just started reloading...a question..

chrisward3

chrisward3

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hey there,

i just got a lee turret press for christmas with all the extras, and had pre-bought all the materials beforehand. I reloaded about 30 rds of .40cal ammunition using IMR800X powder, 180gr Frontier FMJ, and WSP primers. I followed the book and used the given auto-disk cavity to measure the powders.

I took them to the range and was using my cx4 and g22. The cx4 worked fine, the loads seemed pretty hot, but worked nevertheless. The glock is where i had some questions, with every shot i took, there were sparks flying out, i couldnt tell if it was coming out of the muzzle or out of the chamber, but it defiently wasnt a muzzle flash. The rounds out of the glock were also ejecting almost straight up as opposed to off to the right like they normally did when i was using wolf reloads. I checked all the cases after, and none were cracked, and nothing looked wrong...so i was happy...but i was just wondering if the sparks were normal? and if not, what they could be attributed to. Id like to figure this out before i blow up my gun...im considering using less powder as well, but the book's info says that the starting load and the NEVER EXCEED load are the same...so is it possible to back off the poweder as well?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers
Chris
 
Sparks

The sparks are probably just unburnt powder that is in the process of burning or about to burn when they exit the barrel.
Short barrels with slow powder tend to do that.
Try going to 700X powder instead. You would use a lot less, get the same velocity and less unburnt particles.
If you PM me I can suggest a load that will work....
 
right on guys...thanks for the info, ill probably look at the win231 for my next order, but ill have to burn off the 2lbs of 800x i bought first...the unburnt powder makes me feel a bit better, and im guessing that doesnt make it dangerous to my gun? im gonna switch it to a lower cavity on the disk, and continue to measure to make sure that im putting less in.
 
Load up 20 rounds of different lengths, powder weights and crimp types. Shoot 10 in a Chronograph and shoot the other 10 for groups off a rest. Then see what works well and is close to the FPS that you are looking for.

Try more crimp for a higher pressure and possibly less unburnt powder.
 
Do you have a powder scale? You really do need to check the actual weight of the charge being thrown.
 
Chris,

Use the scale and weigh it as per recommended min-max powder charge from the data. I am assuming that you are not weighing your powder charge and only relying on the .76 cavity autodisk.
One more thing, you have to remember the "HI-Skor" 800-X powder is a slow burning powder and are normally used for ported bbl if loaded high or to the max... yes, this powder can be hot, snappy and sparky for a pistol bbl.

Try the faster burning pistol powder for the 40 SW like what Scotty suggested.

Load safely :)
 
Hi

A few things to check:

1) Do weigh the powder charges
2) Make sure the OAL of your loads is the same as the one in the book you are using
3) Check your load against another book
4) Run new brass, micrometer it before and after you shoot it. If you are getting more than about 0.001" head expansion, you may have a pressure problem. Put a line on the brass when you first measure it so you are sure you measure the same place afterwords.

Any time you are at the range and get worried about your loads - stop. Head home and check things out. People get hurt by reloading mistakes ...

Bob
 
nognog said:
Chris,

Use the scale and weigh it as per recommended min-max powder charge from the data. I am assuming that you are not weighing your powder charge and only relying on the .76 cavity autodisk.
Click to expand...

Just a note on that and the Lee Auto Disk system. Take your powder and your disk and throw the charge into the case, weight the charge 4 times then every 10th or so during your loading cycle. See what your average is and thats what it throws. Some powders in those holes throw high or low depending on if its ball powder or what not. The LEE table is very helpful but not 100 accurate, but once you know what disk throws what charge you should be good to go for batch loading and down the road with your press.

ps. find a nice book from staples and make yourself a nice "reloading book" that you can refer to through your years of reloading.
 
Hi

Powder manufacturers make subtle changes in their "mix" over time. They target a consistent charge weight rather than a consistent charge volume. When the make a change it may not be reflected in the Lee tables.

Bob
 
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