Need Help with my Reloads

[Air]

Forgive me, I'm still new to this...

I purchased some cast bullets from Missouri Bullet Company to reload 9mm. I decided to try a few dummy rounds last night and the pistol (CZ75) wouldn't fully chamber the dummy round...the slide wouldn't go forward fully, they actually got somewhat stuck in the chamber also. They were slightly under or right at the max OAL, but I'm thinking I didn't seat the bullet far enough or maybe I flared the case mouth too much? I did use the factory crimp die also, so it should have post sized the case.

Also, the bullets are labled as 125 grainers, but I put them on the scale and they weigh about 123.6-123.8. The recipe I'll be using calls for 5.3 grains of Unique. Will this cause a problem if the bullets weigh slightly less than the recipe calls for?

Thanks in advance...

[freakshow10mm]

What size are the bullets? Did you slug your bore before buying bullets? Could be your throat isn't cut for that bullet profile, means you will most likely have to seat the bullet deeper and adjust your powder charge accordingly. Rule number one is use the longest OAL that will reliably feed.

[What Just Happened?]

Firstly, does it pass the chamber test? This is why I love my chamber gauge.

I would ask if you are crimping enough. Even if you are using the FCD, you could not be crimping enough.

[freakshow10mm]

I wouldn't use the FCD with lead. It is prone to swaging down the bullet to undersize it and this causes leading. Use a profile crimp die like Redding.

[Air]

What size are the bullets? Did you slug your bore before buying bullets? Could be your throat isn't cut for that bullet profile, means you will most likely have to seat the bullet deeper and adjust your powder charge accordingly. Rule number one is use the longest OAL that will reliably feed.

I didn't. Bullets, I think are .356 diameter?

[Snapping Twig]

I don't load 9mm, but I do load .45acp and from this I can tell you that the ogive (shoulders) of a lead bullet can vary in dimention. This can be the source of your issues.

Crimp is important too, a proper taper crimp is needed.

Sizing .001 over bore dimention is the gold standard and will help to reduce or eliminate leading.


I can shoot a 230g cast TC in my friend's Colt with a generous chamber, but the same bullet won't allow the slide to go into battery and gets stuck in the tight chamber of my pistol, much like you're describing.

My solution was to set the bullet back until it would chamber (dummy round) and then set it back a quarter turn of the die extra. This worked quite well for me.

[Beelzy]

Your bore should measure .355 and all is well. Slugging a bore is really required
when buying bullet molds to mold your own. Just mic the bore.

Don't use a factory crimp die they do squash lead bullets. I doubt its the issue
as much as seating depth. Try seating a tad deeper.

[freakshow10mm]

I didn't. Bullets, I think are .356 diameter?

What if your bore and chamber slug out at .3545? Now your bullets are oversized and won't chamber.

[Beelzy]

Ouch!

I did forget the gun was a CZ.

[Air]

What if your bore and chamber slug out at .3545? Now your bullets are oversized and won't chamber.

so what's the solution? try different bullets? size the bullets?

[Beelzy]

Size them.

[What Just Happened?]

Are you shaving some of the lead bullet when you are seating the bullet. Look at the business end of the round and you should be able to see the top of the case mouth all around.

[scrat]

I have been loading and shooting cast bullets for years. Some of the answers here are wrong.

Cast bullets will always be about .001-.002 bigger in diameter. However Some of the problems with chambering and cast bullets have to deal with the way we think. We take out the chamfer tool and the flaring tool and make a good taper. WE think. Then we press in the bullet and give it a very nice hard crimp. Then we wonder why the bullet wont chamber.


You dont need much of a flair at all for cast bullets. you can take a chamfer tool and use that. if you can feel the brass flair out its too much. i have seen a lot of people then press in the bullet and give the case a crimp like a gorilla just did. The cast bullet is already .001-.002 bigger than a jacketed bullet its going to go in tight very tight. May shave a piece of lead. No problem. There is really no need to put the biggest crimp. The excessive crimp will bulge the case making chambering very difficult. When shooting lead the lead bullet needs to completely seal the chamber to prevent leading of the barrel. Thus resizing the bullet may allow hot gasses to pass around the lead causing leading. To correctly find out what size bullet you will need. You would have to slug the barrel. Once done then you can properly match the bullet to the gun. Just remember that when you size a cast bullet you will have to re lube the bullet. If you have a regular round. Take a mic to the case of the bullet and mic it out. all the way. if you find out towards the flair that its bigger in diameter then it may have too much of a crimp or a flair. that or prep a case again. size it flair it do what ever you did then try to chamber the case. see if it fits. if not then you got the answer. even after re sizing the case should fit into the chamber with ease. After that i would suggest slugging the barrel. i think i have about 1000 rounds of 9mm ready to go with 125 lead cast. .356. Only difference is i casted sized and lubed my own.

[ar15barrels]

so what's the solution? try different bullets? size the bullets?

Throat the barrel.

You are better to run larger bullets as they will not lead the barrel.
If you size the bullets smaller, they will indeed fit the barrel better, but you will probably get leading too as they are not sealing as well.

[Chaingun]

Firstly, does it pass the chamber test? This is why I love my chamber gauge.

I would ask if you are crimping enough. Even if you are using the FCD, you could not be crimping enough.

I'm with this reply

Did you FL size the brass?

CZ should eat anything.