Is this a sign of a light pistol load?

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minniehill2

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First time with this powder and projectile combination.

Does case color indicate gas escaping? Add another 0.1gr?
Primer shows ZERO signs of pressure.

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I used to get cases like that when I had a 9mm Makarov.
Even with hot loads. Evidently the chambers on a lot of the Mak's are
a little large to ensure reliable feeding but allow some gas to come back.
I don't know what calibre you are shooting .
 
It is very likely and depends what you are using to load and what your goals are for reloading. I load lots of 9mm for IPSC and I find that even though my 147gr loads make power factor (130-133ish) with Titegroup, they will not show any pressure signs and often have similar staining on the cases.

Also, that black soot on the outside and inside of the cases you see after firing them can contain a lot of lead residue from the bullets and primers so make sure you are using caution and cleaning properly after handling.

Providing additional information on what and how you are loading will help others on this forum assist you with your questions.
 
I get the same markings loading 4.8gr of HP-38 under a Campro 115gr TMJ at 1.125" This is not a light load and there is a wee bit of primer cratering. It was worse at 5.0 grains.
After firing about 2000 of these, I spend exactly zero time worrying about it. Nothing bad is happening and the gun stays clean to the point where it takes maybe 10 mins to clean it after a session.
 
1911 or some other gun?

My two 1911's in .45 stain the outside with a bit of blowback but not as strongly as your gun is doing. One is about half as bad as your cases appear and the other is just a very light stain. And it's Titegroup for my loads as well. 4.8gns behind a 230 Berry bullet.
 
I looked at Alliant's website and noticed that you are following their recommendations using 4.4gr for a 124gr projectile which is a good start.

I think you should consider shrinking your OAL. 1.68" is The maximum OAL specified by SAAMI. Notice on Alliant's recommendation for Bullseye they are indicating a OAL of 1.12".

As your OAL decreases, the pressure inside your case will increase and will result in a higher velocity without using any additional powder.

Long OAL's (like yours) could be contributing to less pressure and velocity than you are expecting. Try reloading a batch at 1.16", 1.14", 1.12" and keep an eye out for pressure signs along the way. You could also go a bit shorter than that if you feel comfortable. Most people I know have OAL's between 1.09" and 1.12" when using 124gr in 9mm.

I also highly suggest buying a chronograph. It will help you troubleshoot what is going on with your loads and help you find that perfect balance of OAL, powder, and velocity that works best for you.
 
I'm using the same load. My COL is quite a bit shorter however (1.13). I get the same stain. Haven't had any problems yet. I'm shooting them in a 92fs by the way.
 
I will shorten them up and let you know. Hope to update on the weekend, weather permitting.

DWiB said:
I looked at Alliant's website and noticed that you are following their recommendations using 4.4gr for a 124gr projectile which is a good start.

I think you should consider shrinking your OAL. 1.68" is The maximum OAL specified by SAAMI. Notice on Alliant's recommendation for Bullseye they are indicating a OAL of 1.12".

As your OAL decreases, the pressure inside your case will increase and will result in a higher velocity without using any additional powder.

Long OAL's (like yours) could be contributing to less pressure and velocity than you are expecting. Try reloading a batch at 1.16", 1.14", 1.12" and keep an eye out for pressure signs along the way. You could also go a bit shorter than that if you feel comfortable. Most people I know have OAL's between 1.09" and 1.12" when using 124gr in 9mm.

I also highly suggest buying a chronograph. It will help you troubleshoot what is going on with your loads and help you find that perfect balance of OAL, powder, and velocity that works best for you.
Click to expand...
 
I would not worry about it if the load does what you want it to do and functions correctly. I would not change the seating depth to increase pressure: establish seating depth first (based on what fits into the chamber and the magazine) and then work up the powder charge. The OAL given in Alliant's load data is for a different bullet from the Cam-Pro you are using, so it is not necessarily relevant. Load data is a guide, rather than an exact recipe.
 
That's a good point. If the gun is cycling well and reliably and you're hitting on the point of aim then the stain really isn't a big issue. The gun will "complain" with failure to ejects and not locking back on the last round if the load isn't heavy enough to work. The stain is one small and minor symptom of being borderline too light a load.
 
BCRider said:
That's a good point. If the gun is cycling well and reliably and you're hitting on the point of aim then the stain really isn't a big issue. The gun will "complain" with failure to ejects and not locking back on the last round if the load isn't heavy enough to work. The stain is one small and minor symptom of being borderline too light a load.
Click to expand...

Yup, if it functions correctly and makes your target factor, leave it alone. A little blow-by won't hurt anything and it tumbles off just fine. Just note that you will want to keep an eye on carbon build-up in your extractor channel, as that will eventually bugger the function.
 
A too-light load usually shows carbon/soot deposits on the exterior of the brass, which I don't see in the photo. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
BCRider said:
1911 or some other gun?

My two 1911's in .45 stain the outside with a bit of blowback but not as strongly as your gun is doing. One is about half as bad as your cases appear and the other is just a very light stain. And it's Titegroup for my loads as well. 4.8gns behind a 230 Berry bullet.
Click to expand...

I too have this situation with 4.5gr titegroup behind 230's.

I have soft hands =)

Shooting pistol speed so reduced loads is what I run. Not nearly as far as others.
 
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