Reloaded 9 mm case failure

Cocked&Locked said:
heavy strike on the primer and maybe a bit oversize on the firing pin hole, but i wouldn't worry about the primer, looks ok to me. No flatening or other signs. Write it off to a bad piece of brass and get back to shooting.
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I have had about a dozen primers drop out during the last reloading batch so I assume the primer hole gets enlarged after every shot? I ditched those ones. I guess there is no way to adjust the depth of the primer strike, or is this factory set?
 
Prospector said:
I have had about a dozen primers drop out during the last reloading batch so I assume the primer hole gets enlarged after every shot? I ditched those ones. I guess there is no way to adjust the depth of the primer strike, or is this factory set?
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:eek: well there is your problem! If the brass is loaded really hot, the primer pocket will start to expand and eventually won't hold the primer. Probably someone loaded some hot stuff and left the brass behind where it got picked up. Sounds like it might be a little tired. If the primers are seating really easy, ditch it and get some new used brass. If your loads are moderate, 9mm should be more or less eternal.

What's your load recipie out of curiosity?
 
pats said:
yep you will find some brass inside, and inyour hands. its scary when it happens but i got over it, , see this also happens some times caused by to little poweder, to much space in the case can cause it to be a boom instead of a bang :) , always watch your powder levels,
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If you are suggesting detonation it isn't happening. To little powder may cause squibs but that is about it. Smokeless powder burns it doesn't explode.

I don't know of any modern handguns that will fire out of battery.

The case looks like a double charge to me. I have had one and the case pictured could be a twin to the one on my bench.:mad:

Take Care

Bob
 
i'm suggesting that to much room in the case can cause higher pressures by faster burning powders more in .40 and .45, but i think the situation has to be perfect for that.
 
you can get detonation with smokless powder. It's harder and powder/case volume specific, but it can happen with greatly reduced loads. Mind you, i don't think you could do it in a 9mm case, just too small
 
Cocked&Locked said:
you can get detonation with smokless powder. It's harder and powder/case volume specific, but it can happen with greatly reduced loads. Mind you, i don't think you could do it in a 9mm case, just too small
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Well from what I understand detonation of smkeless powders has never been sucessfully down in labs under controlled conditions and the whole notion of detonation has been debunked though it persists on the internet.

High pressures can occur in rifle cases due to the see effect but this isn't detonation. Very light powder charges in pistol cases are going to create a grenade. There just isn't enough energy from the few grains of powder to cause this to occur.

In this case while out of battery firing may have occurred it is most likely a double charge.

Take Care

Bob
 
Hmm, well there you go. The last thing i read about it was in hatcher's notebook, and that is not a recent publication. I thought there was a warning about it in one of my recent loading manuals but i can't remember....so i'll go with your thoughts on the matter:)
 
Canuck44 said:
Well from what I understand detonation of smkeless powders has never been sucessfully down in labs under controlled conditions and the whole notion of detonation has been debunked though it persists on the internet.

Take Care

Bob
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You hit it on the head... Though the Speer manual talks about "SEE" having been documented in the 20mm cannon.
 
I wouldn't say it persists on the internet completely since I didn't learn to reload from the internet, but learned to reload from experienced reloaders, and some books that were lended to me . Maybe it was never recreated in the lab, that doesn't mean under the perfect conditions it could not happen, I wouldn't say it would happen in 9mm but who knows.
the information might be old but that does not completely mean it's wrong.
but like everything I read and everything that's said on here, I will add it in to what I have already been told and/or have read and will change my comment to...

----It has been said that under loading a cartridge with gun powder may cause it to explode, but tests have been done in labs and it cannot be recreated but some still warn of the possible detonation and when shooters see a detonation they blame it on a double charge---

funny thing is some race gun shooters load there 9x19 with up to and over 8 grains of various powders, even compressing the powder in the cartridge, yet they dont see "double charges" yes, understand that they have fully supported barrels.

so i'm going to go back to my simple answer and that is "weak brass"
 
pats said:
I wouldn't say it persists on the internet completely since I didn't learn to reload from the internet, but learned to reload from experienced reloaders, and some books that were lended to me . Maybe it was never recreated in the lab, that doesn't mean under the perfect conditions it could not happen, I wouldn't say it would happen in 9mm but who knows.
the information might be old but that does not completely mean it's wrong.
but like everything I read and everything that's said on here, I will add it in to what I have already been told and/or have read and will change my comment to...

----It has been said that under loading a cartridge with gun powder may cause it to explode, but tests have been done in labs and it cannot be recreated but some still warn of the possible detonation and when shooters see a detonation they blame it on a double charge---

funny thing is some race gun shooters load there 9x19 with up to and over 8 grains of various powders, even compressing the powder in the cartridge, yet they dont see "double charges" yes, understand that they have fully supported barrels.

so i'm going to go back to my simple answer and that is "weak brass"
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The question is 8 gr of what? 8 grains of bullseye or 231 is not the same as 8 grains of a slower powder used to generate gases to run their compensators. There is only so much energy in any given powder. To expect 2 grains of bullseye or 231 to turn in to a nuclear explosion just isn't going to happen.

Cast bullet shooters have been shooting pistol powders eg.8 - 10 gr of Unique, in large rifle cases for years with great results. One of my favourite loads is 10 gr of Unique in my 30-30 under 175 gr Lyman boolit. 16 - 20 gr in 30-06 of 2400 under 170 gr Lyman boolit also works really well.

Take Care

Bob
 
Prospector said:
I use 4.4 gr of Win 231 pushing a 147 gr FMJ RN. I'm wondering if this is a tad on the heavy side for 9 m.m. and I'm thinking of going with 127 gr next time I buy bullets. Agree?
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personally i like 115 in 9, cheap and easy. without looking in a manual i wouldn't say your charge is out of line, but it may be getting onto the stiff side.

go ahead and try lighter bullets, you'll save a few bucks on cost while your at it. What reloading manual are you useing? If you haven't got one of your own, run out and get the latest Lyman, 49th edition i think. you won't regret it.
 
Cocked&Locked said:
personally i like 115 in 9, cheap and easy. without looking in a manual i wouldn't say your charge is out of line, but it may be getting onto the stiff side.

go ahead and try lighter bullets, you'll save a few bucks on cost while your at it. What reloading manual are you useing? If you haven't got one of your own, run out and get the latest Lyman, 49th edition i think. you won't regret it.
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I agree that a manual is essential reading before getting into reloading. I bought the latest edition of ABC's of Reloading by Bill Chevalier available from Amazon.com for about $16.50 (in case anyone wants to get a copy).
 
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