Anyone have problems reloading Sierra 115gr JHP in their M&P 9c?

[Tirving]

I've been lurking for a while on this forum, first post

I have had my M&P compact 9mm for about 8 months now and have been reloading plinking ammo for a bit with no problems at all. I'm the type to measure twice, cut once and my wife tells me I get obsessed with investigating projects before I actually complete them.
A few weeks ago, I found a 100ct. box of sierra JHP, 115gr bullets for a great price, so I picked them up. I did my homework on working up a load and found some variability in recommendations with Titegroup. I decided to go with some of the lower charges as titegroup doesn't have a large margin of error. Here's what I came up with, I loaded 10 of each load and off to the range:

1.125" COL
3 charges: 4.2gr, 4.4gr and 4.6gr

At the range loaded the magazine with 4.2gr TG at 1.125" COL. Racked the slide, cartridge fed and ready to shoot, bang! Right on target, then, click....nothing. I went to "tap, rack, bang" the gun, but the slide would not go back so I looked at the slide, it was back a bit, I dropped the mag, gripped the slide and RIPPED it back hard to get the cartridge out, ok, this is the first "failure to feed" (not sure if that's what I should call it) in 2000 hand loaded rounds. Magazine back in cartridge fed.... Bang! Spent case ejected, bullet on target at 20 years again, same feed issue.

My thoughts are, ok, weak charge or crimp , or both. Up to 4.4gr TG. 9 rounds on target, 10th "failure to feed". On to 4.6gr TG, first round, bang! Case ejected, "failure to feed" gripped the slide, ripped it back..... ****, empty case ejects, powder all over the inside of my gun, bullet in barrel.

I took the gun apart, popped the bullet out by tapping the barrel on my palm and cleaned the gun well. The bullet didn't have any noticeable marks on it.

Back in my garage, I took one of the loaded cartridges placed in in the barrel and twisted, lands grabbed the bullet (I tested each in my lyman cartridge gauge during the loading process). Ok, COL is too long. Down' in steps to 1.098, same thing, 1.095, slight resistance with counterclockwise turn, in steps down to 1.088, same thing, the smallest COL I found data for was 1.090". Since factory Barnes and Hornady JHP cartridges measure at 1.130" and 1.075" respectively, and work just fine in my gun, what should I do? Are these bullets just not going to work with my gun? Any advice? I have been loading my plated RN bullets to 1.135" with no problems at all and good accuracy.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rule3]

I do not like Titegroup in the 9mm it is to fast a powder. Bu aside from that , do a plunk test to determine the correct COL for that bullet and your barrel. Almost like you mentioned but not twisting the round, Drop it in the barrel. It should fall in "plunk" turn the barrel over it should fall out.
If not seat a little deeper.

I would say your powder charge is to low also. Look at the Hodgdon web site for a 115 JHP.

Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

 

[Nevada Ed]

That bullet design did not function in my old 9mm may years ago. I needed 115gr "Ball" type to get 100% feeding and ejections.

95% of the 124 or 125gr jacket bullets worked a lot better in my pistol for some odd reason...........

and don't even think about less than 115grs. Everything was bad for me with this light of a jacketed bullet.

Hope you have better luck with that brand of bullet.

 

[SMSgt]

Published COL obviously isn't gospel if it won't fit your chamber.

Just to be contrary to Rule3, I give my rounds a twist. It helps to show any rifling marks on the bullet. Necessary? No. Like he said, a round should drop in/fall out freely. Use the COL that works in your firearm.

I don't use Titegroup, too finicky for me and too much of a chance for things to go terribly wrong. But, others swear by it and have no problems.

 

[webfarmer]

I can speak to my Shield only but this may help you. The Sierra 115 JHP bullet is my SD bullet only. I shoot RMR 115 plated bullets for practice and IDPA. Anyway, the Sierra OAL I developed for my Beretta 92 was 1.080". This was totally unacceptable for my S&W Shield with similar issues like you're having. I had to reduce OAL to 1.050" and now it runs basically flawless. I believe the bullet design is partially to blame. I also believe the bullet is a good self defense projectile. At the longer OAL, the Beretta eats them with flourish and is quite accurate to boot.

I also now taper crimp with a LEE factory die and I think that helps a bit as well. It's arguable as to the merits but I personally like crimping the bullet in a separate operation for the Shield. It meant nothing to the Beretta.

Try reducing your OAL if the powder allows it in your load and see if that doesn't eliminate the issue. Good luck!

 

[Steve C]

The Sierra 9mm 115gr jhp bullet has more of a truncated cone type shape and you need to use a shorter OAL than you do with a bullet more similar to the typical round nose. NOTE the OAL as listed in the Sierra manual is 1.050" and this should work in your Shield. Also note the maximum load for TG is 4.5gr.

The image below of the Sierra data comes from my "One Book" 9mm load book.

 

[ironhead7544]

Agree with Steve C. 1.050 is the CorBon factory length for this bullet, too. Has worked just fine in any 9mm I tried it in. Sometimes you may have to vary the COL to make a particular bullet work in your pistol.

