9mm not crimping.....

[jworm1420]

so im reloading some 9mm, 115gr fmj. When i crimp it doesnt seem to crimp right or something. After i make the crimp i can still spin the bullet in the casing using my fingers..... so i turn the die in more for tighter crime and its still happening... Anybody know what im doing wrong???? I crimped some winchester 115gr fmj right before these and they didnt do that. Can anybody explain??? Are these bullets that spin safe to use??? Thanks everyone...!!!!!!

 

[DoctorThunder]

What kind of dies are you using? Is the crimp a taper crimp or are you using a Lee factory crimp die? If the bullet moves freely, I would not use them. The OAL can change and cause a multitude of problems.

 

[jworm1420]

im using lee factory crimp die......it is the one with the bullet seater/crimp die

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

Even if you don't crimp you should t be able to spin the bullet. Sounds like a dumb question but are these cases sized and not just deprimed?

 

[jworm1420]

yes they have all been sized and flared... you think maybe i should saet one and not crimp it see what that does???

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

Have you measured one of the bullets to see what size it is?

 

[Sling10mm]

If the brass has been sized you might check the inside diameter of the case at the neck (after sizing) and the bullet diameter to see how much tension you are getting, or not in this case. Like Six said, even without crimping, there should be enough neck tension to keep the bullet from freely spinning.

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

I would also make sure my flare is just enough to let the bullet sit on the case.

 

[jworm1420]

yes the flare is just enough for the bullet to sit in the case... Its weird , like i said i just did 100 of winchester 115gr projectiles and diddnt have any problems. Those cases are from the same batch so i know they were sized and flared the same way...

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

So this is a different bullet that the winchesters? I would measure the base and make sure it's .355 or so

 

[jworm1420]

yes these are power bond bullets. they measure .355 base. i thought maybe i flared to much but, like i said none of the win had any issues and it seems t be all the power bonds i have done so far. Maybe 20 at most, i stopped after i noticed it

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

I would take a case size it, bell it just so you can barley notice any belling then seat it and see if it spins. Don't even put a crimp on it.

 

[jworm1420]

i did that and the bullet doesnt spin... should i just run them with no crimp????

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

Now try putting the crimp on it. Maybe you were belling the case too much. You usually have to put enough crimp to take the belling out or it will not chamber.

 

[jworm1420]

i crimped and it did it again. i might just say F-it and run it with no crimp.. what do you think????

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

Are you using a separate Lee FCD die or the standard seat and crimp all in one step die?

 

[jworm1420]

all in one set up....

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

Then it should have crimped when you seated the bullet. If it wasn't spinning after you seated it the crimp was already on there. How are you crimping again? Or did you adjust your die up so it wouldn't crimp?

 

[jworm1420]

i adjusted up enough so it wouldn't crimp.... when i normally crimp i set the die to seat the bullet and then spin the actual die in a bit more for the crimp then back out the seater and readjust as needed

 

[Six Shooter Steve]

Well I would set it to where the bullet doesn't spin any more then check it in a case gauge or pull a barrel from one of your pistols and see if it fits in.