Bullets keep falling into cases..

[DS94901]

About 1 in every 15-20 9mm rounds I'm loading results in the bullet fitting loosely in the case and falling inside. Most rounds fit nice and snug but I've even stopped flaring the case mouths because it just happens far too often. Even without flare it's happening. All brass has been resized on the same press with the same die. Using mixed brass right now but have had the se issue while using all matching stamp brass. The loose cases are all different brands so I figure it's not just a brand issue.

I though maybe some of the brass could have been really old and reloaded too many times causing the walls to be thinner and give a looser fit but its happened with once fired brass as well.

I'd really love to resolve this issue and be able to flare the case mouths without losing round after round because balancing bullets without flare is really annoying and time consuming. Would love to hear any advice.

In case it's helpful I'm using an rcbs single stage and lee 9mm die set.

[NorCalFocus]

What about your bullets? Are the ones falling through out of spec?

[Germz]

You left out one key piece of info: what bullets are you using? have you measured them? are they smaller than .355"? if so, stick them in the oven at 150 or so for a few minutes...they should open up to a larger diameter by at least .001"

[Bumslie]

What brand of brass is it?

Federal brass?

It sounds like a resizing issue.

[DS94901]

Right now I'm using berrys and was previously using extreme. I'm unable toes sure the bullets that have fallen in but all others I've measured have been up to size.

Brass is mixed. At least 6 different brands

[Bumslie]

Ok, so different headstamps and loose rounds. If your bullets are micing properly, then it's a resizing issue.

I'll assume the die is set up correctly, so the die is probably out of spec.

If you have anyone near you with a die set, borrow theirs and test out the same brass that didn't when you resized with your set. If that brass works, then your die is a turd and lee should replace it.

[HighLander51]

Take a couple of dozen each of brass and bullets over to Richmond Hot Shots or Chabot on match day. Tell the match director your issue, I'm sure one of the competition shooters would be glad to run you components thru their machine. Keep in mind the deprime/resize is the OD, and the powder thru flare is the ID. With once fired brass and known bullet diameters, sounds like a die issue

[Pauliedad]

Do you have a case gauge to check the cases in?
I'm guessing the brass isn't getting sized correctly.
I'd deprime / resize a bunch and check before continuing.
I don't know your press but I've gotten slight variations at times due to die being set slightly high. It resized most brass and then not so much on tougher brass or if my pull isn't proper.
The inconsistency has got me thinking it's not the die but rather some other variable.
I'm assuming you've pulled and checked the projectiles by now? That was the first, more obvious issue in my mind.

Please let us know what the outcome is.
Thanks.

[DS94901]

Do you have a case gauge to check the cases in?
I'm guessing the brass isn't getting sized correctly.
I'd deprime / resize a bunch and check before continuing.
I don't know your press but I've gotten slight variations at times due to die being set slightly high. It resized most brass and then not so much on tougher brass or if my pull isn't proper.
The inconsistency has got me thinking it's not the die but rather some other variable.
I'm assuming you've pulled and checked the projectiles by now? That was the first, more obvious issue in my mind.

Please let us know what the outcome is.
Thanks.

I have a case gauge and I haven't run into any problems there. Unfortunately I don't have a bullet puller so I can't check te projectiles that fell inside just yet. I'll do some inspecting and report back. Thanks to everyone so far for all the advice

[J-cat]

Describe your set up.

[chiliman21]

at what step is the bullet falling in?

[1HitaQuita]

I agree it sounds like a resizing issue. Re-install your die and make sure the decapping pin is flush with the clamping bolt. Also make sure you're doing a completely full stroke & applying enough pressure at the bottom of your stroke. I had the same issue when re-sizing my 7mm-08 but it's because I wasn't applying enough force at the bottom of my stroke to properly size the neck.

[DS94901]

Describe your set up.

RCBS JR33 (or 2, not sure the difference) press, lee 9mm 4 die set. Setting the decapping/resizing die by screwing in until it just touches the shell holder then backing off by 1/4-1/2 turn. Just enough to see a sliver of light between die and shell holder. I've used at least 6 or so different brands of brass and had bullets falling through on most of them at least a couple times. Currently using Berrys 124g hollow base RN thick plate .356 but have had the same problem with
x-treme copper plated 124g FP.
Bullet seating die set-up: touch die to shell plate and back off 3 full turns, adjust seating depth until desired OAL is reached. Using 1.125"

at what step is the bullet falling in?

Bullet falls in during seating or just after with the lightest touch. If the bullet seats extremely easily I can already tell its going to fall in a if I touch the bullet it does just that.

I agree it sounds like a resizing issue. Re-install your die and make sure the decapping pin is flush with the clamping bolt. Also make sure you're doing a completely full stroke & applying enough pressure at the bottom of your stroke. I had the same issue when re-sizing my 7mm-08 but it's because I wasn't applying enough force at the bottom of my stroke to properly size the neck.

I'll check this and also try slowing down with my resizing/decapping and try to make sure I'm getting a consistent stroke.

[Kurgan]

Your brass was fired in something with a loose chamber. I run 9mm through an undersize die from EGW.

I set up my 650 with the Dillon sizing decapping die in station 1 and the EGW in station 3 and just run all range brass through it.

No more tension problems.

[ironhorse1]

Setting the decapping/resizing die by screwing in until it just touches the shell holder then backing off by 1/4-1/2 turn. Just enough to see a sliver of light between die and shell holder.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is the problem!!

Set your die to touch the shell holder. Then screw it down a little more.

It should kiss the shell holder as the press will tend to spring away as pressure is applied.

Failure to make full contact means that the case is not fully sized.

irh