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February 21, 2011
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Never had a problem till today, but I had several (not all) cylinders sticky enough when ejecting to need a sharp tap on the rod. Normally thumb pressure is enough.
Load was "AP" head-stamped nickle plated brass, CCI 550 small pistol magnum primer, 8.6 Gr Unique, 125 gr Hornady XTP HP, the bullet seated to the cannelure & a medium roll crimp. *edited typo for load data, sorry*
I was checking new load with a chronograph so here is the data from there.
Average was 1343, High was 1401, low was 1359, ES was 45.4, SD was 16.9 & it shot a 3 1/2" group.
Other than the slightly (& intermittent) sticky ejection there was no pressure signs. Primers weren't flattened any more than a much lighter (6 Gr) load with the same primers previously, no obvious extra noise or recoil, POI remained consistent with other 125 Gr factory loads..
I did notice the cases were marked with the cylinder's slightly rough interior machining marks, so, do I need to polish the chambers, or drop the load density?
What does the collective mind think.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
February 11, 2010
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I'd scrub those chambers with a Hoppes Tornado brush on a drill and see
if that helps, if not I would look at polishing. Is all ammo giving this
result or just the one load ?
-Blacktop
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January 24, 2009
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I assume these are .38 Special you're reloading. My book says that 5.6gr is the light load for that combo, so am surprised they are giving you any grief.
I wonder if maybe the crimp is too tight, even though you're saying it's a medium crimp? Wait for other opinions, because I sure don't know a whole lot about reloading just yet.
September 26, 2010
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The cases should fall out with that load, clean and check for a ridge on the cylinder loading face.
February 21, 2011
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Sorry folks that load was a typo. The actual charge weight was 8.6 Gr. NOT 5.6 GR.
The cases are .357 & according to my manual the load range should be up to 9.6 Gr of Unique so I should be towards the bottom of the load table.
So far this is the only load to stick, but everything else has been a much lighter load.
The factory load in these cases clocked at 1360 FPS, but with an unknown FMJ bullet.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
February 11, 2010
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If you were getting stuck cases with multiple different loads yours
and factory I would consider polishing the chambers, but as you stated
that is not the case so I would try an extra good cleaning. If that dose
not help I would say it is an ammunition issue in someway, either
with the load, the brass, or the loading process.
-Blacktop
February 21, 2011
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OK I finally got to take some pictures of the questionable
cases.
[Image Can Not Be Found]
Two cases, one
fired, one unfired. Both loaded identically. The fired case mics at 0.374” just
in front of the case web. Before firing it was 0.374”, & resized again
after it was .375”.
[Image Can Not Be Found]
[Image Can Not Be Found]
2 views of the
cylinder from the rear after I cleaned & polished the chambers a little. You can see some
of the marks I was talking about but before they were deeper & more
sharp-edged. I intentionally polished the minimum I could to have the least
effect on the dimensions. I’ve used this technique for other things & found
it gives great smoothing with minimal to no material removal.
[Image Can Not Be Found]
[Image Can Not Be Found]
2 Views of the
fired case rear ends lit differently to show primer shape as best I can. I
don’t think this shows flattening or other high-pressure signs, do you?
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
February 11, 2010
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So are they still sticking after you cleaned and polished ? Primers look
OK from here.
-Blacktop
February 21, 2011
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I don't know yet, its a monsoon here & the range is probably underwater by now.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
Range Officer
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February 28, 2009
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Here's a thought, however bad it might be. Are you sure it's the ammo and not the extractor itself that is sticking?
-Mike
February 21, 2011
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Unfortunately I'm absolutely sure its the ammo.
The ejector is smooth as silk & free till I fire these loads, heck it even extracts unfired cases with no problem.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
February 21, 2011
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I have some more info on these sticky loads.
I tried a reduced load step-by step till the sticking quit, it was at the 6.0 Gr load, that has to be about 900 FPS!
Then I switched powders to H-110 & worked up a new load from scratch. I'm able to get a 19 Gr load with the H-110 with slick as eel sweat extraction, velocity is unknown but probably close to 1400 FPS I'll load up a small batch & chrono them. I started with 18.5 but the burn was very dirty so I upped slowly till it cleaned up.
I guess I'll be keeping the Unique for cast lead bullet loads at much lower velocities. There are some 158 Gr hard cast SWCs on the way to me in the mail & I'll work up a load for them & post the results.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
February 21, 2011
Offline
Final update on this.
The 125 Gr JHPs were running 1300FPS, adequate for what I wanted so I standardized on the 19 Gr of H-110 with the CCI #550 primers.
The lead SWC 158 Gr load was good with 7.0 Gr of Unique for 1120 FPS, anything under that had a lot more shot-to shot variability & there was no sign of leading or extraction problems.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
November 14, 2009
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Nice work, glad to see someone can figure out what is going on with the different powders. A chrono helps. I haven't chronograph-ed any of my loads yet, maybe I'll do that this summer.
Happyness is a Hot DW and a pile of used brass!!! Rich
February 21, 2011
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The lead SWC 158 Gr load was good with 7.0 Gr of Unique for 1120 FPS.
UPDATE:I'm going to back this load off a tad. No pressure problems, but the lead is depositing at these velocities.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
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