Brass type matter with bulk 9mm reloading?

[schiffer99]

Probably over-thinking this as for reloading hunting/precision rifle rounds I keep the brass (head stamp, brand, etc...) uniform.

But when doing a bulk reloading of 9mm, as long as I'm not going right up to max recommended loadings, it doesn't really matter if its an assortment of essentially range pick up brass right? For example, I have a mix of Winchester, PMC, speer, etc... brass. I'm good to just load them all the same with projectile, powder and primer?

 

[Flash]

That's correct. Don't worry about headstamp or any of that other stuff that we do when reloading precision rifle.

Three things to look out for with 9MM range pickup brass are berdan primers, crimped primers and some of the newer brass I'm seeing with large built up areas inside the case. Headstamps I've seen with this problem so far have been AMMOLOAD and Maxxtech. Those two end up with considerably less space inside the case and could push pressures up a lot.

They look like this inside:

 

[338lapua]

That's correct. Don't worry about headstamp or any of that other stuff that we do when reloading precision rifle.

Three things to look out for with 9MM range pickup brass are berdan primers, crimped primers and some of the newer brass I'm seeing with large built up areas inside the case. Headstamps I've seen with this problem so far have been AMMOLOAD and Maxxtech. Those two end up with considerably less space inside the case and could push pressures up a lot.

They look like this inside:

Foreign made cases and there are about 15 head stamps I have found on them. Idea behind them is less powder for same pressure.

 

[338lapua]

I forgot to mention these cases tend to split right about the ridge when reloaded, can't tell you jow many times I have had to ream out a chamber to get it out.

 

[Azbuilder]

Thanks for the pics.
I definitely need to keep an eye open for these.

 

[AZ1]

They did that to save powder? Seems like they're just trading cost of brass for powder.

 

[storage_man]

WOW - that is some weird looking brass. I did some searches and Maxxtech is manufactured in Bosnia ! Maybe the extra brass protects the case & shooter since their loading machines probably have powder drops that are not very accurate ?

 

[Flash]

It will increase pressure all right and pressure and velocity go hand in hand, so that's one way to do it.

OTOH, if you're running hot loads with a fast powder these might make life exciting for you.

Things like this are the reason why I look inside each and every case as I place the bullet on them prior to seating.

 

[AZ1]

Yeah this is the kind of shit that concerns me about automatic case and bullet feeders.

 

[shooter444]

WOW! Great pics, never reloaded 9mm, had no idea of these variations!

When I first looked at those cases with brass built up inside, I thought, WOW that should increase the case strength for unsupported chambers. Until the pressure remarks were posted. Seems like I would need a load data chart specific to those cases, to feel safe.

I have been loading with two single stage presses set up at my station for so many years that I don't think I could pull a trigger on a progressive loaded cartridge without closing my eyes and looking away. Just Kidding!

Seriously, I have reached the OCD level of control, that if I don't visually pass every cleaned case, every seated primer, every balance scale powder charge, every bullet seating depth and every crimp, I would quite loading.

Good info above!

 

[338lapua]

Yeah this is the kind of s*** that concerns me about automatic case and bullet feeders.

We had to rework our 9mm case processing machines to find these cases as looking inside every case sucks major balls

 

[338lapua]

WOW! Great pics, never reloaded 9mm, had no idea of these variations!

When I first looked at those cases with brass built up inside, I thought, WOW that should increase the case strength for unsupported chambers. Until the pressure remarks were posted. Seems like I would need a load data chart specific to those cases, to feel safe.

I have been loading with two single stage presses set up at my station for so many years that I don't think I could pull a trigger on a progressive loaded cartridge without closing my eyes and looking away. Just Kidding!

Seriously, I have reached the OCD level of control, that if I don't visually pass every cleaned case, every seated primer, every balance scale powder charge, every bullet seating depth and every crimp, I would quite loading.

Good info above!

It decreases case volume from 10-15% so a 10-15% load reduction is needed. Even with a reduction we still have cases separating and leaving half behind on extraction.

 

[338lapua]

WOW - that is some weird looking brass. I did some searches and Maxxtech is manufactured in Bosnia ! Maybe the extra brass protects the case & shooter since their loading machines probably have powder drops that are not very accurate ?

There are a couple more companies that draw their brass the same way. It is not the same quality of brass as what I use for making cases. Looking at the cases under a microscope their brass is garbage. Even if they made them the same way we make ours it would never survive the number of loadings you get out of American made and drawn brass in 9mm. I have cases that I have been reloading since 91, only got about 100 of them I haven't lost but they still are good.

 

[AZ1]

338 what is the name of your company?

 

[shooter444]

It decreases case volume from 10-15% so a 10-15% load reduction is needed. Even with a reduction we still have cases separating and leaving half behind on extraction.

OK, but slightly puzzling, are you recommending a 10 to 15% reduction with any and all powders available for 9mm reloading?

 

[Ranger1]

The bad thing about range brass is you don't know if they were shot by a Glock. Glock brass needs to be put through a push through sizing die to get rid of the Glock bulge. 9mm brass is so cheap. You can get it for 1 to 2 cents each if you know where to look.

 

[338lapua]

It decreases case volume from 10-15% so a 10-15% load reduction is needed. Even with a reduction we still have cases separating and leaving half behind on extraction.

OK, but slightly puzzling, are you recommending a 10 to 15% reduction with any and all powders available for 9mm reloading?

Just that one type of case. Or throw them in the scrap bucket where they belong like I do.

 

[Desert Rat]

Thanks for the photo, I had never seen that type of case before, I wonder how long those type of cases have been around? I pick up brass whenever I find it and have not come across those before.

 

[Flash]

Thanks for the photo, I had never seen that type of case before, I wonder how long those type of cases have been around? I pick up brass whenever I find it and have not come across those before.

I found my first one around 6 months ago or so. I have no idea how long they've been around, though.

 

[338lapua]

338 what is the name of your company?

Vulcan Logistics is my main company, I have the other companies under this one. We are not Arizona based. We only deal with high volume orders, handle warehousing and shipping for clients. We work for about 150 companies and are at full production at this time.

We do ammunition components, cnc machining, deep drawing, stamping, injection molding, blow molding, metal forming/bending, welding and a few other things.

We do not offer tours or sell to the public.