9mm primers issues.

IM_Lugger

IM_Lugger

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I was just looking at my brass and can see they don't look right flattened almost overflowing primers, if someone showed them to be I'd say they show serious overpressure issues. Knowing my loads I know they should be OK. (The loads was either 5.2gr of Power pistol behind 147gr plated or 6gr behind 124gr bullet -nothing that hot, I've shot up to 6.5gr with 124 gr and don't remember having these issues.) What else could've caused that? Can gun have something to do with it?

I noticed the firing pin strikes are also off center. timing issue?

sam0516r.jpg


This one looks the worst, in fact it's a pierced primer. :eek: never had that before!

sam0519y.jpg



This picture below, I don't think there were my loads because I only found 3, so must've been left by someone else. but whats the issue here? over sized firing pin whole?

sam0515i.jpg
 
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So are they your brass or not?

Those are some serious flat primers on those first pics, and definitely overpressure signs.

Might be someone shooting 9mm major loads in a custom gun if they aren't your brass.

If they were your loads you might want to double check the charges. ;)

As far as the ones with the primer flowing back into the firing pin channel, it might be from a chamferred firing pin hole. That was common on a former AR 15 of mine, but the primers aren't flattened so they aren't so bad.
 
It could be a headspace issue, either too short of a case, or over crimped causing excess headspace. As for the others I don't know. This is just a guess on my part as I don't reload pistol. Just my .02
 
First pics are of my loads, last one are not mine.

Primers are Federal which I believe are softer than some others.

EDIT: Just measured the pierced primer case and it's 0.7365", another flat case with flat primer was 0.743"... Max 9mm trim case length is 0.754". How short is too short? I dont think there is a crimp issue.
 
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New batch of powder?

I use powerpistol as well, and don't use near those loads. I don't have access to data to check em, but are they near max?

If new batch of powder, and near max load, I could see this happening.

I have had batches of powder with such variences, and the addition of softer primers could add to the issue.

Have you double checked the loads your thrower is putting out?

Is this a new gun or one you have put these loads through before.

Other thing I have come across is crud built up in a seater die, causing rounds to seat deeper than the usual OAL. Or when I first started loading for my CZ and had to decrease OAL I didn't bother to change the load as it was already well below max, but I started to see flat primers. Not as bad as those though. ;)
 
I'd weigh the next 10 powder throws to see if there was any deviation in powder drops. There is something wrong, by the way some show no over pressure and others show excessive pressure.
What reloading setup?
 
According to lyman 49th you are running over max loads. Might want to back them down a bit Did you double check the powder measurer. I had mine creep on me and ended up over charging the loads with similar results.
 
To expand the theme, "What could cause????"

Powder - Is the powder charge truly the same as before? How's your scale located, checked. How consistant is your powder charge?

OAL - Is it the same, shorter perhaps. Do you know your OAL?

Bullets - New lot? Same make as before? Did you substitute FMJ for plated? If they are plated, by any chance did you previously load the .355 AIM and recently load the new .356?
 
124gr bullets are AIM, 147gr bullets are a new batch got them a while ago but didn't used them till now, they're Excel I think.

Those loads are well below max. FMJ max load for 124 is 6.6gr and 5.7gr for 147 according to my LEE data sheet. I'm using plated but they are well below those loads.

OAL for 147gr load was 1.140" and I have 100 more rounds loaded, so I'll watch them and maybe shoot them in 2 different guns. Don't remember OAL for 124gr loads. Because there were 2 loads I think one is causing the problems, and other is OK that's why half the brass look OK.

Gun is new FNP9

I use Lee Auto Disk with charge bar and it's been quite accurate.
 
Another possibility is that the bullets are moving down in the case when they hit the feed ramp causing higher pressures.
 
IM_Lugger said:
124gr bullets are AIM, 147gr bullets are a new batch got them a while ago but didn't used them till now, they're Excel I think.

Those loads are well below max. FMJ max load for 124 is 6.6gr and 5.7gr for 147 according to my LEE data sheet. I'm using plated but they are well below those loads.

OAL for 147gr load was 1.140" and I have 100 more rounds loaded, so I'll watch them and maybe shoot them in 2 different guns. Don't remember OAL for 124gr loads. Because there were 2 loads I think one is causing the problems, and other is OK that's why half the brass look OK.

Gun is new FNP9

I use Lee Auto Disk with charge bar and it's been quite accurate.
Click to expand...

I'm going to risk getting under your skin a bit. Sorry if this comes off as a lecture, but I'd rather you be able to type a rebuttal with all 10 fingers.

You need to take two steps back, and re-evaluate what you are doing.

Reloading is always a process of creeping guesswork, backed up with prudent testing. In no particular order, please consider the following.

1) Your paper targets are rarely impressed by the velocity of the bullet. Reload with function and accuracy in mind.

