fit after would be a big pain.

 

[Fatelvis]

There is a talented Gent over at Cast Boolits.com that I've used to ream cylinder throats on 3 of my revolvers and an undersized 9mm throat in a Springfield XP Mod2. He does excellent work, and puts the throat and leade where they are supposed to be. Here is his "ad" and info, please tell him I sent you!

Got a .22 .32 .357 .38 .40 .41 .44 .45 .480 or .500 S&W cylinder that needs throat reaming? 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? Shoot me a PM! Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cylinderhone-756429174391912/

 

[egd]

Hummm, I have a PPQ 5" 9mm. I use RMR fmj rn bullets and my oal is 1.130 to 1.135. I have no problems with feeding or anything.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm surprised at the cull rate for range brass using that method. I would say it's 10% or more.

Yep, my guesstimate has always been 10 to 15%.

 

[Walkalong]

There is a talented Gent over at Cast Boolits.com that I've used to ream cylinder throats on 3 of my revolvers and an undersized 9mm throat in a Springfield XP Mod2

My EMP had an undersized chamber, but SA reamed it. It is still at SAMMI minimum though.

 

[otisrush]

Hummm, I have a PPQ 5" 9mm. I use RMR fmj rn bullets and my oal is 1.130 to 1.135. I have no problems with feeding or anything.

That's good to hear. I'll put that on my list of bullets to consider.

These Zero Bullets bullets I'm loading are known (I think) for a having a profile where the ogive protrudes out pretty far. So it takes a pretty short COL to keep that from hitting the lands. At least this is what I've concluded via this and other situations I've had with it.

 

[higgite]

These Zero Bullets bullets I'm loading are known (I think) for a having a profile where the ogive protrudes out pretty far. So it takes a pretty short COL to keep that from hitting the lands. At least this is what I've concluded via this and other situations I've had with it.

That has been my experience with Zero FMJs, also. Especially in 9mm. I've had similar experience with RMR plated HPs and X-treme plated FPs. It all depends on the bullet profile and the gun they're going in.

 

[nevadabob]

I didn't enjoy reloading for my Walther PPX. All my other 9's I loaded at a set COL and they plunked fine. But when it came to that "European short chambered CZ-like barrel", I had to reload specifically for the Walther. That became a pain and it was the reason why the gun went up on the trading block.
Going through my notes, when it came to my Black & Blue bullets (now bnbcasting.com) I loaded 125 no lube groove RN coated @ 1.078-1.080. With my other 9's, that same bullet was loaded @ 1.100.
I thought about sending it out to a chamber reamer but never did. The PPX had a great trigger. That was the initial reason I bought it. But her looks started to grow on me as well. She was a big girl that looked like she was conceived from a High Point gene pool.

 

[otisrush]

I didn't enjoy reloading for my Walther PPX. All my other 9's I loaded at a set COL and they plunked fine. But when it came to that "European short chambered CZ-like barrel", I had to reload specifically for the Walther. That became a pain and it was the reason why the gun went up on the trading block.
Going through my notes, when it came to my Black & Blue bullets (now bnbcasting.com) I loaded 125 no lube groove RN coated @ 1.078-1.080. With my other 9's, that same bullet was loaded @ 1.100.
I thought about sending it out to a chamber reamer but never did. The PPX had a great trigger. That was the initial reason I bought it. But her looks started to grow on me as well. She was a big girl that looked like she was conceived from a High Point gene pool.

My story with the PPQ is similar. I bought it because of how everyone was talking about the trigger. At the time I was agonizing between that and the HK VP9. When I bought the Walther I had no idea of their reputations with regards to loading ammo for it.

I'm not to the point of giving it up. I have one other 9mm. That's a Browning Hi Power. I don't shoot it a whole bunch. I have yet to test my new PPQ-developed load in the Hi Power. It'll certainly fit. LOL But we'll see how well (or not) it performs. I hope I don't end up having two different loads, one for each gun.

