40 s&w reloading problems

BRICK_2027 · January 7, 2017, 12:32 AM

Hello all, hopefully you guys can help me out because I'm stumped. I've been reloading my rifle rounds a lot recently and decided I wanted to do some 40 s&w.

I've never had a problem before reloading 40 but have ran into one today. It seems that there's a problem when seating the bullet. The round doesn't seem to want to seat flush in my barrel.

I'm confused because I'm doing everything the same as I have in the past. OAL is 1.129" and don't really wanna go much less. Like I said I've done everything the same and am only now having problems. Any advice will help

74A95 · January 7, 2017, 03:01 AM

Do the plunk test with a magic marker to determine where the problem is.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloadi...he-plunk-test/

Nathan · January 7, 2017, 06:02 AM

Help us a little....

Are you referring to a "plunk test" failure? Is the round sticking in the rifling? Covering the round in black marker can be a big help.

Barrel?
Bullet?
Case?
Crimp?
Dies?

Mauser69 · January 7, 2017, 09:53 AM

Quote:

The round doesn't seem to want to seat flush in my barrel.

This makes absolutely no sense to me.

Do you mean that the bullets are crooked in the CASE? If so, your problem is likely nothing more than a buildup of lube or other contaminant in your seating plug.

If the loaded rounds do not completely insert into the chamber, then there is either something wrong with your barrel (something obstructing the front of the chamber, such as some broken brass), or your measurement is just completely borked and your loaded rounds are too long. Compare them to some factory rounds.

Hoppy · January 7, 2017, 10:12 AM

Sounds like not plunking, but clarification would be good.

I did research before starting to load 40's. Some people talked about case bulges that were not removed with regular case sizing. Perhaps it is this. I never actually ran into this. I resized cases that were run through my friend's glock ( apparently people were discussing bulging from the glock). My rounds plunked in the glock and my kahr barrel.

The plunk with marker should help identify.

Jeffm004 · January 7, 2017, 10:51 AM

The plunk test worked for me for years, until it didn't. It took a go/no go gauge and a sharpie to find the problem. A pix might help. I was using an SNS coated and the fat part of the lead near the nose was just / that much seated too long. They run in my Sig, not in my 1911 aftermarket barrel. With 9mm, some brass is not quite right. They run in my Sig and Browning, they hang up now and then in the Glock. A go / no go gauge solved all these issues, well it lets me sort out the marginal stuff. In a barrel, my eye just doesn't spot /.

I'm just now setting up the 650 for .40. Or at least thinking about it....

nhyrum · January 7, 2017, 11:08 AM

Did you measure your brass before loading? Could be brass that is too long

Mauser69 · January 7, 2017, 11:20 AM

Quote:

I did research before starting to load 40's. Some people talked about case bulges that were not removed with regular case sizing. Perhaps it is this.

I have not seen this either, but it is a good suggestion - if the resizing die is not adjust far enough down it does seem possible that it might not fix the damaged brass from those junky Glock guns.

I HAVE seen something similar with .357 Magnum brass that has been relaoded many times with magnum loads, and the carbide ring on some resizing dies is far enough inside the die (probably to keep inexperienced reloaders from cracking it due to improperly adjusting the die) that some cases can eventually develop a very slight bulge all the way around the very bottom of the case that causes problems chambering in my revolver. When I have seen this, using a different die carefully adjusted to come as close as possible to the shell holder has fixed the brass.

CWKahrFan · January 10, 2017, 10:58 AM

Not SURE this is your problem but... Watching this video and ordering the appropriate equipment therein described solved the problems I was having with .40 seating... Works like a charm for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peUhhcWymxE

Gregory Gauvin · January 10, 2017, 05:30 PM

Perhaps your seating-die is not adjusted far enough down to remove all the flare from the case after belling the mouth. A tight chamber compounds this.

flashhole · January 10, 2017, 06:22 PM

Looks like a troll to me. First post, not clear on the problem. Improper terminology and lots of people jumping to his cadence.

