Help with Reloading 9mm

I have the Lee 9mm die set. I just looked at the chart that comes with the dies, Nowhere does it list an amount for CFE powder. Your dies come with a 5cc scoop, but using 5cc's of CFE is an unknown, and you should choose another powder that is listed with the Lee dies.
 
Read Post # 11

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The chart shows 2.3 grains of CFE Pistol powder for a 0.17 cc dipper,
4.0 grains for the 0,3cc dipper.
6.6 grains for the 0,5 cc dipper.

If you look in a reloading manual, it will show for 9mm and a 115 grain bullet a starting load or minimum of 4.7 grains CFE pistol and a maximum of 5.8 grains of CFE pistol powder.
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So NO you cannot use CFE pistol and the dipper it will be a dangerous overload.

David
 
To the OP. It can at times be hard to get it when someone is trying to help on a forum. It can come across the wrong way. As someone that started about 10 years ago. I will make a few suggestions.

First is read the first chapters of the reloading manual. The part that goes over the basics of reloading. Part of it deals with equipment. A scale is highly advised. A $20 or so digital will work to get you started. It needs to be accurate to within one tenth of a grain. +/- 0.1 grains.

You can make your own dipper if you have a scale. You can cut down a spent case, and use some solder to put a paper clip on it.

Read the manual there is a reason the basics of reloading are put in the first part of a manual. You need to have an understanding of what you are doing.

I am a locomotive electrician I did not just pick up a screw driver, and few wrenches and get started. Someone taught me. Also I have to study schematics all the time. I started out with Ohms Law. I had to read, and understand what I was working with first.
 
Sneaker: Sorry you got walked into it this way.

Its a lot of info to try to wrap your brain around, I started with the Lee setup you have.

It does work sort of, I started with 44 magnum and due to its much larger case, its forgiving of error. 9 mm is less so with a smaller case and the high pressure but it will work.

Unclenick is a great resource but he gets pretty technical pretty quick. ergh you say.
Harder for a full beginner to grab all he is conveying.

Most 9mm is fine for reloading. Some that was not was mentioned. I learned something new myself, I didn't know there were 9mm reduced volume cases, not sure what that is about but will find out (I am sure!)

As Unclenick noted, you do have to use the scoops with the listed powder and the right scoop. 3 to 6 grains isn't a lot of powder.

What I did find was the cases did crack after about 3 rounds with the Lee, I believe it was the hammering. Not sure that has changed, I am wracking my brain back to the early 70s sometime here.

Do read the manual with the loader, its really good to have the general idea.

The one device you pound the shell into sizes the case.

I can't remember if there was a flare tool (opens up the mouth to let the bullet go in easier but just a bit and at the top)

Once the case is de-primmer (if used brass) and sized then you have to flare it, primer it and then ready for powder.

Forget what the bullet seater is like.

What I would do is disassemble your pistol (assumes its a semi auto) and see how your bullet fits in the chamber.

Thats a tough one, I don't know that that set comes with an overall length gauge.

If the bullet is too far out, it will push the case back and it won't be chambered right.

If the firing pin will release thats bad news. As to how it looks with a bare barrel thats a bit 9mm gun specific so a post of where its sitting helps. Been a while since I did one.

Hope that helps,
 
WOW! After reading some of the responses you got I may never reload again. :)

Don't give in right away, if you have the Lee loading manual (I guess maybe the Second Edition) just open it up and start reading from page one. If you're like me it will take a few rereads but you will get through it. Lee's manual might not be the best but it's not the worst and it has a lot of good information to get you started.

You will have to make your own mistakes along the way with flaring the case mouth, bullet seating, and the occasional crimp or no crimp. I might mention that sometime in the future you invest in a bullet puller? ;) Lots more but you can't learn it all in a couple of emails.

Start reading your manual/s and after a while it will start making sense. Once you start loading ammo you will want to buy more equipment like scales, calipers, powder throws, micrometers, etc.

But until then;
Good Luck
 
And to echo myself, let's just help him use the Classic Lee Loader for now:

  1. Stick to powders listed by Lee for the scoop that comes with it. Use no others without appropriate scoops.

  2. Stick to the bullets listed by Lee for the loader, especially the bullet weights listed for the scoop and powder combinations, as heavier bullets than listed will raise pressure.

  3. Stick to brass cases (they litter every range for you to pick up) that have a single centered flash hole in the bottom and whose case walls go down nearly to the bottom of the case before they thicken appreciably.
Do these things and the Lee Loader will work and be safe.
 
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