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Problems with Zero 147 gr 9mm FMJ bullets?


Bobwat

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I just bought 4000 147 grain 9mm FMJ Zero bullets from Powder Valley and am having some issues that I have not seen before. I typically load 147 grain Berry plated bullets, but have read good things about the Zero bullets and since they were jacketed instead of plated, and not much more expensive than the Berry's, I thought that I would try them. When I started to load these i noticed that the case seemed to be bulged starting just below where the bullet sits and all the way to the top of the case. I am putting a good bell on the case so don't think that the bullets are crushing the case, but the case looks deformed after seating the bullet. I have tried multiple presses (Dillon 650 and Lee 1000) and also both Lee and Dillon sizing dies. I am using once fired brass with different headstamps that have been cleaned and inspected. Has anyone experienced anything like this before? I assume that they are safe to shoot, as I am loading at the lower end (3.2gr Tightgroup with 1.15 OAL), but would certainly welcome your thoughts and opinions. I have attached a picture. Please let me know if this is normal for these bullets. Thanks.

post-40802-0-04068200-1349490302_thumb.j

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A little pronounced but otherwise a classic 9mm "coke bottle" effect. I guess you could mic the bullets and make sure they are in the .355 range. My loads look almost like that but I use a U-die.

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Thanks everyone for your help. I tried them in a case guage and all of them would drop in but some would not fall out. I ended up running the ones that would not fall out through a Lee Factory Crimp Die and that fixed them where they would fall out. I shot them today and they shot great, so I guess that it wasn't as much of a problem that I had thought. I did feel better about shooting them after your replies. Thanks again,

Bobwat

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