boatdoc173 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) although this story is a bit embarrassing. My experience may help others and will amuse the more experienced reloaders . In my never ending effort to produce top quality 9mm ammo, I researched and bought the Redding Titanium Competition 9mm die set . My first issue experienced was that some mixed brass cases needed to be rotated (partial turn 1/4-1/2 turn at a time) just to get the resizing die to accept the brass. Called Redding and their response was one that I have heard many times in my life--" we never heard of that !" (by the way Redding offers to notch customer service). Dealt with this situation until it was just too frustrating and time consuming.. back to my Dillon resizing die. I thought that the bullet seating die would be extremely accurate. I set it up as directed and the initial experience wa s great. I did NOT realize that as loading progressed( thousands of rounds per season ) the micrometer would move and would need special attention EACH loading session. My C O AL went from my desired 1.140" to 1.192". As the ammo I reload each year is stored ( vs shot right away), I did not realize this was happening until I started using the ammo which was loaded with the Redding die set.The 1.192 COAL ammo would not even fit into a 1911 single stack magazine. It did fit and was shot out of other magazines( and gun styles) without issue. lessons learned. I now check COAL as often as needed to assure that the COAL is the 1.140" desired AND I went back to my Dillon seating die. I guess the Redding die set was just not for me. Still not sure why the COAL changed when the die was locked down per instructions. any thoughts from those who use Redding dies? reloading is not static. It is a never ending learning experience. Edited January 9 by boatdoc173 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmc45414 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I am happy with my Lee dies, but along the same I glued it with RTV (I could pull of if I want) and marked it with a Sharpie. Obviously not for someone that experiments, but I tend to stay setup for the same thing in 9mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedwagon Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I had the same thing happened to me with the seating die but I was lucky enough to notice it when it only got to 1.170" from 1.160". I tend to check my loads more often. I also had the flare die move as well. I load a bit differently than most people. I process my brass after wet tumble and rollsize. After that I size, prime and flare and put aside until I'm ready to load with powder and bullet. When loading one time I notices the bullets weren't falling into the case and when I checked the flareing die I noticed the lock ring had loosened and the expander had backed out. I had to redo a bunch of cases I had prepped. Now I check them often as I run them through. I use a Lee U die to size so I never had the issue you're having with the resizing die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOGRIDER Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) @boatdoc173If you haven't already, disassemble the die and remove the spring! Give it a thorough cleaning and try again..... Pretty good read from a few years ago. Many have experienced your same issue: And another good thread............ HTHs! Edited January 9 by HOGRIDER update Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick303 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 For Pistol reloading Redding dies are all I use. The only thing I have done is remove a spring out of the seating die (which is the micrometer version) to get more consistent OAL. Have produced thousands of rounds with zero issue. As you have figured out creating items that create and contain little explosions takes a great deal of Attention to Detail. I do not think reloading is for everyone. Especially those who lack that attention to detail. If one is challenged in this skill, I would think they would need to be more mindful of the process to produce quality ammo. I check a couple of QC factors while reloading to prevent any major issues and catch them before I make "Bad" ammo. One other thing I have started to do is check items on the press that can cause major issues before every reloading session. For example, one time I was missing a tiny poly block on the powder drop slide assembly that created about 1-2K of ammo that did not have consistent powder drops. Every time I measured the powder drops they were fine, but once the press was humming along would the issue present itself. This created all kinds of weird SDs that I thought was being caused by the gun. I will not make that mistake again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I've got a couple decades using the micrometer seater and it's never moved unless I wanted it to... That said, I still check OAL & case gauge every time I add primers even for practice ammo. Stuff goes wrong every now and then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHAVEGAS Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Good info. I use the micrometer seating die with the spring removed. The only issue I have seen was insufficient belling leading to shaving of coated lead bullets and that shaved lead somehow getting into the die. It hasn't caused any known oal length issues & was easily fixable (duh, bell the brass like you are supposed to) but once or twice I have seen a bit of shaved lead fall out of the die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatdoc173 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 you folks ar e the BEST. never fails. our members ALWAYS have answers base d on experience I will remove the spring this week. I am battling hand and arm injuries so I will NOT be reloading for quite a while( I did make 9000+ rounds of 9mm before the injuries).Once I can reload again, I will give these suggestions a try and get back to you kind members. thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatdoc173 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 BTW I am as perplexed as Redding was about the resizing die issues. I bought the die set specifically to have straight walled cases.. I found zero reason that some cases would not just enter the die as the rest do( and require some rotation of the case to get it into the die). I love reloading. I learned alot on my own and have really been helped by our members. THANK YOU ALL. It is really satisfying to reload from November- February or so and see all of those filled ammo cans just waiting to be used. To be able to size and reload ammo for a specific gun --ammo that feeds perfectly and shoots well solved a problem for me and proved the value of rolling your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick303 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 8 minutes ago, boatdoc173 said: I found zero reason that some cases would not just enter the die as the rest do( and require some rotation of the case to get it into the die). None of my Redding dies require this. I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe a video is in order to help one understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedwagon Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Thinking back, I actually noticed my rounds were getting longer when I put them