Index  •  FAQ  •  Search  

It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:17 am

This is a static archive the Twin Cities Carry forum, maintained as a public service by the current forum of record, The Minnesota Carry Forum.

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
 Getting misfires in my reloads? 
Author Message
 Post subject: Getting misfires in my reloads?
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:57 am 
Senior Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:32 pm
Posts: 180
Location: St. Paul
I am very new to reloading and searched for the answer but did not find anything. (My search skills are similar to my reloading skills).

The short story:
I am reloading 9mm and in a nutshell I have had a few misfires (gun goes boom but no case ejects, and after a field strip find the bullet stuck in the barrel) :(

The long story:
I am shooting a xd 9mm sc and have loaded approx 150rounds. I have been using 115 gr FMJ in once fired brass. The brass was thoroughly cleaned. I am using Winchester primers and 231 powder. I had my first 50 rounds work with no problem. About 20-30 rounds into the second 50 I had my first misfire.
My thought was that I had a round with a primer and no powder and went back and loaded 50 more making extra sure to not have any rounds without powder.
So tonight I tried my latest batch of 50 and shot 41 (fantastic rounds :D ) and #42 was the same old story, bullet stuck in barrel. :oops:

Question
What is the cause of this? Is it powder? What suggestions would you have to correct this problem?


Thanks in advance for your help! :D


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:16 am 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:02 pm
Posts: 1569
Location: The Mild, Mild, West, Burbs
This sounds like an "Under charged" round to me, you might want to pay more close attention to your powder drop to ensure the same ammount is in every case!

Better yet, buy a Dillon 650 with a powder check system.

_________________
NRA Certified Instructor
MADFI Certified Instructor
MN DNR Certified Instructor
UT BCI Certified Conceal/Carry Instructor


"If you expect the police to always be able to protect you, why are the ones who show up at crimes called 'detectives' instead of 'defenders'? Detectives try to find a criminal after they've committed a crime."


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: What's your setup?
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:17 am 
Member

Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:10 pm
Posts: 47
Location: Minntonka
Are you using a progressive or single stage reloader? How are you verifying that every case has powder? You are using a scale right? Are you measuring by hand or using a powder measure? A bullet stuck in the barrel is a squib. It's either bad primers or not enough powder. I've loaded hundreds of that same load and never had a problem with 231 providing enough oomph while staying within Speer reloading manual specs for pressure and velocity.

I'd look at how the powder is going into the brass before the bullet is seated. I know it's a pain but manually measure out however many grains you want into the scale pan, then pour into brass. If you're using a powder measure, run 50 charges through it and weigh each one.

Also if you're using a manual powder measure like and RCBS if you don't swing the handle firmly and consistently every time you can get a relatively big difference in the amount of grains thrown.

Hope that helps some. More info on your setup would help diagnose. Good luck.

Hobie


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:31 am 
1911 tainted
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 2:47 pm
Posts: 3045
Sounds like no powder in the case. One simple thing that you should be doing if using a loading block, make sure all cases start out in the loading block with the mouth down, primer/case head up. That way you know there is no powder in them, so as you take them out of the block and put powder in the case, that charged case goes back in the block with the case mouth up, it has to or the powder will be dumped out. Doing this, among other checks as you load, will help you from skipping one case and seating a bullet in an uncharged case.

I am assuming that you are using a loading block, so some other checks that should be included is looking in every case that is in the loading block after every case in the block has powder in it. Look at them after all of them are charged, an empty or under charged case will look different than the others in the block and will hopefully catch your attention.

What we really need to know is how are you charging the brass, using just a scale, using a powder measure, etc. to help narrow down the reaon some rounds are squibs.


Offline
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:42 am 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:54 am
Posts: 5270
Location: Minneapolis
The first to thing to check like the guys above suggest is the powder charge.

If that is OK, the next thing to check is your crimp. If you have a weak crimp, the gasses can escape around the bullet and not propel it fast enough to escape the barrel.

You should not be seating and crimping in the same step. And for auto cartridges a taper crimp or as Lee calls it a factory crimp die is highly recommended.

_________________
I am defending myself... in favor of that!


Offline
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:15 am 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:24 am
Posts: 6767
Location: Twin Cities
[Man, I love this place. You guys rock. I just had to say that.]

_________________
* NRA, UT, MADFI certified Minnesota Permit to Carry instructor, and one of 66,513 law-abiding permit holders. Read my blog.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:41 am 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2005 1:46 pm
Posts: 845
Location: Saint Paul
If my reloads had a few "squibs" in them (thank God that has never happened - yet) I would become very worried that an equal amount might have a slightly louder "bang" when I fired them off - the dreaded double charge.

I have used 231 in some 45 Colt reloads. In my limited experience I noted that moderate velocity loads left a lot of powder residue. Did you find a lot of residue with your squibs? If not, you probably had no powder in the case at all.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:04 am 
Longtime Regular

Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:44 pm
Posts: 599
I hope you get your squib problem figured out. I don't have much more to add to the above, only that when I reload I really like to have a good light directly above the open case.

