Reloading Round 1 Question

[runningfree]

Finally have my Dillon 550B set up.

Using Mil-Spec WPR289 power - told too use Ramshot Silhouette data.

Rainer 115gr plated bullets.

Used 4.7 grains of powder.

OAL 1.145 - measured factory Federal 9mm.

Loaded 10 rounds and went and shot. All went bang but all did not cycle to next round. Most stoved top but a few stayed in chamber.

From the Ramshot guide I should have seated the bullets deeper could this be my problem or should I up the charge.

Any help would be appreciated.

Edited April 17, 2012 by runningfree

[SonnyCrockett]

OAL is ok..dont know much about that powder,usually if the gun wont cycle

your loads are too light

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Accurate load guide calls for a 1.095 OAL. Won't speak to the charge. I use Accurate.

[scoutfsu]

4.7 is the minimum charge for that. Also, 1.145 looks to be slightly long. When you said you measured factory Federal 9mm......did you just measure a random factory round?

[BigK]

I did the same thing when I started reloading, except I measured a dozen or so WWB rounds and took an average, since they always cycled well in all my guns. I just googled my powder and the length and found a few charge recommendations. I had to work up/down to get the best accuracy.

Please be careful not to shorten your OAL AND up your charge at the same time. Shortening the OAL will create more case pressure all by itself. Upping the powder too might cause the pressure to get too high.

[scoutfsu]

BigK, why do that when you can just check the reloading manuals? Doing it his way, he looks to be about .045-.05 off on the OAL. I would think taking a median measurement from a box wouldn't be the best way to go about it, especially considering different bullet types.

[runningfree]

scoutfsu yes I measured fifty rounds of Federal 115gr ammo.

All were 1.15 +/- 0.004.

I have now loaded a few more rounds seated to 1.090 and still getting the same results.

[scoutfsu]

Going by Ramshot's information, I wouldn't mess too much more with seating. 4.6/7 looks to be the minimum powder. I would increase to 4.9 and go to their recommended COL. Have you looked at any other manuals?

[runningfree]

Not yet. I have two on the way. Lyman and Speer.

[scoutfsu]

Ok, well you can never read too many manuals. AR15.com also has a good reloading section with people that are actually helpful and knowledgeable. There is little to no silly internet games in that subforum. Really, I'm an amateur at this . I'm sure people that have been doing it for decades can help you better.

[BigK]

BigK, why do that when you can just check the reloading manuals? Doing it his way, he looks to be about .045-.05 off on the OAL. I would think taking a median measurement from a box wouldn't be the best way to go about it, especially considering different bullet types.

The reason I did it that way is because some guns may "prefer" a different OAL than others to cycle well. I've got a gun that will jam every time if my OAL gets over 1.135 to 1.14", because the bullet is too long to make the angle up the feed ramp. Likewise, if too short the bullet can stovepipe when rounds are stripped off the mag.

I'm not saying it's scientific, just a starting point. Rarely do I find a listing in a manual where the test rounds were fired in a gun similar to mine.

Edited April 17, 2012 by BigK

[tnhawk]

An OAL of 1.135 for RN and 1.125 for HP is shown in the Speer Manual. Hornady Handbbok used 1.100 RN and 1.075 HP.

[gregintenn]

How m uch crimp did you apply?

[runningfree]

From what I found online is that you don't want to crimp you just want to take the bell back out. So I belled a shell then "crimped" it back to the same size as it came out of the sizing die.

Edited April 18, 2012 by runningfree

[runningfree]

Today upped the charge to 4.9 with same oal of 1.15 some cycled some did not. Changed oal to 1.11 and all cycled.