 

[Tirving]

Thanks all!
I was worried about doing the COL shorter without having published load data for titegroup. It is finicky, but I like it so far. I also have a 1lb jug of true blue. TG, meters really well for me and the ammo I've loaded seems to work really well for me so far.

It looks like the 1.050" COL will work for my gun and now I have TG load data.... That's what I needed

I use a Lee FCD too but I only "crimp" to take the flare out, I only flare so the bullet sits stable enough to drop the handle on it in my RCBS RC press.

 

[Tirving]

The Sierra 9mm 115gr jhp bullet has more of a truncated cone type shape and you need to use a shorter OAL than you do with a bullet more similar to the typical round nose. NOTE the OAL as listed in the Sierra manual is 1.050" and this should work in your Shield. Also note the maximum load for TG is 4.5gr.

The image below of the Sierra data comes from my "One Book" 9mm load book.

Steve C. , which book is that? I have a one book published in 1995 without TG in it.

 

[Steve C]

which book is that? I have a one book published in 1995 without TG in it.

My newer load book doesn't seem to have a date anywhere but they say that Speer 11 is onse source of their data that kind of dates it. I picked up the one shown maybe 2 or 3 years ago as my earlier (with a publishing date) 1990 book didn't have quite a few of the powders or bullets now available.

the old book says 28 various bullets and 32 different powders. The newer book says 68 various bullets and 42 different powders.

I'm kind of frugal so I don't get an update to my manual (s) as long as the old ones or "free ones" seem to have the info I want.

 

[NJM15]

I load the same using Power Pistol always measure COL and plop test The COL shown in the book is usually not near the col of new rounds I measure a new round and duplicate it in my reloads I always make about 10 rounds. take them to the range to test fire.

 

[Tirving]

I load the same using Power Pistol always measure COL and plop test The COL shown in the book is usually not near the col of new rounds I measure a new round and duplicate it in my reloads I always make about 10 rounds. take them to the range to test fire.

Question, let's say the load ranges from 3.6gr - 4.2gr of powder with a COL of 1.125" but a plop test tells you your barrel likes 1.090". I would think the load data wouldn't be applicable and you're flying blind, no?

If I were to go ahead and load 10 rounds of 3.6, 10 of 3.8 and 10 of 4.0 at 1.090", I would be worried about a pressure spike in the 0.035" COL difference.... Am I thinking correctly?

I now have load data for 1.050, so I'm GTG, I just didn't want to monkey around with loading a range or charges without having confirmation that I can do so safely at a smaller COL.

 

[retired_diver]

Question, let's say the load ranges from 3.6gr - 4.2gr of powder with a COL of 1.125" but a plop test tells you your barrel likes 1.090". I would think the load data wouldn't be applicable and you're flying blind, no?

If I were to go ahead and load 10 rounds of 3.6, 10 of 3.8 and 10 of 4.0 at 1.090", I would be worried about a pressure spike in the 0.035" COL difference.... Am I thinking correctly?

I now have load data for 1.050, so I'm GTG, I just didn't want to monkey around with loading a range or charges without having confirmation that I can do so safely at a smaller COL.

I think you have exactly right thinking! All powders are volume sensitive, but some are extremely. If you don't know how much than I always play it safe. I have never had to go more than .018 different on COL than published data on a 9mm. What I did with AA#5 was load 5 rounds @ .1gr under the published data with a COL .018 less. That combo has worked great so I have never moved from it.
but now that you have published data than I would still work up

 

[webfarmer]

Thanks all!

I use a Lee FCD too but I only "crimp" to take the flare out, I only flare so the bullet sits stable enough to drop the handle on it in my RCBS RC press.

Since the 9mm headspaces on the case mouth - that is exactly the right thing to do. I flare only enough to be able to place the bullet in the case. Right on the ragged edge of not being able to. A very light taper crimp from the LEE is all you need. It's amazing how many times you can reload 9mm brass if you do it right. Sounds like you're headed in the right direction

 

[lhump1961]

Question, let's say the load ranges from 3.6gr - 4.2gr of powder with a COL of 1.125" but a plop test tells you your barrel likes 1.090". I would think the load data wouldn't be applicable and you're flying blind, no?

If I were to go ahead and load 10 rounds of 3.6, 10 of 3.8 and 10 of 4.0 at 1.090", I would be worried about a pressure spike in the 0.035" COL difference.... Am I thinking correctly?

I now have load data for 1.050, so I'm GTG, I just didn't want to monkey around with loading a range or charges without having confirmation that I can do so safely at a smaller COL.

I'm with you as well! I'm not interested in uncharted, compressed loads...especially using such a dense, fast powder as Titegroup!

 

[Tirving]

Thanks folks, sometimes it's good to just run this stuff by people who have been doing this longer than I have. I worked up 7 of each at 3.7gr, 4.0gr and 4.2gr of TG at a COL of 1.050"

I'm a little gun shy (pun intended) of the high end of the load data (4.5gr), and all the loads that have felt and shot the best have been around the middle of the load data..... We'll see, if 4.2gr feels fine, I may load up some cases with 4.5gr at the smaller COL and give it a rip.

Thanks again.