Reloads won't chamber!!!!

[bigdawg86]

I have about 300 rounds of 9mm (4 grains Unique under 115 plate RN) that I received from a family friend who is now dead ... anywhoo, I decided to go ahead and use (i.e. trust) his reloads in my XD subcompact. Loaded a few mags, and that's as far as I ever got. The slide never fully closed, the round never fully chambered. Bummer.

OAL was within normal limits. Bullet depth was fine. Measured the brass and turns out the base was a few thousandths larger than some factory ammo and newly FL resized brass. It seems as if the FL sizing die wasn't properly setup...

Here is the question... what do I do with these rounds?

[CSACANNONEER]

Pull them and reuse the components or give them to someone who will.

[bigdawg86]

I was hoping there was a magic solution that wouldn't involve pulling the bullets... darn!

[huckberry668]

Lee FCD

[Bill Steele]

Lee FCD

I agree, if you can borrow a 9mm Lee Factory Crimp Die from someone local to you, you can unscrew the crimp collar knob and take the guts out and just use the sizing ring at the base to size the lower part of the case.

Now, the problem with this approach is if the sizing die wasn't setup properly, was the powder charge done accurately and within limits?

See where I am going?

If it were me, I would pull them and re-use the components.

[bandook]

I though Lee FCD, but as Bill mentions... if the case wasn't sized properly, whats to say it was charged properly.

Pull, recharge, reseat. The powder's worth about $3.50. You decide on whether you want to reuse the powder or use it as lawn fertilizer.

[Bunsen]

Toss the powder and keep the bullets!

[CalTeacher]

If you need a 9mm LFCD, I have one for sale.

[bigdawg86]

I think I will pull and recycle everything but the powder... When I shot some 357 reloads that he had left over, the recoil seemed very inconsistent and im not in the mood for a kaboom.

[OldShooter32]

Run them through a resized after removing the primer punch. Lube normally and they should squash down just fine.

[TKM]

Saving fifteen bucks just isn't worth the risk.

Tear them down.

[Bug Splat]

I'd pull and handful (5 at random) and check the powder charge. If it looks ok and equal i'd resize the rest in a sizing die with the primer pin removed.

Do you know what kind of setup he had? I've met a few backwoods reloaders who are completed comfortable resizing brass with a lead pipe and a hammer. If he had a nice setup I'd feel better about the ammo. If he didn't I'd pull it all, dump the powder and reload it all again.

[bigdawg86]

I'd pull and handful (5 at random) and check the powder charge. If it looks ok and equal i'd resize the rest in a sizing die with the primer pin removed.

Do you know what kind of setup he had? I've met a few backwoods reloaders who are completed comfortable resizing brass with a lead pipe and a hammer. If he had a nice setup I'd feel better about the ammo. If he didn't I'd pull it all, dump the powder and reload it all again.

I also inherited his ENTIRE setup... all RCBS dies, Redding 6 station turret, RCBS Rockchucker II, and RCBS partner press... also an RCBS and Redding powder scale, trickler etc. He was really into it, all quality name brand stuff. Who knows, maybe he had a gun it chambered just fine in.

[Triple R Munitions]

if it were me i would scrap them and put them away for a later date....if you have the time to put it go for it...but sizing them loaded is also possible...just use some kevlar..i have 2 5 gallon buckets of ammo that either has to be pulled or something done with...

good luck!
RRR

[bigdawg86]

I did wonder about running it through a gutted FL sizer loaded... I do have a military issue ballistic vest with shiny new ceramic plates...hmmm