First time reloads at the range - unsuccessful

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Dom123

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So I tried a few different reloads at the range and I can't say I was happy with any of them. Some pointers would be most helpful:

First I tried .50AE bullets.. Used hornady xtp bullets and IMR 4227, I stuck to the starting load of 28.8 gr. the problem was that after I fired a shot, the shell ejected but the gun didn't chamber the next round. Afterwards while I was cleaning the gun i noticed a bit of unburned powder. Might i just need a stronger load???

9mm Luger gave me the biggest problem... One shot and the next one got stuck in the chamber... The rounds I made all seem just a little thick to chamber properly... I double checked all my measurements and I'm within all the limits... So I don't know what to do to make the bullets chamber properly. I'm using 135gr lead RN bullets and Win231.

Lastly was the 45colt using 185 gr hornady xtp rounds and IMR 4227... Used the starting load... They chambered and shot... Extremely inconsistent, dirty shells, and unburned powder. Perhaps make a stronger load?
 
4227 is a rifle powder. Does not do well at mild pressures. Step it up and it will do better.

9mm. You did not mention the pistol or cartridge length. seat bullets deeper. Say 1.110" See if they chamber.
 
What kind of 9mm? Shadows for example have a short chamber- I load mine to 1.087. Also, you may need to taper crimp them a bit more. Try making up a dummy round (no primer or powder, just brass and bullet) and experiment until you've got a round that will drop freely into and out of your barrel. Take the barrel out and keep it handy until you've got something that works. Then keep that dummy round as a reference for the future. I use W231 as well, but I use Berry's 124gr plated bullets.
 
Sounds like the 50 and 9mm loads aren't strong enough to cycle the slide properly.
I have good luck with Power Pistol and Unique powders in 9mm.
Start with the minimum loads and work up to when the slide does cycle right.
 
The 50 and 45 likely need hotter (within manual specs) loads.

The 9mm has either been sized improperly or is seated too long as Ganderite said. Try making 2-3 shorter dud (no primer or powder) rounds or adjusting sizing die and cycling through them the mag/gun before loading live ones for range.

I was loading plated 230gr RN for my 1911. Seating to same depth as 230gr FMJ they were hard to chamber and some wouldn't at all. Seating them deeper due to the nose shape fixed that.
 
For .45 Colt I am using a cast (hard lead) 230 grain round nose bullet and 5.4 grains of Unique powder..this gives an average velocity of 764 Feet/Second. Factory American Eagle .45 Colt was averaging 920 Feet/Second. Hornady factory Cowboy loads are rated at 725 Feet/Second. I don't re-load the Hornady brass because it is 56 thousandths of an inch shorter that a normal .45 Colt case.
I use the same bullet for .45ACP with 4.7 grains of Unique for an average velocity of 632 FPS compared to factory Blazer ammo at 771 FPS.
I like the lighter loads for .45Colt as my gun is quite light and factory loads are uncomfortable to shoot.
I use the light .45ACP in an old 1911 to save wear and tear on the old-timer.
 
For .50AE I load 30.5 gr of H110 powder with Winchester Magnun handgun primers, never had a FTF. Clean burning too, bit if muzzle flash but not too bad. I started at 27.7 with good results and up to 31.5 but settled on 30.5 to leave some room for the inconsistency in my powder measure.(+- .25gr) Btw I am loading Speer 300 grain TMJ bullets
 
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Dom123 said:
So I tried a few different reloads at the range and I can't say I was happy with any of them. Some pointers would be most helpful:

First I tried .50AE bullets.. Used hornady xtp bullets and IMR 4227, I stuck to the starting load of 28.8 gr. the problem was that after I fired a shot, the shell ejected but the gun didn't chamber the next round. Afterwards while I was cleaning the gun i noticed a bit of unburned powder. Might i just need a stronger load???

9mm Luger gave me the biggest problem... One shot and the next one got stuck in the chamber... The rounds I made all seem just a little thick to chamber properly... I double checked all my measurements and I'm within all the limits... So I don't know what to do to make the bullets chamber properly. I'm using 135gr lead RN bullets and Win231.

Lastly was the 45colt using 185 gr hornady xtp rounds and IMR 4227... Used the starting load... They chambered and shot... Extremely inconsistent, dirty shells, and unburned powder. Perhaps make a stronger load?
Click to expand...

Increase powder in the 50 and 45 round's.
9 mm,sound's like your not completely removing the case flare when seating the bullet.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys, really appreciate it. For the 9mm I went with a shorter OAL, my original bullets were 1.155 and are now 1.115 and seat way better in the gun (it's a CZ-75B). As for the other two, I'll play around with some heavier loads and give them another go... Ill let you know what happens... Thanks again
 
I post size my lead tipped 9mm rounds with a Lee FCD. Every 100 or so, you get a bullet that's out of round or a bit oversize or whatever, and post sizing and crimping with the FCD ensures that those will all work.
 
As mentioned, 4227 does not perform well in mild pressure loads.
We have no idea what gun your .45 colt is, so take advice about loading up with some caution. If it is a Colt or Colt clone or New Vaquero, you are limited to relatively mild pressure loads. You powder choice will dictate the best loads for this calibre. However, at most working loads your .45 Colt will often still have blackened cases.
As for 9mm, we have no idea if it is a overall length issue, or an oversized bullet, or some other issue. A few pictures would help posters make a better educated guess at helping you. As well as some info about the gun(s) in use. The challenge with 9mm is that a deeper seated bullet has the potential to greatly increase the pressure, so you need to exercise caution.
 
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