PPGMD Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I was working up a 147gr load today, and noticed that there is a bulge in the case from the BBI 147gr bullet. Is that normal? Around the bullet it was running about .38" while below the bulge it was .375". I checked and the bulge wasn't there until seating and the bullet isn't canted. It gauges fine, but the bulge is just weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixxerjunky Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Look like a coke bottle? I have loses with 147 extreme and they do that as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1sickPuppy Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Checking the diameter sizing of the bullet you ordered. Instead of .355 it maybe .357 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 You could be seating the bullet deep enough that the base of the bullet is encountering the area where the brass begins to thicken toward the base of the case. This would cause a bulge at the base of the bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v1911 Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 The "Coke Bottle" effect as most will refer to it as, is common when loading with 147gr coated bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPGMD Posted August 11, 2016 Author Share Posted August 11, 2016 Yes it is a bit like a Coke bottle. My seating is near what many report using at 1.1380" (I was aiming for 1.1350" but with the Dillon dies you sometimes have to take what you can get). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Something like this, but a hair more dramatic? https://gunbot.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/wp_000151.jpg As the others have said... totally normal. If it drops into your barrel and spins freely, you know you aren't loaded too long for your chamber (but isn't grabbing rifling) and that the case is sized properly. Go shoot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GDad Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 (edited) I've had this issue with my 9mm BBI 147 grain loads. The loads that pass the plunk test are very accurate but I've found BBI to be inconsistent and the bulging can get pretty bad. I've had bulged loads that shoot and cycle without any problem, but I've found the BBIs bulge way more than other 147 grain loads. I also have issues with the coating shaving off at the edge of the brass case as the bullet is seated. I've over belled the brass in an effort to avoid this but still have the problem. Haven't had that problem with other molys that I load. I liked the accuracy of the BBIs but many of them that didn't pass the gauge / plunk test, found them to be inconsistent loading. Edited August 19, 2016 by 3GDad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 39 minutes ago, 3GDad said: I've had this issue with all of my 9mm BBI 147 grain loads. Much worse than any other 147 grain projectiles I've loaded. The loads that pass the plunk test are very accurate but I've found BBI to be very inconsistent and the bulging can get pretty bad. I've had bulged loads that shoot and cycle without any problem, but I've found the BBIs bulge way more than other 147 grain loads. I also have issues with the coating shaving off at the edge of the brass case as the bullet is seated. I've over belled the brass in an effort to avoid this but still have the problem. Haven't had that problem with other molys that I load. I liked the accuracy of the BBIs but had way too many of them that didn't pass the gauge / plunk test, found them to be very inconsistent loading, and gave up on them. That is literally the first negative review of Chandlers bullets that I have ever read. I found BBI's to be among the best bullets available, and I have tried a bunch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GDad Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 (edited) I really liked the accuracy, just had lots of trouble with seating them in the brass and many didn't pass and had to be tossed. I'm new to reloading and was hoping to find a work around, they were the most accurate of all the molys I tried. Edited August 19, 2016 by 3GDad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hceuterpe Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 I have that issue with 124gr JHPs from Precision Delta. In fact, the bulge was bad enough that I had to use a Lee FCD to get the rounds to pass my LE Wilson gage. The Dillon crimp die failed (and even sometimes failed the barrel test, too in my Glock!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biglou13 Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 The blue 147 flat points are less problematic. as others above I too had issues. manageable by culling out certain brass, but still had ocassional faill i will return to 147 flat points soon and permenantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Remember that the 9mm is a tapered case. Narrower on the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 yep, have recently had a much higher than normal failure rate with that bullet. Some I'm sure I can blame on brass but not all. i've loaded enough 9mm to know what a correct or traditional wasp waist or coke bottle look is. in my case it was different and not in a positive way. i had to load longer and that fixed some of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johniac7078 Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Nothing but problems with BBI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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