Pistol Reloading Issue I cant figure out

[champ198]

So I had a bunch of 9mm loaded not too long ago. Just range ammo using some 115gr XTP that I got free from Hornaday on their free bullet promo.
Loaded up a bunch and never did anything any different than I ever have.
Had bought a new carry gun in 9mm so wanted to get to the range and shoot it.
Get there and the first mag I made about 7 rounds and the gun locks up, and I mean locks up solid.
Finally got it free and notice the round in the chamber the bullet had pushed back in the case...Kind of weird, never had it happen before.
So loaded up and shot again. Made it about 5 or so rounds and it did the same thing.
Got my other 9mm out and it happened again.
So stopped shooting and went home.
Got to looking and there were a bunch of rounds in the 100 count box that would just push back in the case.
So checked all I had done and out of about 500 rounds, about half would push back.
So checked my dies and reset them and loaded a few dummy rounds and did a push test and again the bullet would push back into the case.
Had the taper set just like the instructions said. Nothing worked right.
Probably reset the dies 5-6 different times, took them apart and cleaned them. Nothing worked.
I cant figure it out at all. I don't know if its a die issue or what.
I had some loaded from a few years ago still that were done with a RCBS die and they are all fine.

The only difference in the two is the ones I had issues with were the Hornady bullet and loaded with Hornady dies. And the others were just round nose bullets loaded with RCBS dies.


Contacted Hornady and they said I could send the dies, bullets, brass in and they would check them. But I don't understand what might be the issue.

Not new to reloading pistols as I load for 45acp, 40S&W and 357 also and have zero problems with them.

Anyone by chance have any ideas?

 

[918v]

Did you check the diameter of the expander?

 

[Threadcutter308]

So I had a bunch of 9mm loaded not too long ago. Just range ammo using some 115gr XTP that I got free from Hornaday on their free bullet promo.
Loaded up a bunch and never did anything any different than I ever have.
Had bought a new carry gun in 9mm so wanted to get to the range and shoot it.
Get there and the first mag I made about 7 rounds and the gun locks up, and I mean locks up solid.
Finally got it free and notice the round in the chamber the bullet had pushed back in the case...Kind of weird, never had it happen before.
So loaded up and shot again. Made it about 5 or so rounds and it did the same thing.
Got my other 9mm out and it happened again.
So stopped shooting and went home.
Got to looking and there were a bunch of rounds in the 100 count box that would just push back in the case.
So checked all I had done and out of about 500 rounds, about half would push back.
So checked my dies and reset them and loaded a few dummy rounds and did a push test and again the bullet would push back into the case.
Had the taper set just like the instructions said. Nothing worked right.
Probably reset the dies 5-6 different times, took them apart and cleaned them. Nothing worked.
I cant figure it out at all. I don't know if its a die issue or what.
I had some loaded from a few years ago still that were done with a RCBS die and they are all fine.

The only difference in the two is the ones I had issues with were the Hornady bullet and loaded with Hornady dies. And the others were just round nose bullets loaded with RCBS dies.


Contacted Hornady and they said I could send the dies, bullets, brass in and they would check them. But I don't understand what might be the issue.

Not new to reloading pistols as I load for 45acp, 40S&W and 357 also and have zero problems with them.

Anyone by chance have any ideas?

I’ve had exactly that same problem. It was because of mixed headstamp/different manufacturers of the brass I was loading. They were all different lengths. Min to max varied by .022” or .023”.

You unwittingly set your die to crimp the longest brass and it works fine. Unfortunately, that setting won’t crimp the shortest brass.

It was a lot of work, but I made a 9mm trim die for my Dillon XL650 and have a router motor and carbide end mill on it. I run all my once fired brass through it and it works great.

edit; the 650 is equipped with a case feeder and an Autodrive. No, I wouldn’t hand crank all those.

That’s more than most people want to do, I get that. Other than that, your only real option is to hand sort your brass by headstamp or by length and set your die(s) accordingly.

 

[918v]

I don’t crimp at all and don’t have any bullet setback. Case wall tension is enough.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

New carry gun? Is its feed ramp steeper than other 9mm pistols you have? See below - I never had any trouble with uncrimped .223 bulk reloads in ARs until my son bought his infernal Tavor. Now I have to crimp anything that may find its way into that one rifle - process described below.
-------
Are you sure your size die is screwed in far enough to touch the shell holder/plate?
-------
I too have never crimped 9mm, loading it since the mid-1970s on '70s-vintage RCBS dies (sizer is carbide). I use whatever range brass I hoover up when I need some, and lengths are, to say the least, inconsistent. No bleeping way I'm trimming 9mm brass.

With the ammo you already loaded, you might try what I do with .223 blaster ammo:

1. Clean/resize/deprime range brass
2. Run brass through a Wilson case gauge, which quickly shows too-long or swollen-case-web cases. which are discarded.
3. Load rounds on on a Dillon progressive with crimp die backed way out
4. Remove powder from Dillon measure on the press
5. Screw crimp die in too far, run every case through the crimp die, "bumping" a crimp by feel

The only reason I do this with bulk ammo is because one of my son's toys is brutal on brass. I had never had a problem with uncrimped bulk reloads in multiple ARs, but his Tavor pushed quite a few 55gr FMJBT deep into the cases.

 

[ShtrRdy]

You'll have break down the sequence into steps and check dimensions after each step.

For example your first step is to resize the brass and push out the primer. After you resize a case can you slide a bullet into the case?