Blow back in the face after reloading this latest batch

fightinghamster

fightinghamster

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Couple things happened at the last range day, I decided I was only going to shoot my reloads because I just did up a batch and want to save my factory ammo, these are the loads I used

40s&w
155gr TC campro projectiles
5.1gr HP-38 powder
Mixed brass
Campro/ginex small pistol primers

45ACP
230gr round nose campro projectiles
4.2gr HP-38 powder
Mixed brass
Campro/ginex small pistol primers

All my data comes from the Lee modern reloading second edition manual

The 40s&w I’ve reloaded before and didn’t have any problems, it was being fired out of the same gun as well, a smith and Wesson m&p40 first gen, but this time it felt like someone was throwing sand in my face after each shot, I checked the gun and didn’t see any broken parts or dirt that could explain it away, also I clean my guns after each range trip so not dirty in any way

The 45acp I haven’t reloaded before until now and was getting the same thing, like sand in the face, also it wouldn’t cycle properly, not ejecting spent cases which I assume means it needs slightly more powder in that gun, a tisas 1911a1

Any ideas what could be the problem? I bought this powder and primers in the winter of 2023 and have been reloading 100 round batches of it every once in a while since then, this last batch makes 1000 rounds total reloaded in various calibers and this is the first time I’ve had this problem, is the powder getting bad? Bad batch of primers? Something I’m doing? Any help is always appreciated, I’m still learning

(Additional notes, everything I reload is on a Lee single stage press with Lee dies and a Lee hand primer, I use hp38 in all my handguns and campro primers and projectiles in all my handguns except for 38s&w where I use Missouri bullets, like I said I’ve reloaded for 40s&w before as well as 9mm and 38s&w)
 
You are being hit with unburnt powder, not much else it could be. They are both pretty light loads from what I have used in the past. The .45 has a lot of room to move up especially. Campro bullets are decent but they don't provide the same resistance as jacketed bullets, increase your powder charge or use a magnum primer for starters.

Also, last I checked LEE data was just lazily plagiarized from other sources. Buy a manual or two and cross reference with Hodgdon and similar sites.
 
B said:
You are being hit with unburnt powder, not much else it could be. They are both pretty light loads from what I have used in the past. The .45 has a lot of room to move up especially. Campro bullets are decent but they don't provide the same resistance as jacketed bullets, increase your powder charge or use a magnum primer for starters.

Also, last I checked LEE data was just lazily plagiarized from other sources. Buy a manual or two and cross reference with Hodgdon and similar sites.
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I had the same thought but figured I’d ask here, nice to see I’m on the right track, I’ll start pulling that batch apart and up load em

I was going to get a hornady manual but the lee one was working for me so I didn’t think I needed to, it’s added to the Amazon list now 😊
 
fightinghamster said:
I had the same thought but figured I’d ask here, nice to see I’m on the right track, I’ll start pulling that batch apart and up load em

I was going to get a hornady manual but the lee one was working for me so I didn’t think I needed to, it’s added to the Amazon list now 😊
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Just ask. I'm sure ppl will give you scans of their manual for those cals.
 
^no doubt but the Hornady manual is a pretty useful thing to have. The newest version has several loads I used to build my own and they do very well.
 
Both those loads are basically the minimum charge according to the Hodgdon site. I never load the minimum charge, even if I'm testing a new powder. This is something new reloaders often do because they're scared to load anything other than the minimum charge. This normally leads to rounds which are very sooty with a lot of unburnt powder. HP-38/W231 likes to be pushed a little. When you do, the accuracy gets better and the rounds get cleaner.

P.S. Although this doesn't apply to your current issue, be aware that if you're using ancient data (and I mean ancient) that HP-31 and W231 weren't the exact same powder, so you will see different charge weights.

Use the plated or FMJ data for CamPro bullets.

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If you don't mind reading info off of the phone, you can download the Hornady manual. It cost me $27.29, much less than the hard copy. Plus you can take notes about your loads in the app.
 
 
4n2t0 said:
Both those loads are basically the minimum charge according to the Hodgdon site. I never load the minimum charge, even if I'm testing a new powder. This is something new reloaders often do because they're scared to load anything other than the minimum charge. This normally leads to rounds which are very sooty with a lot of unburnt powder. HP-38/W231 likes to be pushed a little. When you do, the accuracy gets better and the rounds get cleaner.

P.S. Although this doesn't apply to your current issue problem, be aware that if you're using ancient data (and I mean ancient) that HP-31 and W231 weren't the exact same powder, so you will see different charge weights.

Use the plated or FMJ data for CamPro bullets.

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Thanks for all the information, I’m definitely a load the minimum kinda loader using and old manual, I was wondering why I was getting so much “dirty” loads but that sooty thing makes so much more sense
 
Little update
I pulled everything apart, not fun with an impact puller but meh
Loaded the 45acp with 4.9gr of HP-38 and it cycles perfectly now but I still get a little blow back so I’ll have to play around a bit more on the next batch
The 40s&w I loaded to 5.3gr and no longer get blow back and cycling perfectly
 
fightinghamster said:
Little update
I pulled everything apart, not fun with an impact puller but meh
Loaded the 45acp with 4.9gr of HP-38 and it cycles perfectly now but I still get a little blow back so I’ll have to play around a bit more on the next batch
The 40s&w I loaded to 5.3gr and no longer get blow back and cycling perfectly
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Maybe add a little more crimp, to build up the pressure a little bit.
 
Bump that up to 5 or 5.3 or so for a mild load that should cycle. You are real low. You are only filling the case about 40%. With a new reloader or someone that has become complacent with reloading, that could accidently turn into a double of 8.4gr. That would put your 700 fps load up to about 1150. Give or take. Don't do that. At 5.3 or so, you would be spilling powder if you double one.
 
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