>I'm making 9mm semiwadcutters. I am not able to jam the bullets into the casings deeply enough to cover the lube grooves because they are very long. Wax is accumulating on the crimping die very quickly, and I have to clean the cartridges after they're finished. I think I'm all done with semiwadcutters. Super annoying to work with.
Wow, I thought I was the only person using SWCs in 9x19. What weight SWCs? Were they designed/recommended for 9x19?
What is too long? Never had any issue seating any bullet with any seating plug too deep. Maybe you're doing something wrong?
Semiwadcutters are the easiest to seat, using a seating plug that ONLY touches the bullet shoulder. Once set, it is set for EVERY SWC of that caliber.
IF you are getting bullet lube all over, the bullets are either already overly coated with lube going in or you are damaging the bullets during seating. Calling seating "jamming the bullets into the casings" shows problems beyond the bullet.
1) are you expanding the case so it is 0.001-0.002" under actual bullet dimeter? If not, use the expanding die or get a new expanding plug.
2) are you flaring the case mouth enough to ensue that the case mouth can not touch the bullet during seating? If not, flare the case mouth more.
3) are you seating the bullet straight? Does the seater stem FIT the bullet and is the bullet aligned on the case before seating? A proper case will allow you to push the bullet slightly into the case such that you can remove the round from the shell holder and turn the round upside down and NOT have the bullet fall off, prior to seating.
4) small thing, but be sure every case has been lightly chamfered inside and out at least ONCE.
5) pull your seated bullets and try to determine how damaged they are and WHY?
>I have another issue. I keep getting long cartridges. I set the seating die carefully for 1.040", and after a while, I start getting cartridges up to 1.060" long. Using firm, uniform pressure on the handle doesn't help. The die is not moving, so that isn't the problem.
Assuming that you are not short stroking your press, the only two ways to get LONG cartridges is because the die body is not firmly locked to the press/tool head or the seating stem is not firmly locked to the die body. You need to determine what the problem is.
Try reading a few more manuals and your press and die instructions, clean you dies with degreaser or brake cleaner spray, and start over.