Dillon 9mm die set question - The Firearms Forum

mark9765 · 03-23-2009, 08:37 PM

I just bought a set of Dillon 14406 9mm dies. This set comes with 3 dies. A sizing/depriming die, a bullet seating and a crimp die. Doesn't the end of the brass need to be expanded to start the bullet? Is there another die I need to buy. I am confused!

Popgunner · 03-23-2009, 08:51 PM

Hi Mark. Welcome

Our resident Dillon expert LD Bennet should know & will probably be along shortly. Yes you will want to bell those case mouths.

gdmoody · 03-23-2009, 09:09 PM

If you have a dillon press, the second stage bells the mouth and drops the powder. I don't know how it would work in any other press!

Actually, I think you would have to get another "bell mouth" die for it to work. Maybe LD will have an answer.

mark9765 · 03-23-2009, 10:58 PM

You guys are right. I used an expander from another set. Thanks

LDBennett · 03-24-2009, 08:43 AM

Are you using Dillon dies in a non-Dillon press? That's probably not a good idea because the Dillon set does not include a belling die. You'll have to steal one from anouthe die set.

If it is a Dillon press you are using then:

There are four stations (one optional) in the common RL550B Dillon press for doing pistol rounds. The first uses a regular sizing die (carbide in this case) that sizes and de-primes the brass on upward travel of the table. When you push the handle forward (downward travel of the table) the new primer is automatically seated into the case.

The third stations uses a regular seating die. A normal RCBS or others' die can be lowered or raised so that the case can be crimped or not. The fourth station with the Dillon die set is a separate crimp station as the seating die at station 3 does not crimp, no matter the adjustment.

I saved the second station for last. It delivers the powder through a universal die (used for all calibers). You add to it a "powder funnel" sized for the specific cartridge of choice, and the auto actuated Dillon powder measure on the top of the universal powder die. It allows powder from the automatically actuated powder measure to flow through the center (funnel part). The edge of that funnel, where it enters the case, is rounded such that if the case is pushed far enough into the die then the case mouth is belled. The adjustment of the height of the universal powder die is critical and it controls the actuation of the powder measure as well as the belling of the case mouth. The Dillon press instructions clearly explain how that die and the caliber specific powder funnel are adjusted to achieve this end. So it is the "Powder Funnel" in a Dillon press that does the belling of the case mouth.

Hope this helps.

LDBennett

03-23-2009, 08:37 PM	#1
mark9765 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 22	Dillon 9mm die set question I just bought a set of Dillon 14406 9mm dies. This set comes with 3 dies. A sizing/depriming die, a bullet seating and a crimp die. Doesn't the end of the brass need to be expanded to start the bullet? Is there another die I need to buy. I am confused! -->

03-23-2009, 08:51 PM	#2
Popgunner Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Contributor Posts: 1,764	Re: Dillon 9mm die set question Hi Mark. Welcome Our resident Dillon expert LD Bennet should know & will probably be along shortly. Yes you will want to bell those case mouths.

03-23-2009, 09:09 PM	#3
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,407	Re: Dillon 9mm die set question If you have a dillon press, the second stage bells the mouth and drops the powder. I don't know how it would work in any other press! Actually, I think you would have to get another "bell mouth" die for it to work. Maybe LD will have an answer. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant) Last edited by gdmoody; 03-23-2009 at 09:10 PM..

03-23-2009, 10:58 PM	#4
mark9765 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 22	Re: Dillon 9mm die set question You guys are right. I used an expander from another set. Thanks

03-24-2009, 08:43 AM	#5
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,754	Re: Dillon 9mm die set question Are you using Dillon dies in a non-Dillon press? That's probably not a good idea because the Dillon set does not include a belling die. You'll have to steal one from anouthe die set. If it is a Dillon press you are using then: There are four stations (one optional) in the common RL550B Dillon press for doing pistol rounds. The first uses a regular sizing die (carbide in this case) that sizes and de-primes the brass on upward travel of the table. When you push the handle forward (downward travel of the table) the new primer is automatically seated into the case. The third stations uses a regular seating die. A normal RCBS or others' die can be lowered or raised so that the case can be crimped or not. The fourth station with the Dillon die set is a separate crimp station as the seating die at station 3 does not crimp, no matter the adjustment. I saved the second station for last. It delivers the powder through a universal die (used for all calibers). You add to it a "powder funnel" sized for the specific cartridge of choice, and the auto actuated Dillon powder measure on the top of the universal powder die. It allows powder from the automatically actuated powder measure to flow through the center (funnel part). The edge of that funnel, where it enters the case, is rounded such that if the case is pushed far enough into the die then the case mouth is belled. The adjustment of the height of the universal powder die is critical and it controls the actuation of the powder measure as well as the belling of the case mouth. The Dillon press instructions clearly explain how that die and the caliber specific powder funnel are adjusted to achieve this end. So it is the "Powder Funnel" in a Dillon press that does the belling of the case mouth. Hope this helps. LDBennett