What's your favorite 9mm die set?

Run-of-the-Mill Lee dies, the carbide four die set with the factory crimp die. Well priced, and gets the job done consistently for tens of thousands of rounds.

I’m a big fan of the Dillon sizing dies…after resizing and de-capping (I like the way the Dillon dies remove primers with authority)…after resizing I go to my ancient LEE dies and finish up with their factory crimp die. It works for me

I have a Dillon set and it seems to be sizing weird.

The area where the bullet is seated is larger than the bottom. It's like it's sizing too small and the bullet expands it.

https://forums.brianenos.com/t...ke-bottle-cases-9mm/

I use Dillon Carbide resizer dies. I don’t worry about it as long as it passes case gauge. If they don’t but are close, it goes in the practice pile.

I've used RCBS Carbide Dies for years. Have never had a complaint...

Being extremely OCD especially when it comes to how my reloads not only function but look, my reloading die recipe is different than most. Why - because by utilizing these dies the “coke bottle / wasp waist” effect is about 95% removed.

1 - Dillon Carbide depriming and resizing die
2 - Redding Premium Expander Die (this die bells the case mouth before the case goes to the powder drop station eliminating the occasional “case sticking to the powder die” issue and it creates a more subtle bell that eliminates the coke bottle/wasp waist look once the bullet is seated and crimped).
3 - Redding Micro seating die
4 - Dillon taper crimp die

I will usually have less that 3 out of 1000 rounds fail the case gauge test, and I check every round I load (about 1000 rounds a month, give or take a hundred). Failures are usually related to the brass (cracked or slightly deformed causing the bullet to not seat perfectly straight).

quote:

Originally posted by walker77:
The area where the bullet is seated is larger than the bottom. It's like it's sizing too small and the bullet expands it.

Can you post a picture of what it's doing?

quote:

Originally posted by walker77:
I have a Dillon set and it seems to be sizing weird.

The area where the bullet is seated is larger than the bottom. It's like it's sizing too small and the bullet expands it.

My Dillon 9mm dies do that. Zero function issues so far over years of use. I typically see it more often with 147gr loads. I'm not at home to snap a photo, but it looks like a more pronounced version of these:




The link to the forum thread Riley posted has better pics. Many of my rounds almost look like the case was stretched over the bullet.

"Favorite" dies. Lessee, now; loading on a D550 I have a Dillon sizing die, unless loading 115 gr bullets when I use a Lee "U" die. Dillon "powder funnel" expander, Hornady Micro-just seating die, Lee CFC crimp die.

I LIKE the "coke bottle" effect, it tells me that the bullet is backed up by the brass and is not going to set back when it hits the feed ramp.

I can't fuss about my Dillon dies, as they have loaded many, many Ks of excellent rounds.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

quote:

Originally posted by walker77:
I have a Dillon set and it seems to be sizing weird.

The area where the bullet is seated is larger than the bottom. It's like it's sizing too small and the bullet expands it.

My Dillon 9mm dies do that. Zero function issues so far over years of use. I typically see it more often with 147gr loads. I'm not at home to snap a photo, but it looks like a more pronounced version of these:




The link to the forum thread Riley posted has better pics. Many of my rounds almost look like the case was stretched over the bullet.

My 9mm looks just like the one in the picture.

Also, what bullet are you using?

I find plated bullets loaded to a longer length like 1.130” exhibit this less. .356 diameter is a little more noticeable as is shorter loads. Brass too seems to make a difference.

Having loaded many many thousands with two different Dillon 9mm carbide dies, I find the only ones that don’t case gauge in the Shockbottle gauge are from damaged brass. Case rims in bad shap, cracked brass, some brands of brass or junk allowing The bullet to bulge to one side etc.

With that said, for unknown range brass, it gets run through the EGW U die instead. I’ve also started setting my press with Starline brass for a better known baseline.

I have also learned is that a .355 diameter 9mm bullet will display less top end swell vs. a .356 or .357 diameter bullet.

I'm using precision delta 124 jhp .355

I use those and they are now my go to. I’m loading them to 1.10” to fit my CZ and Gen 5 Glock.

Precision Delta 124gr HP is also my go to bullet but for the past two years I have been shooting their V2 design. Since PD is only two hours from my house, I drive over and pick up my bullets and visit with the owners, who shoot competitively also. Great company and Great folks.

Like Riley, I also load my bullets to 1.10”

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sigarmsp226,

I have used Lee in my Dillon for years.

I use Dillon for all my pistol dies

In my Dillon 550 I use the Lee Undersized Die and the Lee Factory Crimp Die; the two middle stations use Dillon dies.