Can 9mm Largo be reloaded with regular 9mm die sets?

by Harry O-1, Sunday, October 18, 2015, 20:31 (3263 days ago) @ ERSisk

I have not tried loading them with standard 9x19mm dies. However, I bought an RCBS die set that was listed as being OK for 9mm Luger, 9x21mm, and 9x23mm cartridges. It cost about the same as most 9mm Luger dies. I got it after I got some Starline brass and saw what the cost of true 9mm Largo dies is. The Largo dies were way too expensive for me. I use the RCBS dies for both my 9mm Largo and 9mm Luger and it works well for both.

I first shot the 9mm Largo back in the 1960's. It was an Astra 400 owned by my Uncle (all he ever shot out of it was 9mm Luger ammo and he still has it). I later (much later) got one myself and used .38ACP/.38 Super brass and dies to feed it. They worked. I later got a 9mm Largo Star and found that it had a tighter chamber. Most of the time, the cartridges would work, but occasionally would jam.

I later tried 9x23 Winchester brass and found that it did not like either gun, especially the tighter chambered one. All were reloaded in .38ACP/.38Super dies. When Starline started making 9mm Largo brass, I got a bunch and have never looked back. That is also when I got the RCBS dies.

My recommendation is to get Starline brass and an RCBS set of dies. It works for both the 9mm Largo and 9mm Luger.