Issue thats got me stumped

New to reloading, just did my first batches of pistol to test out. Going to list info on the loads then explain issue.

115gr Xtreme HP with TG powder

OAL 1.090 as specced in Lyman

Powder charges 1 set at 3.8 other at 4.0

124gr Xtreme HP with TG powder.

OAL 1.14

Powder charges also 3.8 and 4.0 gr

Shooting outside at about 40-45F


Shot the 115 @ 3.8gr first. Fine

115 @4.0 squib, right at start of rifling in the barrel. Came out fairly easy. A couple cycled then squib every time, right as bullet got fully into the rifling, no further.

124 up next, both sets 0 issue (fired really nice).

So I was confused as hell. Assumed maybe I labeled them wrong in the box. Came home, grabbed a few more of each 115gr load. Went to indoor range this time. NOT A SINGLE ISSUE!!!

Seems my scale was off on calibration because the 4.0s I could tell were firing a bit soft and not grouping for shit. Actually neither was great, but 4.0gr load was noticeable on recoil.

But what's got me is I didn't think it was cold enough to screw with my case pressures that much. They keep it at like 68 at the indoor range, so 20ish degrees.

Any insight, be great if someone could give me a break down because my Google foo is sucking for this issue.

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No way the temp did that. Most likely the squib rounds didn’t get powder. A primer would push the round to the lands like that.

It’s surprising how easy it can be to miss powder on a couple rounds when you’re new. Especially if you’re using a single stage.


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This was more than a couple. 4 total. I grabbed 20 more out of that bag and every one was fine at the indoor range. That's what threw me off.

Seemed like more than primer only (smoke) but obviously way less than a full charge. I was playing with seeing how flake powder did in my uniflow so wonder if little to nothing dropped and as you said, I didn't catch it.

But makes me feel better, was my error not paying attention to the load going in. Guess I need to keep a rod with me for now. Thankfully range had a mallet and rod for this purpose.

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I’m thinking the same thing, no powder on the squibs.

As far as the 4.0 load shooting soft, Ive had this happen when powder was leaking out, between the funnel or powder throw, and not all of it getting in the case. Just a thought.


JTD

I use TG in my 9mm. I have shot the same powder charge in temps from 15 degrees Fahrenheit to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. I have never noticed a difference. I agree that there was not enough or no powder in those cases.

It’s a good idea to look in your cases before seating a bullet. That way you can see if each has the same level of powder. Some powders can bridge in your powder measure, and give you a very light charge on one case, and an over charge on the next.


JTD

Ah thanks for the info. Sounds like wasn't watching closely enough and got really light/no charge.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by tigris99

Ah thanks for the info. Sounds like wasn't watching closely enough and got really light/no charge.

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I bet that is the case, are you loading on a single stage or turret?


JTD

Single stage with uniflow. New to this obviously and I'm guessing I wasn't paying attention well enough


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Sounds like you’ve found the problem. Don’t worry about it though, we all make mistakes. At least you didn’t get hurt or damage anything.


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I do all my loading on a single stage press, even revolver rounds. When I’m dispensing out of a uniflow, I load a whole tray, and then check every case with a flashlight. Row by row. I like to hold the flashlight close to my face, and then line up the side of the case facing me with the top of the powder charge in the case. It’s hard to explain it but that way I can go through a whole row left to right or right to left and they should all be about the same height in the case. Think of it as a kind of triangulation. If there is any great fluctuation, I catch it easily. I do also still weigh every 10th charge too.

With flake powders if the disk catches, grinds, or does anything else that isn’t smooth with I move the throw lever, that charge goes back into the hopper. Sometimes it does take two or three throws to get a proper flow but that’s still lots faster than weighing every charge. I did that for a lo time before I upgraded to the uniflows. And now I have one set for .357, one for .44mag, and one I haven’t set up yet.


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I took a dowel and made it smaller on one end and I install it in the next shell to reload. If I get dis-tracked by someone or something I know where I left off cause if you install the dowel into a shell that has powder it sticks up like a sore thumb. It works for me. Try something like that and you will know where you are next time you get dis-tracked. Just my way of knowing where I am when I am loading powder!!