Well, I ran a set of 50 hand loads to test and I used a new powder to me and had issues. I used 125 grain lead round nose bullets from the Bullet Barn, Brazer reworked cases, Win small pistol primers and a mid load of 3.1 grains of IMR 700X. Starting load was 2.9 and max was 3.4. About 50% failed to eject and stove piped, like the charge was too light while the other 50% ran great. Accuracy of the fired rounds was great. What did I do wrong ?
9MM Handload failures
- Thread starter HIGHRPM
- Start date
Hi. It's not you or your loading techniques. Your pistol just doesn't like 700X's light loads. That is not unusual. You can either change powders(partial to Bullseye myself and so is my BHP.) or change return springs. Easier and less expensive to change powders.
When you get that far, work up the load from the starting load. Don't just pick one and hope.
When you get that far, work up the load from the starting load. Don't just pick one and hope.
It really helps to have a chronograph in load development,otherwise its really just a guess what your loads are doing.Many times Ive been quite surprised how my loads differed from what was to be expected in the loading manuals.
sounds like not enough recoil to get the slide back far enough to have the brass eject. Double check that your load was the correct powder charge, and if it was; change powders. I use tight group with 9mm, never had an issue. I don't know your powder off the top of my head, but tight group is a 4.0 charge for me. yours may have been a tad light. good luck
herpinator45
Regular
- Location
- Southern Ontario - Just off 401
Problem #1 : Light loads, and factory recoil springs.... not going to work. I run an 11 pound spring in my SP-01 vs the factory 14 pound
Problem #2 : Due to 700x's flake shape and size it is hard to meter such a small charge very precisely volumetrically. It is a shotgun powder, and the flake size works great for shotgun charge weight, but I didn't have much luck with it for 9mm and light charges.
Problem #2 : Due to 700x's flake shape and size it is hard to meter such a small charge very precisely volumetrically. It is a shotgun powder, and the flake size works great for shotgun charge weight, but I didn't have much luck with it for 9mm and light charges.
I agree a chronograph is a must. I also load 9mm and the published load data is really just a rough starting point. There are just too many variables which affect velocity and ultimately the correct functioning (recoil) of the gun. I used an IMR powder once (don't remember which) and the published minimum load data resulted in exactly what you are experiencing. You really want to be about 1040 ft/sec with a 124 gr projectile and only a chrono will give you that info. Good luck!
I have both, but didn't take the chrony out. The OAL was too spec. I will try the max load of 3.4 and take my chrony out next time and see what happens. I also agree the powder shape might be an issue, but with the lack of powder being available I picked up what could work, but it looks like it might not !
I would say the weight spread on the powder might have been .1 grain , again min was 2.9 and max was 3.4 grains and the OAL was set at 1.15. And the day was nice and sunny and about 6 degrees. With the responses I am seeing it looks like too light of a charge even though it was mid way and possibly powder size issue as its far more flakey shaped than anything I have ever used for handgun loads. It's a learning process, and it looks like I am learning on the job. Thank you for all replies and I will put them to good use before I go out again.
When you change [powders, make a test batch of 10 rounds of the Start load, and increments of 0.3 up to the max. Shoot those and make a note of how hot the load has to be to cycle the action. Some guns will run at Start, others need a lot more.
This test often shows that one particular load is particularly accurate, so you can then make a large batch of ammo that not only rounds the gun, but is accurate, too.
I used to use a lot of 700X in handguns. I had a pair of 12 pound kegs left over from shotgun loading. It made very accurate loads, but being a flake powder did not meter in small amounts very well. When it was all used up I switched to 231 and 7625 because it metered better. Now I use Titegroup.
woodenpigeon
Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
Did you have any leading issues?
I tend to agree, that's a lot of todays books have calmed down the loads even though todays firearms are of superior quality in most regards to what there was before. I am feeling the mid load should have been the starting load instead !
Scooter Money
Regular
- Location
- In partibus infidelium.
Take Ganderite's tips! I used his technique to set up .40 S&W loads with Titegroup. I also fired factory ammo during the tests to compare the recoil of my test loads. I ended up with a load that had me shooting much more consistent groupings with reduced recoil. I will use the same technique when I try a new batch of Vihtavuori 3N37. Thanks again, Ganderite