Gregory Gauvin · January 11, 2017, 03:51 PM

trōl/
noun
noun: troll; plural noun: trolls

a mythical, cave-dwelling being depicted in folklore as either a giant or a dwarf, typically having a very ugly appearance

primerman · January 12, 2017, 01:21 AM

If it is one round then it might be case bulge, I had one of those today. If it is all your rounds then I would check to see if the bell on the case mouth needs to be removed, I had several of those today. If you are trying to seat and crimp the bullet at the same time, well that could be a different problem. I found out early in my reloading experience that seating and crimping does not always work so I bought a taper crimp die and added another step to my process.

if it is just one bullet I would suggest pulling the bullet and throwing the case away.

January 7, 2017, 12:32 AM	#1
BRICK_2027 Junior Member Join Date: August 8, 2016 Posts: 9	40 s&w reloading problems Hello all, hopefully you guys can help me out because I'm stumped. I've been reloading my rifle rounds a lot recently and decided I wanted to do some 40 s&w. I've never had a problem before reloading 40 but have ran into one today. It seems that there's a problem when seating the bullet. The round doesn't seem to want to seat flush in my barrel. I'm confused because I'm doing everything the same as I have in the past. OAL is 1.129" and don't really wanna go much less. Like I said I've done everything the same and am only now having problems. Any advice will help

January 10, 2017, 10:58 AM	#9
CWKahrFan Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2010 Posts: 2,016	Not SURE this is your problem but... Watching this video and ordering the appropriate equipment therein described solved the problems I was having with .40 seating... Works like a charm for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peUhhcWymxE __________________ What did Mrs. Bullet say to Mr. Bullet? ... "We're having a BeeBee!"... IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT!... IF THE GUN FITS, SHOOT IT! "Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."

January 10, 2017, 06:22 PM	#11
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	Looks like a troll to me. First post, not clear on the problem. Improper terminology and lots of people jumping to his cadence. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

January 7, 2017, 03:01 AM	#2
74A95 Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Posts: 1,570	Do the plunk test with a magic marker to determine where the problem is. http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloadi...he-plunk-test/

January 7, 2017, 06:02 AM	#3
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,333	Help us a little.... Are you referring to a "plunk test" failure? Is the round sticking in the rifling? Covering the round in black marker can be a big help. Barrel? Bullet? Case? Crimp? Dies?

January 7, 2017, 10:12 AM	#5
Hoppy Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2000 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 287	Sounds like not plunking, but clarification would be good. I did research before starting to load 40's. Some people talked about case bulges that were not removed with regular case sizing. Perhaps it is this. I never actually ran into this. I resized cases that were run through my friend's glock ( apparently people were discussing bulging from the glock). My rounds plunked in the glock and my kahr barrel. The plunk with marker should help identify.

January 7, 2017, 10:51 AM	#6
Jeffm004 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2013 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 255	The plunk test worked for me for years, until it didn't. It took a go/no go gauge and a sharpie to find the problem. A pix might help. I was using an SNS coated and the fat part of the lead near the nose was just / that much seated too long. They run in my Sig, not in my 1911 aftermarket barrel. With 9mm, some brass is not quite right. They run in my Sig and Browning, they hang up now and then in the Glock. A go / no go gauge solved all these issues, well it lets me sort out the marginal stuff. In a barrel, my eye just doesn't spot /. I'm just now setting up the 650 for .40. Or at least thinking about it....

January 7, 2017, 11:08 AM	#7
nhyrum Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2016 Posts: 588	Did you measure your brass before loading? Could be brass that is too long

January 10, 2017, 05:30 PM	#10
Gregory Gauvin Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Posts: 368	Perhaps your seating-die is not adjusted far enough down to remove all the flare from the case after belling the mouth. A tight chamber compounds this.

January 11, 2017, 03:51 PM	#12
Gregory Gauvin Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Posts: 368	trōl/ noun noun: troll; plural noun: trolls a mythical, cave-dwelling being depicted in folklore as either a giant or a dwarf, typically having a very ugly appearance

January 12, 2017, 01:21 AM	#13
primerman Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2011 Posts: 153	If it is one round then it might be case bulge, I had one of those today. If it is all your rounds then I would check to see if the bell on the case mouth needs to be removed, I had several of those today. If you are trying to seat and crimp the bullet at the same time, well that could be a different problem. I found out early in my reloading experience that seating and crimping does not always work so I bought a taper crimp die and added another step to my process. if it is just one bullet I would suggest pulling the bullet and throwing the case away.