Newbie Reloading problems

R

Ris

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I have been reloading for a little over 6 months and have had great results except for two problems that nag me. Grateful if anyone can provide advice that might solve my problems.

Problem #1
Reloading 9mm for my 226. Groups nice, feeds fine but about 1 in 50 rounds does not go boom on the first trigger pull. If I pull the trigger again (DA) Round goes boom. Factory ammo does not have this issue so I assume it is not the gun. I'm using CCI small pistol primers. Have tried cleaning primer pocket, all primers are flush with case. I'm pretty much stumped.

Problem #2
Reloading .308 for my Norc M-14. Again Factory ammo does not have a issue. All rounds go boom and group nicely, but 1 in 40 rounds does not eject from the chamber, if I manually action the gun case goes flying out as per normal. Have been doing full case resizes and again I'm stumped.
 
Did you try Federal or Winchester primers with 9mm loads? What powder?
CCI primers are 'known' to be somewhat hard (metal) and softer hammer springs may not set them off. Is your 226 new or used? Did you change main (hammer) spring?
 
1. what kind of press are you using? I had high primer issues doing .38 special with an RCBS ammomaster and also piggyback plus rockchucker combo- winchester, cci but mostly federal primers - apparently you can get press ? springback, don't ask me how, I had the primer punch out quite a bit. when you run a batch test all primered cases with your fingers see if you feel any proud primers . problem went away when I switched to a Dillon.

2. on the .308 are you using small base dies? a fouled chamber may cause a hot case to bind & the extractor may slip off or just rip a piece of the rim off. is the latter what is happening? .
 
1 - if your primers aren't fully seated, they can be less sensitive.

2 - are you using a mild-ish load? (it's possible that you are getting just barely enough gas port pressure to operate the action) If so, going to a hotter (but still sensible) load could fix that problem.
 
Re # 1. It sounds like either your firing pin is not hitting the primer hard enough or you may need to switch primers ( CCI are good primers though ).

Next time you get a misfire, check the primer for the indentation before the second hit. ( wait before ejecting the round ) . If it looks a little light the you may need a hammer spring or perhaps you are not seating the primers deep enough. Maybe the first hit only sensitizes the primer & the second hit detonates.
 
I had the same problem with CCI lead-free primers. Occasionally rounds wouldn't detonate in my 9mm M&P (though they would all go the second time). The same primers were fine in my Tok or my S&W revolver.
 
newbie problem

had the same problem with a 270 and found that primers were seated a little deeper switched to cci br primers and problem went away, also cleaned firing pin as it had a bit of grit from years of shooting without a thorough cleaning,my gunsmith said it should be cleaned once in a while.
 
Thanks all that gives me a starting of things to look at.

I will try a different brand of primers in the 9mm and see if it is that (if and when I can find some more) I'm using a RCBS hand primer tool so I don't think it is the press causing the issue but maybe I'm not pressing hard enough. I made sure on the last batch to give it the extra little umph but have not had a chance to try those yet. It could also be the hammer spring in the 226 as it has seen several thousand rounds and has never been replaced (however I'm sceptical as factory ammo never has a issue).

As for the .308 I'm using a RCBS # 3 shell holder in a rock chucker press. (don't know if that tells you anything). I am using what I believe to be a light load 150Gr bullet with 44Gr of Varget perhaps a little more powder would help. The problem did get a little more noticeable after I changed powders (my first loads were with IMR 4320)
As for the question of the extractor damaging the cases, I don't see noticeable chucks missing form the case rim, there is minor imperfection where the extractor grabbed the case I'll take a closer look when I'm out this weekend to see if the same marks appear on the factory cases.

Thanks again and keep the ideas coming.
 
Ris said:
As for the .308 I'm using a RCBS # 3 shell holder in a rock chucker press. (don't know if that tells you anything). I am using what I believe to be a light load 150Gr bullet with 44Gr of Varget perhaps a little more powder would help. The problem did get a little more noticeable after I changed powders (my first loads were with IMR 4320)
Click to expand...

Well that's the start load indicated in Hodgdon's online data, but it's not particularly light.

Hodgdon indicates .308/150 44.0Varget=2788fps 44,300CUP, and 47.0CVarget=2937fps 50,300CUP.

If everything looks fine pressure-wise, you might want to try 45.0 Varget and see if that eliminates all of your malfunctions.

One other thing I suppose should be mentioned for M14-type rifles, is that they do need to be lubricated in certain spots (oil in some, grease in others). If you didn't know this already, perhaps that's the problem.

As for the question of the extractor damaging the cases, I don't see noticeable chucks missing form the case rim, there is minor imperfection where the extractor grabbed the case I'll take a closer look when I'm out this weekend to see if the same marks appear on the factory cases.
Click to expand...

That sounds pretty normal.
 
If a primer is not fully seated it may slide a little in the primer pocket when hit by the firing pin. This will cushion the blow and may cause FTF.
 
I think I have solved my problems for any that are interested. For the 9mm it appears that I had a bad batch of primers. I just purchased a new batch and my problem has gone away. Still using CCI 500.

As for the .308 I gave my resizing die another half turn and I started trimming my brass (I was not before on the advice of an old guy at the range. I learned my lesson) not sure which solved the problem but not having any ejection problems now.
 
My first guess on the 9 is high primers. my second would be CCI Primers.

as for the M14 are you trimming your brass? are you using small base dies? i would check the length of the brass after resizing and trim as needed. also i would either get a case gauge or use small base dies for a semi (in my own case i use both.)
 
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