ALL IS NOT WELL IN RIVER CITY

[J. R. WEEMS]

Well, as the title says, in spite of my strict precautions, all did not go well with my first 9MM loading since 1989-- I share this so as to warn ALL of us that reloading is not a perfect world and you can never be too sure of anything in reloading. For our newer folks taking up the task, trust me, you can NEVER be too careful. All this said here is a short version. My Wilson gauge showed up so on to load up some test rounds. All went fine, all three test batches fit the gauge fine, so off to the range. Also being tested was my Sons MDL 26 Glock. Have never fired one so this compact model was suspect. Anyway, got all set up and attempted to load my gun, an S&W 469-- WHAT?? slide would not close, no way. Hmmmm? Tried loading some factory Winchesters, no problem. Something amiss. SO, on to the Glock. All three test batches, fired 5 rounds from each--- NO problem, all seemed normal, brass was fine etc. OK< I went home, broke the Smith down and gave the barrel a good scrubbing and tried the leftover test rounds-- sure enough, no fit, by maybe half the thickness of the rim. Hmmmm? Set the sizing die down just a slight tad, & made some dummy rounds up. Each one fit the barrel just fine, just like a factory round. Problem solved-- I hope. Just goes to show you-- Wilson gauges are the standard by which ALL others are judged, at least in my world. Above ALL else, the firearm is the final judge. As for the Red Dot loads of 4.1, W232 4. with 124 grain bullet worked fine in the Glock, as did the 3.5gr load of Red Dot with a 147gr bullet. I can only conclude from all this that the Glock's chamber must be a bit more forgiving. Anyone here loading for these guns found this to be the case??

 

[kwselke]

Man... I was worried you were going to say something about blowing up a gun and injuries. Glad no one was hurt.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I made a huge batch of 9mm ammo using the Hornaday Action Pistol 125 gr. hollow point. The rounds are totally in spec and will run just fine in my Glock. They do NOT function reliably in my XDm or my custom 1911. The reason is a very slight bulge in the case wall at the base of the seated bullet. Brother you haven't had a jam during a match like the one you get with this ammo.

Glock chamber dimensions are VERY forgiving....the reason why we refer to such brass as being "glocked"!

 

[rsrocket1]

For the first several thousand rounds, I plunk tested each one. It takes only a couple of extra seconds per round when taking it from the bin, plunk, putting it in the ammo box.

 

[steamloco76]

The slight brass bulge with some bullets in 9MM and 45 ACP cases is the reason I always use a Lee Factory Crimp Die to finish my pistol ammo. The carbide sizer ring puts everything back in spec.

 

[scooter123]

The slight brass bulge with some bullets in 9MM and 45 ACP cases is the reason I always use a Lee Factory Crimp Die to finish my pistol ammo. The carbide sizer ring puts everything back in spec.

I'll second this. In fact because the only 45 ACP and 38 spl. dies I could find were RCBS I did a bit of supplementing. Purchased a Lee Pour Through Flaring Die and the Factory Crimp Die in each caliber.

BTW, you really don't notice that extra sizing stage unless you get a casing with thicker walls or a bullet that's a few 10'ths on the high side. When that happens you feel that round being swaged down to spec. BTW, it's been my experience that Federal casings run a bit on the heavy side for wall thickness. While that bodes well for a longer reloading life it does emphacize the need to size after stuffing in the bullet.

 

[Rule3]

Even though I use the LFCD on all my calibers, that is not the issue here.

Using the Plunk test for the specific gun would have ID'd the problem as to OAL and all would have been good.

Never used a case gauge for a pistol caliber. I do use it for rifle especially 223 were the shoulder matters.

Did the OP use a lead or FMJ bullet??

Try loading for a CZ with lead RN bullets and you will see how far they need to be seated.

Yes, Blocks are very forgiving that's why the work so well and also go Kboom. More so in the 40 SW the 9mm is pretty well supported.

 

[rwsmith]

I had no problem

I've had no problem just neck sizing my 30-06 cartridges for my rifle for years. All of a sudden I get rounds that won't chamber. So I got a full resize die and it was better but some were still hard to chamber. I think I have enough good rounds to go to the range while I try to figure just what this is about.

 

[Skunkhome]

Taper cases can give you grief like that. .30 carbine is the same way.

 

[m657]

Are we to understand you were shooting LEAD in your Glock?

If so, please be aware of the issues up to and including KABOOM with lead & the Glock poly barrel.

It is very worth checking this out.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Are we to understand you were shooting LEAD in your Glock?

If so, please be aware of the issues up to and including KABOOM with lead & the Glock poly barrel.

It is very worth checking this out.

NO- NO LEAD-- these were all plated bullets.

 

[wyo-man]

The chambers on Kahr .45s are VERY tight. Neighbor had to purchase a Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die to get the taper to where they needed to fit in the Kahr's chamber (it also sizes the case to factory).

wyo-man

 

[125JHP]

I had the exact same thing happen with 45 acp last week. Loaded some 225 LRN and they fit the gauge, plunked them in my XD and they didn't fit so had to seat them a little deeper.. .005 IIRC - caught them before goin to the range.

 

[M29since14]

You apparently have a bad gage. Send it back to Wilson. I had one like that for 44 Magnum. I called them and sent the gage back and within a couple days along came a new one that worked like it should. Even Wilson can make a mistake once in a while.

 

[Rule3]

NO- NO LEAD-- these were all plated bullets.

What was your OAL and what was your crimp measurement? Forget the gauge (for handguns)

But as I mentioned, the best gauge is your barrel and the plunk test. This is a 1911 45 but the principal is the same.

his pic is often used to help explain correct headspacing and how O.A.L. can affect chambering and headspace.

 

[moxie]

So chambers vary? Hmmm.

I use gages for .45 and 9mm but it's good to verify with a plunk test when you first get started.

 

[SMSgt]

I've never seen the need for a case gage unless shooting rounds from it. I reload for my rifle and pistol, and as long as they work in those the case gage would be meaningless.

 

[FloridaFlier]

I do recommend the case gauge. I have several guns for each caliber that I reload, and I occasionally give ammo to a shooting buddy. If the gauge says it's good, it's good.
Having said that, if I was reloading for an auto, and only had one gun, I would agree that just using the barrel as a sizing gauge would do the same job just as well.

 

[pdg45acp]

That's how I found out that a guy needs to do the plunk test for each round in the barrel of the gun he's going to use in the match.

The new Lone Wolf Barrels for Glocks seem to be even tighter than my Wilson gauge.

 

[Rule3]

I've never seen the need for a case gage unless shooting rounds from it. I reload for my rifle and pistol, and as long as they work in those the case gage would be meaningless.

That there is funny.