OR

 

[rfwobbly]

There is a talented Gent over at Cast Boolits.com that I've used to ream cylinder throats on 3 of my revolvers and an undersized 9mm throat in a Springfield XP Mod2. He does excellent work, and puts the throat and leade where they are supposed to be. Here is his "ad" and info, please tell him I sent you!

I didn't enjoy reloading for my Walther PPX. All my other 9's I loaded at a set COL and they plunked fine. But when it came to that "European short chambered CZ-like barrel", I had to reload specifically for the Walther. That became a pain and it was the reason why the gun went up on the trading block.

You guys make it sound as if all guns are supposed to have a set leade or freebore; as if that dimension was handed down on stone tablets. That is not the case. All guns (even within the SAAMI spec) are different for different reasons.

I can respect that a short leade isn't conducive to 'love at first sight'. I can respect NevadaBob for selling his PPX... to each his own. But this is a reloading forum. Let's not throw out that the ultimate cure is to have your chamber reamed.

Instead, let's learn to measure our chambers more carefully. Let's learn that not every single bullet offered for sale can be used in my gun. Learn to be more selective in our component choices. In short, learn to become better reloaders. Learning and doing is how you improve in the hobby.

You don't learn baseball by getting a base hit and running to third !

 

[meesterdon]

I use the PPQ barrel as my case gauge. Fit the PPQ and they will fit anything.

 

[Rodentman]

I went through a similar struggle with an aftermarket G17 barrel. I determined that the leade was too short, or non-existent and got a different barrel specifically made with greater distance, if I am saying it properly. Problem solved. Personally I have found a wide variation in 9mm barrels. Far greater than in any other caliber. I'm far from an expert, but that's what I found. Very frustrating.

 

[nevadabob]

I am sorry for causing any confusion.

 

[Fatelvis]

You guys make it sound as if all guns are supposed to have a set leade or freebore; as if that dimension was handed down on stone tablets. That is not the case. All guns (even within the SAAMI spec) are different for different reasons.

I can respect that a short leade isn't conducive to 'love at first sight'. I can respect NevadaBob for selling his PPX... to each his own. But this is a reloading forum. Let's not throw out that the ultimate cure is to have your chamber reamed.

Instead, let's learn to measure our chambers more carefully. Let's learn that not every single bullet offered for sale can be used in my gun. Learn to be more selective in our component choices. In short, learn to become better reloaders. Learning and doing is how you improve in the hobby.

You don't learn baseball by getting a base hit and running to third !

Yes, you can seat the bullets deeper so they do pass the plunk test, but the 9mm has very limited capacity, and I don't like infringing on internal space that can be utilized by powder, or driving pressure up on an already proven load.

 

[higgite]

When faced with the choice of swapping bullets to find a fit for my guns or swapping guns to find a fit for my bullets, I'll swap bullets every time. ymmv

 

[Jim Watson]

Me, too. I have supplies of four 9mm reloads at present. Most are shot in IDPA, USPSA, and practice.
One batch is dedicated to one gun. I will not buy more of that bullet.
One batch is good in most, all but one gun. But that is otherwise one of my better guns. I may not buy more of that bullet.
One batch runs in all and will likely be my standard load as long as I have some of the bullet and can readily buy more.
The other batch is hollowpoints for defense weapon practice, I will load those every once in a while.

 

[Fatelvis]

When faced with the choice of swapping bullets to find a fit for my guns or swapping guns to find a fit for my bullets, I'll swap bullets every time. ymmv

Reaming the barrels chamber gives you a third option. The throat in my Springfield was nonexistent, and the rifling started immediately. I really don't know why they would turn them out from the factory that way.

 

[koz4guns]

If you look at the chamber on your PPQ it will have a step in the chamber, supposedly this is the original spec for the 9mm luger.

It will be tighter at the case mouth,Take a look at the brass after firing there will be a ring on the end

 

[Sky King]

I use Lyman's Ammo Checker. Cover 8 different calibers. Works better for me than taking the barrels out for the plunk test or dropping them in the cylinder of revolvers