Powder spirals on target.

[Guest kj4gxu]

I tried a new load using Berrys Plated 115 Gr 9mm bullets (.356 diameter) over the weekend

The load was the 115 Gr plated bullet over 4.2 gr of Titegroup with a coal of 1.09 I believe (Don't have my notes in front of me now.)

 

There were no signs of over pressure on any of the 10 loads I made up to test the recipe but they all showed a weird spiral pattern on the target at 5 yards (Looked like unburnt powder being sprayed onto the target.)  There were no signs of over pressure on the cases and the rounds shot well.

My guess is that this is the result of excessive pressure causing the powder to not burn fully.

can anyone verify this or point to another potential issue.

Thanks

Eric

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[TNMTBik3r]

I have not seen powder on the targets, but 4.0 grains of Titegroup results in some powder blowing back onto my wrists.
I have been using plated 124 grain bullets, the 4 grains results in better accuracy but 3.8 grains does not cause the powder blow back.
I am not sure it is a pressure issue as much as the barrel is too short to allow the full burn (4.5 inch barrel for my 9mm).

[Dolomite_supafly]

As pressure rises causes the powder to burn more completely and faster. Could be you are not using enough powder to get the pressures up enough to completely burn the powder. Might try increasing but DO NOT exceed published load data.

 

If the gun runs reliably and is accurate I wouldn't worry about it. I know my wife had a bunch of small tears in her target from HCP qualification. The instructors said they see it a lot with Federal ammunition.

Edited June 10, 2013 by Dolomite_supafly

[Guest kj4gxu]

These were shot out of a ruger P95 which has a 3.9 inch barrel.  I've shot a lot of different loads out of this including 115 gr and 124 gr FMJ and JHP bullets and never seen this issue with powder charges ranging from 3.8 to 4.2 gr of titegroup.  The biggest difference I see between these and the 115 gr FMJ I've loaded and shot is the diameter (.355 vs .356)  I've never noticed an issue with excessive blowback or smoke with any of my other loads.

 

Thanks

[CatsEye]

I'm not sure about the spiral issue you describe but the load sounds about right. I load 124 gr Rainier plated bullets with 3.7 gr of Titegroup and they shoot great. You might increase the charge slightly but I wouldn't go ever 4.5 gr as that's right at max.

[BigK]

A friend of mine showed me the same thing on his target at a class a couple of weeks ago. He loaded 115gr bullets w/ 4gr of Bullseye and was shooting them out of a Taurus 24/7 Pro DS, which I believe has a 5.25" barrel.

Too light of a load is probably what it was, but I didn't ask him the diameter (.355 vs .356), which I think could have been the problem too.