Loading problems

[Scott]

Yesterday I went up shooting some of the ammo that I loaded. I ran accross a couple of issues with both my 9mm Luger and my .45 ACP.

The 9mm Luger just didn't want to cycle (failure to eject) through my brother's P226. When I shot the WWB, it cycled just fine. The only thing about my load that I'm unsure of is the powder weight. I'm using 115 gr. FMJ (cheap stuff, they're actually lead bullets with a copper "jacket" made by X-treme) but my Lyman book only shows loads for 115 gr. JHP. I used the same load for the FMJ's that I would have for the JHP. I made 2 different loads, 1 load was at 4.3 gr. and the other was at 4.7. both had issues cycling. Does anyone else's book show load numbers for 115 gr. FMJ?

The .45 ACP had issues with loading into the barrel. I had a number of rounds that seemed to large for the barrel. after cycling the slide on my 1911 wouldn't quite close all the way preventing the hammer from going forward. When I tried to pull the slide back to clear the round, the slide didn't move very freely. Infact, there were quite a few that I had to really pull like hell to get the slide to move and clear the round. Unfortunately, I didn't think to measure the rounds before I pulled them apart :roll: I did however, go through and measure some of the rounds that i had left over. Every one that I measured measured correctly. So my question is what would cause this? Could this possibly be the bullet moving further into the casing (I forgot what the term is)? I did push one round into the barrel with my finger and it went in, a little snugly and I could actually feel where the bullet was hanging up and when it went full in. It fired alright (was this safe, or should I slap my self?).

Please help.

[HunterCO]

Your problem is re-sizing.

Read this link it explains it and the biggest problem is always with semi-autos.

http://www.exteriorballistics.com/reloadbasics/resize.cfm

[Hoser]

I made 2 different loads, 1 load was at 4.3 gr. and the other was at 4.7. both had issues cycling. Does anyone else's book show load numbers for 115 gr. FMJ?

What powder? What manufacturer of bullets?


Every one that I measured measured correctly.

Are you measuring the OAL or the base of the brass? To see if your brass is bulged, measure the outside of the case and the inside of the chamber.

If you are loading a 230 FMJ, your OAL should be no more than 1.260.

[Scott]

Thanks for the link Tim, that was some good reading. Apparently, I have my carbide dies set too low since I get the "Coke bottle" effect. The weird thing is though that none of the rounds I have left over have a problem fitting into the barrel. Bad batch maybe?

Tom, I measured 3 ways: OAL (I assume this means Over All Length), side ways at the neck and side ways at the base just above the groove. Everything checked out to exactly what the Lyman book spec'd out within a couple thousands. The Lyman book calls for 1.275 OAL, .452 where the bullet meets the case, .473 at the neck of the case and .476 at the base just above the groove.


As for the 9mm, I'm using Winchester 231 and X-treme 115gr. round nose plated bullets.

Thanks for the help guys.

[Scott]

I seem to have solved the jamming problems with both the 9mm and .45ACP.

However, with the 9mm I noticed that the I could actually push the bullets into the casing, that can't be good. I have 7 of them that did it to me yesterday. Am I supposed to be crimping them? I made them just like I did the .45ACP, with the die set high enough that it wouldn't crimp the casing. I'm using 115gr. RN copper plated bullets that don't have a groove for crimping.

[Colorado Osprey]

After sizing the .45ACP and 9mm cases they will be slightly beveled out at the case mouth. After charging and seating the bullet there will need to be a slight crimp to straighten this case mouth. This edge is how both rounds are head spaced as well. So this is probaly the problem on why the .45ACP rounds are not fully chambering.

[Hoser]

All ammo going through a semi auto handgun must be crimped. All pistol ammo in general does also. Bullet setback is a very bad thing. Even more important in high pressure rounds like the 9x19 and 40.

Its not required (or recommended in my book) for rifle.

Even if a pistol bullet doesent have a crimping groove, you still have to crimp it.

[Scott]

Awesome, thanks for the info guys. Looks like I have something to do tonight.