Dillion-550, something seems wrong in the re-size station "halp&#

[jtrump]

Just got my dies in the mail from Dillion and started setting up the toolhead, I have the DE-Prime/Resize station bottomed out until it touches the shell plate but this is what I get, is this normal with 9mm???? I've done 10 cases so far even ones I know are once fired from a 9mm 1911, all are coming out like this, pics attached.

Input greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

[MemphisMechanic]

Looks normal. 9mm always has a "wasp waist" look to it.

Unlike factory ammo, the case is sized down as far as the sizing die can reach SMALLER than it orginally was, then the upper 1/3 or so gets expanded back out and filled with a bullet.

So the middle is narrowest.

Seat a bullet into it to the appropriate length (everything in the world will eat a round around 1.110" long and if you're loading for that 9mm 1911 you can probably go much longer.)

Crimp it (just remove all traces of flaring from the case rim so the wall is straight again) and see if it'll drop into your disassembled gun's barrel and spin freely. If so, you're doing it right.

Normal reload attached:

Edited April 6, 2016 by MemphisMechanic

[bowenbuilt]

The step at the bottom of the case is caused by the large inlet flare in the Dillon sizing die. While the gratuitous taper makes the cases easier to start into the bottom of the die it keeps the sizing ring from reaching the bottom of the case because so much material is removed. That is why a lot of us use Lee sizing dies. There is no entrance relief but the carbide ring is positioned so that it goes further down the case and will almost size the case the full length. Your cases look normal for the Dillon sizing die.

[MemphisMechanic]

The step at the bottom of the case is caused by the large inlet flare in the Dillon sizing die. While the gratuitous taper makes the cases easier to start into the bottom of the die it keeps the sizing ring from reaching the bottom of the case because so much material is removed. That is why a lot of us use Lee sizing dies. There is no entrance relief but the carbide ring is positioned so that it goes further down the case and will almost size the case the full length. Your cases look normal for the Dillon sizing die.

But even Lee dies still have a step-down just before the case rim. It's simply 1/8" or so lower on the wall of the case.

Edited April 6, 2016 by MemphisMechanic

[jtrump]

Interesting, thank you. So the bullet needs to be able to spin freely inside the barrel? Haven't ran into this with .40 or .45 ;P... This will be my first time loading 9mm minor for production. I'm going to be using 135g Bayou bullets, I've had some issues with them in the past scraping coating off if I don't bell the case a good bit.... Worried it won't case gauge. Although none of my zero bullet's case gauged but they all fit the barrel like a dream. I would try you're suggestion but usps seems to not want to delivery my bullets today on the expected delivery date. SO I have no bullets at the moment to go any further in setting up the press as I just got the die set.

[GrumpyOne]

Thats pretty normal. But it does look kind of fishy...almost like it isn't sizing down as far as it should. The measurements are correct though.

[jtrump]

The step at the bottom of the case is caused by the large inlet flare in the Dillon sizing die. While the gratuitous taper makes the cases easier to start into the bottom of the die it keeps the sizing ring from reaching the bottom of the case because so much material is removed. That is why a lot of us use Lee sizing dies. There is no entrance relief but the carbide ring is positioned so that it goes further down the case and will almost size the case the full length. Your cases look normal for the Dillon sizing die.

But just to make sure, this is perfectly normal and safe, unlike some problems you can run unto loading .40 with glock brass?

[jtrump]

Thats pretty normal. But it does look kind of fishy...almost like it isn't sizing down as far as it should. The measurements are correct though.

I've got it touching the shell plate, can't go any further.. I would like to see less of that though it looks foreign to me.

[Sarge]

The step at the bottom of the case is caused by the large inlet flare in the Dillon sizing die. While the gratuitous taper makes the cases easier to start into the bottom of the die it keeps the sizing ring from reaching the bottom of the case because so much material is removed. That is why a lot of us use Lee sizing dies. There is no entrance relief but the carbide ring is positioned so that it goes further down the case and will almost size the case the full length. Your cases look normal for the Dillon sizing die.

But even Lee dies still have a step-down just before the case rim. It's simply 1/8" or so lower on the wall of the case.

But the pics he posted are not wasp waist loads. That is unsized at the bottom because of the Dillon Die. It's why I don't use them. I suggest a cheap LEE die as well as a LEE undersized die to test out. I only use my Dillon die for odd jobs.

[Sarge]

And of course 9mm is tapered is another reason it may look foreign compared to 40/45.

[jtrump]

And of course 9mm is tapered is another reason it may look foreign compared to 40/45.

SO to make sure, this is fine and safe before I proceed further?

[rooster]

Yes, perfectly normal. Take a factory round and measure. Your going to see that at the position that you measure in your picture will be about .390. If it plunk tests in your barrel your fine.

[Sarge]

Yes, perfectly normal. Take a factory round and measure. Your going to see that at the position that you measure in your picture will be about .390. If it plunk tests in your barrel your fine.

^^^

[jtrump]

Awesome, Ok thanks much... I was like what the hell there's going to be 2 slight bulges..... "freaks out"

[lesm]

I really like the EGW U-die in 9mm. Really worth the reasonable price.

[jtrump]

I got it worked out, loaded some 135g bayou's behind 3.5g of VVN320 @ 1.135 OAL and made avg of 1011 fps for a 136.5PF out of the Glock 34... Going to dial back to probably 3.3 and run it again see if its around 130PF

[9x45]

It's pretty normal for 9mms, sometimes more pronounced. What is HotShot brass? never heard of it.

[jtrump]

It's pretty normal for 9mms, sometimes more pronounced. What is HotShot brass? never heard of it.

Hell to be honest with you I didn't even realize that brass said hotshot on it.... I have never heard of it either. Somewhere along the line it got picked up at the range.

[IDescribe]

jtrump, back that die off a hair. You do not want the die making contact with the shellplate at the top of the upstroke and flexing it. You want it falling a hair shy of making contact.

[9x45]

jtrump, as far as range brass goes, don't use IMT, AmmoLoad or Freedom Munitions (FM). They all have stepped cases and will separate after reloading and leave a brass sleeve in the chamber and you with a dead gun. I also stay away from Amerc and Geco. Seen many of those have case ruptures in Open guns.

[jtrump]

Ughhh I bet I have tons of freedom brass mixed in with all my stuff... Why do they have to make things difficult. Thanks for the heads up 9x45.

[shooterclay]

Pick amerc and ammoland brass out of you stash. Give it to someone you don't like. It is awful to load on my 550.

[acoop101]

I have found if you don't load crazy major loads 9mm with steps in it load just find, if you decide you want to cull it, load it once, shoot it and leave it.

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[L3324temp]

+1 on switching to a Lee resizing die. You'll see a nice improvement.

[michael.flitcraft]

Normal. Dillon has a larger, more generously radioused opening on their sizing dies to allow for faster cycling speeds. I run Hornady dies, my buddy Dillon, and his brass looks just like that where mine have the edge closer to the rim, with a more consistent taper to them. I have a very, very slight gap between the shellplate and bottom of the die to keep from tilting the shell plate on the upstroke of the ram.