in my Shockbottle Case Gauge. I bought the one with the tray underneath it so that the round will protrude from the gauge when it's too long. I gauge every round and for me it's a way I use to count the rounds I've loaded. Another ding for removing the spring in the micrometer bullet seater. I was getting inconsistent lengths and called Redding and they told me to remove the spring. Since I did I've had very good results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 35 minutes ago, Boomstick303 said: None of my Redding dies require this. I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe a video is in order to help one understand. Same here. 99.99% this is something to do with your setup or process. I have Redding dies on three 1050s and two 550s for pistol calibers, and have loaded probably 500k rounds over the years and never experienced this problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 i dont think its the turning, its the position.. didnt catch press, but I load on a 550, sometimes if the brass catches the edge I give my brass a slight spin or wiggle in shell holder just basically making sure its in the holder all the way. ,, maybe a bit high primer, or not quite in all the way or something ? causes it to slightly miss the opening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatdoc173 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 4 hours ago, ltdmstr said: Same here. 99.99% this is something to do with your setup or process. I have Redding dies on three 1050s and two 550s for pistol calibers, and have loaded probably 500k rounds over the years and never experienced this problem. I used my dillon case cleaner with some nu finish polish, cleaned brass gets some one shot. mu reloade r is a dillon 550c only happens with my redding sizing die. zero issues with my dillon die at all.Makes no sense to me. not specific to a brand of brass casing either. again the " never seen that before" I hear every once in a while is appropriate now that I have down time, I might just try to hand fit some cases into that sizing die to see what might be the hang up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatdoc173 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 5 hours ago, Boomstick303 said: None of my Redding dies require this. I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe a video is in order to help one understand. dillon die in the 550c now. not touching it as it works as expected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatdoc173 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 (edited) 57 minutes ago, Joe4d said: i dont think its the turning, its the position.. didnt catch press, but I load on a 550, sometimes if the brass catches the edge I give my brass a slight spin or wiggle in shell holder just basically making sure its in the holder all the way. ,, maybe a bit high primer, or not quite in all the way or something ? causes it to slightly miss the opening. I think hand loading some cases could provide some insight. my shell plate is set up appropriately , no too much play but that could be the issue at hand Edited January 9 by boatdoc173 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOGRIDER Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 2 minutes ago, boatdoc173 said: dillon die in the 550c now. not touching it as it works as expected I can remember users saying the Redding sizing dies actually have a bit smaller opening than the Dillon dies. Inside micrometer could easily verify. Can remember on the XL650 that the black case insert slide cam had to be adjusted perfectly to keep the case from springing/backing out of the shellplate as the cam retracted; or there would be case mouths catching on the sizing die.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 One trick for tweaking die alignment to the shellplate is load it up, move to the bottom of the stroke, then loosen the die lock rings and re-tighten them while there's rounds/cases in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmc45414 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 13 hours ago, HOGRIDER said: Can remember on the XL650 that the black case insert slide cam had to be adjusted perfectly to keep the case from springing/backing out of the shellplate as the cam retracted; or there would be case mouths catching on the sizing die.... Also needs to stay clean, anything that makes the case stick is the same-same. I also wonder about a piece that is not so flat and potentially sticky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatdoc173 Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 10 hours ago, shred said: One trick for tweaking die alignment to the shellplate is load it up, move to the bottom of the stroke, then loosen the die lock rings and re-tighten them while there's rounds/cases in them. that might be a help thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatdoc173 Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 thanks again @HOGRIDER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boatdoc173 Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 1 hour ago, mmc45414 said: Also needs to stay clean, anything that makes the case stick is the same-same. I also wonder about a piece that is not so flat and potentially sticky. case deformities or variation might be a cause. the cases, the opening variation... all contributed to this issue I think.Th e problem for me, was that rotating the cases often enough to make reloading frustrating and slow, just did not work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmc45414 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 1 hour ago, boatdoc173 said: case deformities or variation might be a cause. the cases, the opening variation... all contributed to this issue I think.Th e problem for me, was that rotating the cases often enough to make reloading frustrating and slow, just did not work. A thing I appreciate with the RL1100 is the case is more directly controlled (at a station with a locator pin) at the sizing station, but that is probably just me reaching for justification for having bought the thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 (edited) I don’t have either Redding or Dillon 9mm sizing die’s but is the mouth radius on the Redding the same size/shape/angle as the Dillon? Is your press level? Reason I ask is I use a Lee sizing die between my APP press for processing and an old Lee turret press at the range for load development. The APP is mounted level and the brass zips through no problem, but the turret is just temporary mounted, sometimes not level and is getting worn, and it always hangs up during sizing. I can also see the turret move slightly at times when sizing, expanding and seating. Just might be something to look at. Some of the wear and adjustments change so slowly over time they go unnoticed until there’s a big pileup. Edited January 10 by Farmer Spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOGRIDER Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 11 hours ago, boatdoc173 said: thanks again @HOGRIDER @boatdoc173Always glad to help. Also want to support @shred reference to loading the shell plate along with using/inserting an unsized case when doing the final setting/lockdown of the sizing die! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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