Frontier 9mm bullets + Lone-Wolf barrel = WTF?

PoFF

PoFF

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I've recently made the switch from Winchester FMJ bulk bullets to Frontier TMJ bullets, due to the fact that Frontiers are about 1/2 the price of Wins. Both bullets are 124 grains RN

I've been loading my 9mm rounds at 1.150" C.O.A.L. and never had a problem. When I loaded a few Frontiers at the same COAL, the damned slide wouldn't even close on the round! Looks like the Frontier bullet is not as 'pointy' than a Winchester and engages in the rifling at that length. I've then shortened at 1.125", same thing, jammed in the rifling, slide not closing; 1.110", slide hardly closing + hard to eject live round. Now I'm down to 1.095" to get it to feed reliably, which is awfully short (and close to minimum COAL) for a 9mm 124 gr round.

Did I get a bad batch of bullets, or is this common with Frontier bullets?
 
I load mine to 1.110 and 1.125 and I don't have any problems in my 226. This is just my first box of the 124Gr RN Frontiers but there will be many more coming as I really like these bullets.
 
I noticed that the rifling in my Glock 19 w/ 107mm LoneWolf barrel is starting very 'early' after the chamber. I suppose the issue would be more with the barrel than with the bullets.
 
It sounds more like you don't have a proper crimp on the round; try loading a dummy round at your regular OAL, then mark the case, mouth and bullet with a black marker, and that should show you where things are getting tight when you chamber it.
 
I use 124gr RN Frontiers as well

I loaded up to 1.150" and never had a problem with my 92FS, P226 and M&P :)

When I used 138gr frontiers in my Steyr it wouldn't (reliably) chamber anything over 1.100", but 124gr worked well...


I'd say stick with HS-6 and loads to 1.095" OAL (min OAL is 1.09" for the powder) so you'll be fine ;)
 
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IM_Lugger said:
I'd say stick with HS-6 and loads to 1.095" OAL (min OAL is 1.09" for the powder) so you'll be fine ;)
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Same for TiteGroup(max. of 4.4gr) and 124gr jacketed bullet.
I finish at 1.10" and they work in everything I've fed them too.
 
I ordered a Dillon case gage. If it fits in there properly (regardless of bullet shape) then as far as COL goes, it should be as universal as factory ammo correct? I'm not ready to commit to just one pistol quite yet. ;)
 
SDC said:
It sounds more like you don't have a proper crimp on the round; try loading a dummy round at your regular OAL, then mark the case, mouth and bullet with a black marker, and that should show you where things are getting tight when you chamber it.
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This is the very first thing I've tried after taking out my jammed-in-the-chamber-dummy, non-permanent (whiteboard) marker on the case & bullet, and the bullet was definately rubing against the rifling at longer lengths.

Rod B said:
Remove the barrel from your Glock.
Place a loaded round in the chamber. If it seats easily with the rim level with the top edge of the barrel hood you will be ok. Keep seating the bullet lower until it is within this spec.
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Thanks for the tip, this was the second thing I've tried after the marker thing, and I worked down the COAL at 1.095 to get reliable 'chambering'.

Oh, and I'm using Titegroup as well, so I'm not worried about going down to 1.095 or even 1.090, it's just that I think it's awfully short for a 9mm


Well, thanks for your help gentlemen. I'm using this box of Frontiers and after that, switching to Berry's...
 
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RePete said:
If you look at the ogive of the bullet, you will see that they are different.

That's your problem. The bullet needs to be seated a tad deeper.
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Yup, in my TOK 9mm, the bullet bites into the rifling and it's a pain to eject an unfired round. I just seat them to minimum OAL and they are fine.
 
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