9mm stovepipe's

[50150me]

I switched from 125gr to 115 gr RN bullets using 4.8 gr of 231 winchester powder and have has stove pipes in my 3913 S&W. not every round but once and a while. Any one have trouble with the lighter bullets?

 

[ReloadforFun]

Go back to the 125gr bullets. 9's are often picky about the 115gr bullets.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

COAL" can cause feeding problem.

Too short, too long.

Did you change the COAL" when you changed bullet weights?

If the two bullets are from the same manufacturer & have the same profile (FMJ) I wouldn't think the 3913 could tell the difference if the COAL" is the same.

Did you use the same load with the heavier bullet or a lighter charge weight?

.

 

[stansdds]

Stove pipe jams are a failure of the slide to recoil far enough to fully eject the spent case or the extractor is dropping the case rim before the case impacts the ejector. First thing to do, make sure the extractor is not damaged and flush out any gunk that has built up in the extractor channel. Check the ejector for damage, they can break. If all of that is good, then either use a recoil spring that is 1 or 2 pounds lighter or increase the powder charge to get that bullet moving faster, which will impart more energy to the breech face and push the slide rearward with a bit more authority.

 

[Alk8944]

I assume you mean stovepipes on ejection, not feeding like the S&W E-Z pistols have!

Increase the charge weight to 5.0 grains for the 115 grain bullet, this is still well within SAAMI pressure for 9mm Parabellum. You should be able to go as high as 5.5 gr/231 before getting near maximum pressure. Load as high as necessary for the gun to eject properly as long as you do not exceed 5.5 gr. You need the velocity to be near 1200 FPS with the 115 gr. bullet.

Or change propellant to Power Pistol, Unique, AA-7, etc. at recommended charges for those. Use some source other than the Hodgdon on-line data, preferably a printed manual, or several!

 

[Marksman]

Definately clean and lube, might bump up the powder charge too as suggested. 115gr. loads can be finiky at times, my propellant of choice is Unique.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I get fewer ejection problems with slower powders and have had SP's with w231 and Green Dot
when I test out light target loads in my pistols or ones that have a 13 pound spring.

You might try setting that 115 gr bullet at a oal of 1.10" or increase the powder, of your loads.

I notice that some of my SP's happen on my loads with the slower fps, while using my chrony.
Some loads might have a 50 or even a 100fps ES that can cause a ejection problem if you shoot 50 or more rounds and find that one round that
is too "Soft" for your recoil spring, if every thing else, is working correctly.

One reason I up my "Minimum loads" , so this problem, should not happen to me, when shooting.

Every pistol is different, so keep track of those loads.

 

[50150me]

Thanks for the imput

You guys are great, as usual. I think I will up my powder load and try that. I think that I had a brain fart when I purchased the 115 gr bullets.

 

[50150me]

I upped my powder to 5.0 gr of 231. Next went out this morning and shot 50 rds total thru my 3919 and Glock 17L. NO stovepipes or other cycling problems. Problem fixed. Moral of the story. Dont change things if they are working great. Thank you guys again.

 

[Pig Hunter]

You might also concentrate on a very firm grip and locked wrists. Several times I've been able to shoot loads other people can't because of my grip.

 

[jem102]

I have found a weak magazine sprint to cause stove pipes sometimes. The spring can't get the next round up quick enough.

 

[Nevada Ed]

You guys are great, as usual. I think I will up my powder load and try that. I think that I had a brain fart when I purchased the 115 gr bullets.

Nothing wrong with a lighter 115gr bullet in a 9mm pistol.

Loading a 9mm is sort of like eating a hot dog.

You just need to put the correct stuff into the bun with the hot dog
for it to be good.