Originally Posted by GunGeek
Factory loads are crimped, but it's a taper crimp. Take a factory load that works well in your gun, measure the case mouth on the loaded round and set your taper crimp die to achieve the same case mouth diameter on your loaded round. The taper crimp is essential for reliable ammunition in an auto loader, and is the most common issue when ammunition isn't working in an otherwise reliable gun.

The second issue is cartridge overall length, so watch that closely. Get those two right and chances are the ammo will work just fine.


Only thing I'd add is that it pays to buy a chamber gauge to check your ammo. Cartridges should drop in to full depth (but not TOO deep!) and fall out again for proper function. You can pull the barrel from your pistol to do this, but a chamber gauge is set up to SAAMI specs so you know your ammo will work in ALL 9mm guns, not just your current pistol.


"I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars