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Posted: 3/3/2013 3:17:34 PM EDT
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So I headed to the range today to work up my first pistol load. Long story short, none of the rounds I loaded would cycle correctly.
OAL: 1.150 Grains: 4.6-5.4 (Listed min: 4.8 Listed Max: 5.9) This data was out of the Lee Manual for Accurate #5 for copper plated bullets. I did't think I need to go up to the max so I didn't load any at the max. I will post some pictures. Most of the pictures look like low pressure but I am no expert. I am assuming I should keep working my load up to around 5.9. Any help is appreciated 
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What weight is the bullet you are loading? I like WW231/HP38 for 9mm plinking and 115gr jacketed rounds and Blue dot or AA#7 for maximum effort heavier jacketed loads. I am using 115gr Copper Plated bullets. I have 8lbs of #5 powder right now so I would like to get it working with this powder. |
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This is simple. What's the oal and case diameter from base, above case web and case mouth of a factory ball load you know to feed. dc. OAL: 1.150 Diameter above the web is: .387 Diameter by the case mouth: .375 These are good case dimensions. AssaultRiflers got you headed a good direction. I take things to extremes normal people just don't think about doing. You'd have to hear of my earlier experiences to appreciate where I'm going, but sometime. Take your caliper, note book and pencil with you to your gun shop or Bass Pro or Cabellas or where ever you can get access to every make of ammunition you load for. I went to my local shop and Carl started piling ammunition on the counter to measure and record while everyone else was scratching their heads. This is especially important when loading from Lee manual. I can look at a Lee manual and interpret what oal belongs with what bullet. Regards, dc. |
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This might be even simpler than you think. Look at the online load data from Accurate Powder for plated bullets (page 4 of their online pdf). Using 115 grain Berry bullets and No.5 powder: OAL: 1.13" Start Load: 5.7 grains Max Load: 6.5 grains Thanks for the info. I will try that out. |
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This might be even simpler than you think. Look at the online load data from Accurate Powder for plated bullets (page 4 of their online pdf). Using 115 grain Berry bullets and No.5 powder: OAL: 1.13" Start Load: 5.7 grains Max Load: 6.5 grains Thanks for the info. I will try that out. I cant believe Lee's manual was so far off. The OAL was longer and the powder charge was less. I need to get another manual to cross reference. |
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This might be even simpler than you think. Look at the online load data from Accurate Powder for plated bullets (page 4 of their online pdf). Using 115 grain Berry bullets and No.5 powder: OAL: 1.13" Start Load: 5.7 grains Max Load: 6.5 grains Thanks for the info. I will try that out. I cant believe Lee's manual was so far off. The OAL was longer and the powder charge was less. I need to get another manual to cross reference. The point shapes and ogive on bullets vary a lot and that directly impacts the OAL whether it's a cast, plated or jacketed bullet. In other words OAL tends to be extremely bullet specific. As a general starting point with a cast bullet or a bullet with a cannelure, I will ignore the calipers and just adjust the die so that the mouth aligns with or crimps into a crimping groove or step on the bullet. That's generally a design feature of the bullet that drives OAL. On a plated bullet with no crimp groove or step, it can be a little more challenging, but it's still more often than not a common sense, trial fit process. I'll seat a bit long with no crimp and then see what the pistol likes hand cycling a dummy round, shortening until feeding looks good and the bullet shows no indications of contacting the throat. Then load up 20 or so and shoot them. This almost always results in reliable feeding. Going too short can be problematic in some pistols as the last round in the mag gets drug too far forward and can nose dive into the feed ramp. |
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Usually when you get sooty cases like that you're way too low on pressure. I was going to say he's shooting them in a Glock. Also the firing pin strike has that distinctive tail on it like the letter Q which says Glock. All my cases soot like that, my reloads and factory ammo alike G21 and G17. |
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This might be even simpler than you think. Look at the online load data from Accurate Powder for plated bullets (page 4 of their online pdf). Using 115 grain Berry bullets and No.5 powder: OAL: 1.13" Start Load: 5.7 grains Max Load: 6.5 grains Thanks for the info. I will try that out. Yes this sounds like a better load. I was loading 124gr 9mm for a glock19. I did not like A#5, I was getting alot of unburned particles. I switched to titegroup. But dang, 8# of it...I'd figure out a way to use it, or trade with a trusted friend maybe. Shortening up the OAL might help, but proceed with caution, esp if you are not using a chrony. Good luck. |
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Usually when you get sooty cases like that you're way too low on pressure. I was going to say he's shooting them in a Glock. Also the firing pin strike has that distinctive tail on it like the letter Q which says Glock. All my cases soot like that, my reloads and factory ammo alike G21 and G17. Im shooting a springfield XD 5 inch tactical in 9mm. |
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Usually when you get sooty cases like that you're way too low on pressure. I was going to say he's shooting them in a Glock. Also the firing pin strike has that distinctive tail on it like the letter Q which says Glock. All my cases soot like that, my reloads and factory ammo alike G21 and G17. Im shooting a springfield XD 5 inch tactical in 9mm. Oh the other "glock" 
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I am using 115gr Copper Plated bullets. I have 8lbs of #5 powder right now so I would like to get it working with this powder. Do you know how long it will take you to use your 8lbs of power loading 9mm? Thats 56,000 grans of powder or 9,300 rounds. Yes, thats why I bought 8lbs of it  . I will be back at the range next weekend to perfect this load.
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Usually when you get sooty cases like that you're way too low on pressure. I was going to say he's shooting them in a Glock. Also the firing pin strike has that distinctive tail on it like the letter Q which says Glock. All my cases soot like that, my reloads and factory ammo alike G21 and G17. Im shooting a springfield XD 5 inch tactical in 9mm. Oh the other "glock" Basically. I have a Glock and a XD, so you could say I am a fan of the platform. |
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make some new loads approaching and including the max I wouldn't call your range session a failure, I call it doing proper load development  This...my first 45 ACP rounds for my new Dan Wesson Heritage last year were too light to cycle the heavier spring. Developed a load closer to max and no problems since. Its all part of the game. 
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I cant believe Lee's manual was so far off. The OAL was longer and the powder charge was less. I need to get another manual to cross reference. Were you looking at data for a jacketed bullet in the Lee manual? jacketed =/= plated I was looking at the data for plated bullets. The lee manual shows data for jacketed,lead, and plated. |
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OP, I had a similar experience loading Accurate #5 in 9mm. My reliable cycling charge came out just below Lee's max using plated bullets.
Keep doing what you are doing and have fun. Accurate #5 works fine for 9mm and .45 ACP, but both were just below max charge for me. |
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OP, I had a similar experience loading Accurate #5 in 9mm. My reliable cycling charge came out just below Lee's max using plated bullets. Keep doing what you are doing and have fun. Accurate #5 works fine for 9mm and .45 ACP, but both were just below max charge for me. Will do. Thanks |
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