malfunctions with reloads

slushbilly · September 7, 2015, 01:46 PM

I have a glock 17 9mm gen 4. I have started to do my own reloads. I am using hodgdon tite group powder, cci 500 primers, and rainier 115 grain round nose bullets. I am loading to the spec on hodgdon's website. 3.9 to 4.3 grains at 1.100 OAL. I am loading at 4.1. I went shooting today and was having issues with ejecting. I would have to manually cycle the slide. When the old case came out, it was very black on the outside. They only looked like this on an ejection failure.

Any ideas?

higgite · September 7, 2015, 01:55 PM

Under charged? How do you check your powder charge weights? How often do you check them?

T. O'Heir · September 7, 2015, 01:58 PM

One of the Glock guys will be along(reloading for Glocks is supposedly an art form.), but "very black on the outside." indicates insufficient pressure for the case to seal in the chamber.
Doubt it has anything to do with anything you did, but the Titegroup maybe the culprit. Not a Glockist myself so it's just a WHAG.

slushbilly · September 7, 2015, 02:26 PM

I am using the lee breech lock loader with the lee safety powder scale. I check the weight every time I start loading.

Hammerhead · September 7, 2015, 02:44 PM

Generally, smoked cases and failures to eject are indicators of low pressure.
You're using lead data for what I assume is a plated bullet. Plated bullets generally are slower than lead with the same charges. The jacketed data goes up to 4.8 grains Titegroup. I would go to 4.3 grains and try again.

Clark · September 7, 2015, 03:51 PM

Wimpy recoil spring marry up with wimpy loads.
Medium recoil springs marry up with medium loads.
Stiff recoil springs marry up with hot loads.

You can change the load or change the spring to get them to match.
It is best when the ejected case land 5 feet from the shooter.
If the case lands too far away, get stiffer springs or wimpier load.
IF the case lands too close or fails to eject at all, get wimpier springs or hotter loads.

MarkGlazer · September 7, 2015, 04:14 PM

Hammerhead nailed it. Looking at the Rainer site, I validated that they don't sell lead cast bullets (haven't used their product previously), only jacketed. Pulling data from the Hodgon web site, they are employing a Speer bullet (HP) and starting at 4.5 grains with a max of 4.8. Try the midpoint of 4.6/4.65 since you have very narrow range and see where that gets you.

When you to purchase lead cast bullets, you'll have a bit more room to work with.

Good luck. Be safe.

jepp2 · September 8, 2015, 08:38 PM

Quote:

and rainier 115 grain round nose bullets. I am loading to the spec on hodgdon's website. 3.9 to 4.3 grains at 1.100 OAL.

Have you calculated your bullet seating depth? Using OAL as a guide with a different bullet can case a significantly different result. You have signs of insufficient pressure. So you can either increase your charge or reduce your OAL. Either will increase the pressure.

September 7, 2015, 01:46 PM	#1
slushbilly Junior Member Join Date: August 27, 2015 Posts: 4	malfunctions with reloads I have a glock 17 9mm gen 4. I have started to do my own reloads. I am using hodgdon tite group powder, cci 500 primers, and rainier 115 grain round nose bullets. I am loading to the spec on hodgdon's website. 3.9 to 4.3 grains at 1.100 OAL. I am loading at 4.1. I went shooting today and was having issues with ejecting. I would have to manually cycle the slide. When the old case came out, it was very black on the outside. They only looked like this on an ejection failure. Any ideas?

September 7, 2015, 01:58 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	One of the Glock guys will be along(reloading for Glocks is supposedly an art form.), but "very black on the outside." indicates insufficient pressure for the case to seal in the chamber. Doubt it has anything to do with anything you did, but the Titegroup maybe the culprit. Not a Glockist myself so it's just a WHAG. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 7, 2015, 03:51 PM	#6
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	Wimpy recoil spring marry up with wimpy loads. Medium recoil springs marry up with medium loads. Stiff recoil springs marry up with hot loads. You can change the load or change the spring to get them to match. It is best when the ejected case land 5 feet from the shooter. If the case lands too far away, get stiffer springs or wimpier load. IF the case lands too close or fails to eject at all, get wimpier springs or hotter loads. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

September 7, 2015, 04:14 PM	#7
MarkGlazer Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 329	Hammerhead nailed it. Looking at the Rainer site, I validated that they don't sell lead cast bullets (haven't used their product previously), only jacketed. Pulling data from the Hodgon web site, they are employing a Speer bullet (HP) and starting at 4.5 grains with a max of 4.8. Try the midpoint of 4.6/4.65 since you have very narrow range and see where that gets you. When you to purchase lead cast bullets, you'll have a bit more room to work with. Good luck. Be safe. __________________ non ministrari sed ministrare

September 7, 2015, 01:55 PM	#2
higgite Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Posts: 1,025	Under charged? How do you check your powder charge weights? How often do you check them?

September 7, 2015, 02:26 PM	#4
slushbilly Junior Member Join Date: August 27, 2015 Posts: 4	I am using the lee breech lock loader with the lee safety powder scale. I check the weight every time I start loading.

September 7, 2015, 02:44 PM	#5
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Generally, smoked cases and failures to eject are indicators of low pressure. You're using lead data for what I assume is a plated bullet. Plated bullets generally are slower than lead with the same charges. The jacketed data goes up to 4.8 grains Titegroup. I would go to 4.3 grains and try again.