New reloader with questions

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SamMalone

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My son and I have just started reloading. 9mm 124gr using Hodgdon Titegroup Powder. Manufacturers data sheet says 3.6gr to 4.1gr. Brass is pre-shot, cleaned thru a tumbler cleaner.

We're using a 3.7gr load. Gun (S&W M&P) is cycling OK. But... after repeated firing, (40 or so rnds) the trigger finger is covered with a black powdery residue. This doesn't happen with store-bought rnds, we've been shooting Blazer mostly, but just the reloads.

Any ideas?

Thinking of trying a heavier load, but not sure if we would be heading in the right direction with it.
 
SamMalone said:
My son and I have just started reloading. 9mm 124gr using Hodgdon Titegroup Powder. Manufacturers data sheet says 3.6gr to 4.1gr. Brass is pre-shot, cleaned thru a tumbler cleaner.

We're using a 3.7gr load. Gun (S&W M&P) is cycling OK. But... after repeated firing, (40 or so rnds) the trigger finger is covered with a black powdery residue. This doesn't happen with store-bought rnds, we've been shooting Blazer mostly, but just the reloads.

Any ideas?

Thinking of trying a heavier load, but not sure if we would be heading in the right direction with it.
Click to expand...
Maybe try a slight crimp
 
Are you using a taper crimp or factory die?

Also that’s a little light for titegroup, 3.9-4 is a nice accurate load
At an OAL 1.115-1.120
 
Last edited:
Where’d you get your data?

I’m running 4.2gr of titegroup with a campro 124gr and alight factory crimp and I’ve never had an issue in either of my glocks.

My initial test batch ran it all the way down to 3.something but never once did I have any reliability issues.
 
FoxAlpha said:
Where’d you get your data?

I’m running 4.2gr of titegroup with a campro 124gr and alight factory crimp and I’ve never had an issue in either of my glocks.

My initial test batch ran it all the way down to 3.something but never once did I have any reliability issues.
Click to expand...

From the Hodgdon Titegroup page.

124 GR. BERB HBRN TP
MANUFACTURER POWDER BULLET DIAM. C.O.L.
Hodgdon Titegroup .356" 1.150"
STARTING LOADS MAXIMUM LOADS

3.6 4.1
 
Thanks for all the replies. I was pretty sure we had to up the powder a bit, it was the only thing that made sense, but wanted to poll the more experienced loaders here first. Will try the powder first, and then the crimp if necessary.
 
So, it appears that all the suggestions for raising the powder load were correct. Loaded up 25@3.9 and another 25@4.0. Both worked fine and no powder or carbon residue on the trigger finger.

We are going to look at the crimp as well just in case.

Thanks so much for all your help.
 
Ok, another newbie question... I stated earlier that our rounds were 1.152 OAL, and most of them are. From what I have found online, MAX OAL is 1.169. Is there a minimum length that is safe? Again, reading online, shorter length apparently increases the pressure in the finished cartridge as there is less expansion room for the burning powder. Out of the 50 my son loaded up today, he had 4 that were 1.143 or shorter. In talking with him, these 4 are the SAME 4 that I loaded up earlier this week that were short. 4 pieces of brass aren't worth getting excited about so we are just going to take them apart and scrap the brass. I'm just curious as to "why" this might have happened. Unless I misunderstand how this thing works, the die is only going to seat the bullet down so far, no matter what piece of brass is under it. Based on that, it just doesn't make sense that 4 could be that much shorter.
 
I use 1.120 and even with max loads, never had an issue
,
The 4 shorter could be caused by the cone diameter of the projectile. Unless you are using a flat insert in your seating die
 
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