powder not burning completely causing Squib loads.

ROBPECKFORD

ROBPECKFORD

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lately... I have had a few Squib loads..... I was making 45 acp a cpl months ago large primer... and the odd one would make a Pfft opposed to a bang when fired. yesterday at the range... I heard a Pfft and checked for a Squib and sure enough it's stuck in the barrel.. the powder appears not to be burned completely... it burns almost like a bread crumb like substance remains and is noticeable around the chamber ... I've had this using 231 and different small and large primers... I can't narrow down any one cause. I've had it with 45 acp and. 38... 231 powder only... and small and large primers... mainly seller and beliot but some cci also.. any thoughts?
 
Is it a book load ? it doesn't sound too weak to me but I'd have to check my reloading books . what's the chance you have a bad batch of powder ? try the same primers with a different powder . I just went and got my old Winchester factory reloading book . it says 200 gr cast lead 4.8 gr 231 at 800fps and 5.5 gr at 910fps and the book is from the year 1997 . and yes I keep all my old stuff too . just for the heck of it pick up a few primers of a different brand . like Winchester if you can find them or Federal . hopefully that works. I hope your keeping you primers in a very dry place.
 
Even 1 grn of powder should make a bullet exit the barrel. Ive went down to 2.2grn of 231 in a revolver and they exited the barrel. Some go down to 2grns.

How old is your powder? and you try another primer?
 
The problem is probably with your powder measure, powder is hygroscopic, absorbing moisture causing clumping of charges, happened to me with 700X. Cases could be contaminated with moisture from sonic cleaning?
 
Opcx6 said:
The problem is probably with your powder measure, powder is hygroscopic, absorbing moisture causing clumping of charges, happened to me with 700X. Cases could be contaminated with moisture from sonic cleaning?
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I do use a sonic cleaner and on occasion I use a lube on the cases... a few drops of linoleum inside of a bag and I shake it up.... I bet that is doing it....
 
4n2t0 said:
What type of bullet? CamPro? If so 3.8gr of 231 is the minimum (4.3gr max according to CamPro) for .38 spl 158gr and 5.6gr of 231 is in the middle (5.9gr max according to CamPro) for .45 ACP 200gr. Lyman has 5.5gr - 6.2gr of 231 for a 200gr JHP so you may be on the light side if the Lyman range is more accurate. What velocity are you getting?
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I was using layman's data out of their manual.... not cam pro data... do you suggest I use cam Pro over lyman?
 
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ROBPECKFORD said:
I was doing 3.8 grains of 231 in a. 38 with a 158gr fp... minimum is.. 3.6 I believe...
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I reloaded .45 Auto for years (230gr Ball projectiles) with Win231 with a load of 6.4 grains (Hornady reloading manual) so my loads should have been smoking out of the tube. I used CCI large pistol primers and a mix of Federal, S&B, and others for brass. All of my reloads ended up being dirty and lots of unburnt powder fouling the bore.

So, my question is... what primer are you using, and is it possible that the primers are colder than what would be needed for a complete burn in a standard 5" Gov't model 1911?
 
If you use carbide dies there is no need for case lube, the way you do it you guarantee trouble!
 
ROBPECKFORD said:
I believe with the 45 acp was 5.6 grains of, 231 on a 200 gr fp.. that's fairly stout isn't it?
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I load my 200gr Plated TC 45ACP to 5.2gr W231 with CCI 300 or Fed No.150 Large Pistol Primers for the range and that gives a nice moderate recoil and full burn that never has any issues cycling the action. 5.7gr is noticeably more stout.
The problem is not with your load. Seems as though your powder and or primers have been exposed to moisture. There's no other reason I can think of, especially if it's happening repeatedly.
For the record, I shoot a G41.
 
If it happens with 2 types of primers like in your case, then primers are not the problem.

Your powder has been contaminated with moisture. Either you've left it open in a moist area or the lube has got inside the cases or something. Use carbide dies and no lube, or if you're on a single stage, clean after the resizing and make sure you let the cases dry completely. If taking the lube out of the equation doesn't work, then your powder is kaput.

If your powder has absorbed moisture there are ways to dry it, but if it's only a small quantity then don't bother. Get another pound and try again.
 
ROBPECKFORD said:
I was doing 3.8 grains of 231 in a. 38 with a 158gr fp... minimum is.. 3.6 I believe...
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That's the same as I use with 148 gr. HBWC. Should be just fine. Interestingly I had a few of these and it turned out that somehow a spent primer had got into my powder and was occasionally clogging the adjustable charge bar in my Lee Auto Disk Powder measure! I ended up taking the powder measure apart and gave it a good cleaning, as well as the charge bar, just "because." Seems to be fine now.
 
Dry your cases well before reloading. Use heat if you have too. Moisture will contaminate most pistol powders. Your load sounds very close to my recipe used so that is not the issue. Bad powder or wet cases is the culprit.
 
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