2) Reloading manuals are valuable tools, so consult several sources and compare. Keep in mind that regardless of what the manuals say, your gun is a unique individual and your results are the only ones that matter. Respect the book maximums as gospel for safety, but don't feel they safe to approach with impunity. If your results show signs of overpressure, respect it and back off.

3) Have a target velocity in mind. While most 9mm guns will work as low as 100 pf, and might be safe up to 150 pf, rarely do you actually need above 135 and frankly for practice it's probably wise to hover at 130. (1050 fps with 124 gr, and 890 fps with 147)

4) Buy a chronograph and learn how to use it properly.

5) Start your test ammo loaded as long as the book and your experience tell you will function. You can shorten it later if needed.

6) Remember that burning rates do matter. Slower powders will be safer at higher velocities and pressures. Faster powders are cheaper, and often cleaner burning, but the pressures can spike quickly. When trying a new bullet, I tend to work up a load using a slower powder. Once I find the OAL and velocity that seems to work well, I will switch to a faster powder and work up to that velocity range to compare.

7) Consider the quality of the components. Don't waste time on sketchy components. When I hear "I think they are Excel", I'm thinking that's your problem. Excel bullets were horrible. The plated bullets were all over the map with diameters varying wildly. Give them to the neighbourhood kid for his slingshot.
 
IM_Lugger said:
..... FMJ max load for 124 is 6.6gr and 5.7gr for 147 according to my LEE data sheet. I'm using plated but they are well below those loads.....
Click to expand...

Acccording to the manual I use, different loads are recommended for lead and for jacketed bullets, charges for lead being lighter than for jacketed. I suspect that plated bullets act more like lead than jacketed. Not sure that comparison with jacketed loads is useful.
 
IM_Lugger said:
124gr bullets are AIM, 147gr bullets are a new batch got them a while ago but didn't used them till now, they're Excel I think.

Those loads are well below max. FMJ max load for 124 is 6.6gr and 5.7gr for 147 according to my LEE data sheet. I'm using plated but they are well below those loads.

OAL for 147gr load was 1.140" and I have 100 more rounds loaded, so I'll watch them and maybe shoot them in 2 different guns. Don't remember OAL for 124gr loads. Because there were 2 loads I think one is causing the problems, and other is OK that's why half the brass look OK.

Gun is new FNP9

I use Lee Auto Disk with charge bar and it's been quite accurate.
Click to expand...

Did you chrono your ammo?
 
Canuck223 said:
I'm going to risk getting under your skin a bit. Sorry if this comes off as a lecture, but I'd rather you be able to type a rebuttal with all 10 fingers.

You need to take two steps back, and re-evaluate what you are doing.

Reloading is always a process of creeping guesswork, backed up with prudent testing. In no particular order, please consider the following.

1) Your paper targets are rarely impressed by the velocity of the bullet. Reload with function and accuracy in mind.

2) Reloading manuals are valuable tools, so consult several sources and compare. Keep in mind that regardless of what the manuals say, your gun is a unique individual and your results are the only ones that matter. Respect the book maximums as gospel for safety, but don't feel they safe to approach with impunity. If your results show signs of overpressure, respect it and back off.

3) Have a target velocity in mind. While most 9mm guns will work as low as 100 pf, and might be safe up to 150 pf, rarely do you actually need above 135 and frankly for practice it's probably wise to hover at 130. (1050 fps with 124 gr, and 890 fps with 147)

4) Buy a chronograph and learn how to use it properly.

5) Start your test ammo loaded as long as the book and your experience tell you will function. You can shorten it later if needed.

6) Remember that burning rates do matter. Slower powders will be safer at higher velocities and pressures. Faster powders are cheaper, and often cleaner burning, but the pressures can spike quickly. When trying a new bullet, I tend to work up a load using a slower powder. Once I find the OAL and velocity that seems to work well, I will switch to a faster powder and work up to that velocity range to compare.

7) Consider the quality of the components. Don't waste time on sketchy components. When I hear "I think they are Excel", I'm thinking that's your problem. Excel bullets were horrible. The plated bullets were all over the map with diameters varying wildly. Give them to the neighbourhood kid for his slingshot.
Click to expand...

Excellent post.
 
No I don't have a chrono, wanted one for a while but there's always something I need more.

Canuck223, I agree with most of your points if not all. Safety and quality of my loads always been my first concern. I've used Power Pistol for years and it's my favorite powder. Funny thing is when I made those 2 loads I was trying to come up with a nice mind load. I've used up to 6.5gr with 124gr bullets with good results. The reason I used those 147gr-ers is because I ran out of 124gr bullets which is what I always shoot. I bet the problem was with the new bullets. They are loaded on a long side (1.140), but I will do a compression text and see if they indeed get pushed back when they chamber. And shoot it in another 9mm to see if I get the same result.
 
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