I load on a progressive press, so I shine a desk light in at the powder drop station, so as I load I can visually check every case that goes through the press. That way I can clearly see the powder in the case.

If I get distracted or out of rhythm everything stops, and I check to see where I left off. Its better than pulling a whole batch of bullets when you think you might have missed one.

I've had 1 squib. Its not a fun feeling. On the bright side, you now know what its like, and how to detect it. You also know why I am nervous about pointless "rapid fire" giggle time when I'm shooting and see others doing it at the range. Just in case you get a squib or light charge, and it happens to have enough power to cycle another live round in behind that stuck bullet, those people are going to be in bad shape.

Those doing magazine dumps are taking that risk. I think its really hard to detect a squib, and stop pulling the trigger when you are just seeing how fast you can fire a gun. Its fun for them I guess, but I like my fingers and eyes in the condition they are now. Glad you are safe!

_________________
EJSG19


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:26 am 
The Man
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:43 am
Posts: 7970
Location: Minneapolis MN
Andrew Rothman wrote:
[Man, I love this place. You guys rock. I just had to say that.]
Beat me to it, but, well, yeah.

_________________
Just a guy.


Offline
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:08 am 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:53 pm
Posts: 1421
Location: South Minneapolis (East of Lake Nokomis)
joelr wrote:
Andrew Rothman wrote:
[Man, I love this place. You guys rock. I just had to say that.]
Beat me to it, but, well, yeah.
Yeah, me too, since I've just ordered a reloading kit.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:20 pm 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:11 am
Posts: 572
Location: West of Hope, MN (S. Central MN)
I probably load 5k to 15k on my Dillon 650 each year. A few years back I had 2 squibs in my reloads. I immediately bought a Dillon powder check for my press. (It checks for low or heavy powder charges during the loading process. It beeps if bad.) No squibs since. I also have a RCBS lock-out powder check die that does the same on another caliber. A little cheaper. If the powder is high or low, it locks up the press.

Having the additional stations to add the powder check (and seperate crimp die) is why I prefer the Dillon 650 over the 550.

If you think squibs loads are bad, just think what the RO or SO in IPSC or IDPA think about them. They must stop you from cycling in a new round and firing it. In less than a second or two. (Usually the revolver guys will lock up the cylinder with a squib.) BAD, BIG BANG and PIECES FLYING IF THEY DON'T. I probably stopped 20 guys for potential squibs being an RO. At least a dozen of them had rounds stuck in the chamber. The experienced shooters will usually stop themselves since they are aware of how their gun feels with each shot. Not so with the novice shooter. They just cycle in a new round.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:28 pm 
The Man
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:43 am
Posts: 7970
Location: Minneapolis MN
westhope wrote:
If you think squibs loads are bad, just think what the RO or SO in IPSC or IDPA think about them.
Hadn't thought about that. Yucko.

_________________
Just a guy.


Offline
 Profile E-mail  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:57 pm 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:02 pm
Posts: 1569
Location: The Mild, Mild, West, Burbs
Hey, we (shooters) used to carry a brass "Squib rod" to clear the gun on the clock and keep going. Now we (ROs) have to stop the shooter as soon as we hear the squib. The rules makers take all the fun out of competition.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

_________________
NRA Certified Instructor
MADFI Certified Instructor
MN DNR Certified Instructor
UT BCI Certified Conceal/Carry Instructor


"If you expect the police to always be able to protect you, why are the ones who show up at crimes called 'detectives' instead of 'defenders'? Detectives try to find a criminal after they've committed a crime."


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:39 pm 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:44 pm
Posts: 1525
Location: Isanti, MN
Pat Cannon wrote:
joelr wrote:
Andrew Rothman wrote:
[Man, I love this place. You guys rock. I just had to say that.]
Beat me to it, but, well, yeah.
Yeah, me too, since I've just ordered a reloading kit.


Boy, hell of a thread :!: Hats off gentlemen, THANKS to all :!: :!: I'm very seriously thinking about getting into reloading myself, I really appreciate the shared knowledge 8)

_________________
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
- Winston Churchill -


WITHOUT LIBERTY THERE IS NO FREEDOM


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:04 pm 
Longtime Regular
User avatar

Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:11 am
Posts: 572
Location: West of Hope, MN (S. Central MN)
Selurcspi wrote:

Quote:
Hey, we (shooters) used to carry a brass "Squib rod" to clear the gun on the clock and keep going.


OK, how did you clear the squib from the barrel with your "Squib Rod" without passing your hand in front of the muzzle and getting a Match DQ? (Unless you had some weird shaped "Squib Rod.) Remember, you said you were "on the clock" and not in the safety area.

Oh, I still carry a brass Squib Rod in my range bag. I can't remember the last time I used it on one of my guns at a match. It has been used by several others each year.


Offline
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

This is a static archive the Twin Cities Carry forum, maintained as a public service by the current forum of record, The Minnesota Carry Forum.

All times are UTC - 6 hours


 Who is online 

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  


 
Index  |  FAQ  |  Search

phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group