I have reloaded bottleneck rifle cartridges for years, and have done a fair amount of 38 special & 357 for revolvers. I recently got a 9mm beretta (a 92 FS - love the way it feels & shoots), & in setting up my dies, I'm not sure how to tell if I have enough of a crimp. I'm using an RCBS 3 die set with a taper crimp on the seating die (I hope- die is labled 9mm Luger TC 12 & box says carbide 9 mm TC 3 die set). I can tell by looking at & feeling the roll crimps on my 357 & 38 loads, but have no clue what to look for with the taper crimp seater for a semi auto pistol. I use a Forster Co Ax & there is a bit of " slop" in the shell holder, so going by the instructions and screwing the die down to touch the case gets me close, but I don't know what to look for to fine tune the crimp.
I probably will shoot mostly cheap factory loads for plinking & practice. At 25 - 30 cents a round reloading is probably not worth it, & my Beretta is very accurate with 124 gr. CCI Blazer Brass FMJ rounds, but I would like to load some premium 124 gr. XTPs or Gold Dots for home defense & carry.
Btw, a load for Win 231/ HP 38 with 124 gr. XTP or Gold Dots would be appreciated as well. Hornady & Hodgdon manuals don't list either in 9mm 124 gr loads.

I fought this problem myself. Get a taper-crimp die and crimp as your final step. I like the Lee carbide crimp die. it solved all my problems. The instructions are simple and it is a REALLY good tool.

Yeah, I thought about a Lee factory crimp die - I have one for my 22-250. It crimps well (which is what I need for the pistol) but doesn't help the accuracy much on that particular rifle, so I don't use it much.
I actually just re- read the instructions for the RCBS seater/ crimper (when all else fails, read the directions) and I see that I am supposed to be able to measure the difference, & look for a .001 smaller diameter at the crimp - not convinced that I can measure that well with my calipers, & don't have a good micrometer, but I'll give it a shot.. Any other tricks or tips will be appreciated.

OH!! I just noticed that your die set has a TC 3 seating stem. This is for trunciated cone bullets. You will get an awkward seating of round nose bullets, as the TC bullet has a somewhat flat nose.

Get the lee factory crimp die. easy to set up.easy to use.I have one for my 45 acp.To make good ammo you cant seat and crimp with the same die at the same time..your 9 headspaces on the front of the case so just enough crimp to take the bell out of it. dont stomp the case into the bullet.

Thanks for the responses - I ordered a Lee factory crimp die. Any loads for Win 231 and 124 grain XTP or Gold Dots?

quote:

I would like to load some premium 124 gr. XTPs or Gold Dots for home defense & carry.

I've been cautioned by many NOT to use my own reloads for personal protection regardless of how you roll em. All you need is one good attorney painting you as the guy sittin in his basement lookin for someone to kill. Consider factory ammo for any personal defense applications -- even if it's standard 115 gr RN no frills. one less worry after the incident.

There is no real secret in using the TC die from RCBS... seat the bullet and crimp all in the same step, then firmly push the nose of the first reloaded round against the edge of your loading table by putting your thumb on the head of the case. If it doesn't slip back into the case, you are good to go.

Thanks for the advice & replies. Got a Lee Factory crimp die, used it, & have had no failures to fire or eject through my Beretta 92FS.

quote:

Originally posted by mrgouda:

quote:

I would like to load some premium 124 gr. XTPs or Gold Dots for home defense & carry.

I've been cautioned by many NOT to use my own reloads for personal protection regardless of how you roll em. All you need is one good attorney painting you as the guy sittin in his basement lookin for someone to kill. Consider factory ammo for any personal defense applications -- even if it's standard 115 gr RN no frills. one less worry after the incident.

Can you point to one instance, anywhere, any time where that has actually happened?

quote:

Originally posted by CAS II:

quote:

Originally posted by mrgouda:

quote:

I would like to load some premium 124 gr. XTPs or Gold Dots for home defense & carry.

I've been cautioned by many NOT to use my own reloads for personal protection regardless of how you roll em. All you need is one good attorney painting you as the guy sittin in his basement lookin for someone to kill. Consider factory ammo for any personal defense applications -- even if it's standard 115 gr RN no frills. one less worry after the incident.

Can you point to one instance, anywhere, any time where that has actually happened?

That is nonsense pushed by M.A. a fictional Cop who has never been in a shoot out or is actually a Real cop!!!Many Police Depts use reloaded ammo reloaded by their Armourer.

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by CAS II:

quote:

Originally posted by mrgouda:

quote:

I would like to load some premium 124 gr. XTPs or Gold Dots for home defense & carry.

I've been cautioned by many NOT to use my own reloads for personal protection regardless of how you roll em. All you need is one good attorney painting you as the guy sittin in his basement lookin for someone to kill. Consider factory ammo for any personal defense applications -- even if it's standard 115 gr RN no frills. one less worry after the incident.

Can you point to one instance, anywhere, any time where that has actually happened?

That is nonsense pushed by M.A. a fictional Cop who has never been in a shoot out or is actually a Real cop!!!Many Police Depts use reloaded ammo reloaded by their Armourer.

Am I on trial for that comment? I just shared what someone told me. I personally know MANY lawyers, good one's, that are professional witness discrediters... I'm not a professional witness and figure if you think you're man enough to step into a lawyer's wheelhouse, go for it. Not me. I think it's likely prudent advice. Cops are professional and look how they're investigated (internally and externally) for one incident involving someone who's been shot by a cop. How's that for enough data to make you pee your pants if it's that lawyer's questioning you're sitting under.

The last thing I want to reload anyway is a something I rarely shoot or that's expensive (personal protection ammo).

\\thread hijack off \\

Translation : No, you can't point to a single case anywhere.

A good shoot is a good shoot, regardless.