[twoclones]

Today I fired 50 rounds of .357 reloads I bought at a gun show. The fired brass stuck in my revolver so that it took significant pressure to eject them.

Was this likely the result of something done in the reloading process? I'd like to figure this one out because my Dillon 550 arrived today and I'll soon be reloading my own...

[rickomatic]

I think you're gonna have to give us a little bit more info.
1. What kind of gun were you firing them out of?
2. You said "reloads". Do you mean commercial remanufactured ammo. Or do you mean some reloads you bought off some guy?
2. If the latter, do you have any load data on them?
3. If commercial, what was the brand of case, and what was the bullet type?

[Steve C]

Loads can stick for a couple different reasons.

1. Chambers dirty or rough.
2. Soft cartridge brass, sometimes found on foreign manufactured ammo.
3. Over pressure ammo past the generally accepted SAAMI pressures.

[twoclones]

Was firing them out of S&W model 327 TRR8.
Bought them from a guy with a table at a gun show because they were the first .357s I've seen in 2 months.
158 gr. LSWC in Federal brass.

[R.W.Dale]

There's a reason most of us experienced handloaders WILL NOT shoot someone else's loads.

?????? charge
?????? bullet
?????? firearm load was worked up in
?????? level of proficiency exhibited by the loader
?????? equipment used

see where I'm going with this. the infamous quote is "Handloads are like underwear, be careful who you swap with"

[Marlin 45 carbine]

better stuck brass than stuck bullets.

[jcwit]

Did someone shoot a bunch of 38's in it leaving a carbon rings in the cylinder?

[twoclones]

Did someone shoot a bunch of 38's in it leaving a carbon rings in the cylinder?

Highly likely.
I have fired about 1,000 rounds of .38 spl through that weapon. I do run my cleaning brush through the charge holes every time I clean it but most of the time I do not use a larger brush for that.

Handloads are like underwear? I have so much to learn...

[ReloaderFred]

Did the primers flow like water? If not, then high pressure wouldn't be a problem, though that would only be one indicator. If there is quite a bit of buildup from .38's, that could contribute to hard extraction.

I like to use .35 caliber rifle brushes for cleaning my .38 cylinders, since they're generally a little larger in diameter and stiffer than pistol brushes. For a hard build up, I use the Lewis Lead Remover.

I'm working on getting that visual about swapping underwear out of my mind, though...........

Hope this helps.

Fred

[RVenick]

I may be something as simple as case lube residue. I loaded some 9mm stuff and forgot to clean off the case lube. When I shot it through my auto the gun stopped cycling properly. I cleaned the gun and put the loaded ammo in my tumbler for about 15 minutes. Loaded up the clip and all was well. So if this guy you bought the reloads from did something similar you could just be a gumming up of your cylinders.

[redneck2]

You should pay attention to the carbon ring thing. I had a .454 Casull rifle but sold it because I was going to mainly shoot .45LC. The carbon ring can cause sticking, and also significantly raise pressure because it fills the area of the chamber where the crimp opens. Ends up pinching the bullet.

You could chrono the loads. As noted, unless I KNOW and totally trust who has loaded any non-commercial ammo, I pass. Wouldn't take it if it was free.

[dave from mesa]

Does sound like carbon ring or over pressure rounds.
Does the loaded rounds drop all the way in the cylinder and fall out freely? If not carbon ring.
Like others say wouldn't shoot someone elses reloads unless they were a commercial reloader.
good luck

[Riss]

Look into the chamber. Should be nice and clean and shiny.

[The Bushmaster]

I solved the carbon ring in my .357 magnums by purchasing several .38 Specials. Shoot .357 magnums in .357 magnum handguns and .38 Specials in .38 Special handguns... Works for me...:neener:

[twoclones]

Did the primers flow like water?
Not quite sure what that means but there were no problems when firing the revolver at all. Although I've been shooting a fair bit of 500 S&W lately and might not recognize a slightly over pressure .357.

There is a dark ring in the end of my charge holes and the loaded .357 rounds slip in and out without interference.

I'll get out a bigger brush, clean the charge holes up better and see what happens.

Thanks for all the comments.

[indiandave]

Brownell's sells a chamber brush that is thicker then a bore brush. A little harder to push though each chamber, but really gets them clean.

I shoot a ton of .38's in my .357's and never had a problem with ejecting .357's.

[243winxb]

Over pressure Ammo

[jcwit]

I've had good luck using Gum-Out Fuel Injector Cleaner to clean out the carbon ring. Came upon this as I've used it to clean the head and/or top of the cylinder when working on small engines. Always worked on the engine and it turned out it workes on the cylinder.

[jfh]

For dealing with that chamber 38 Special crud.

Do a humoungous cleanup job now and then stay at it--clean for it each time you fire 38 Specials in your 357--Now that my 38/357 cylinders have been degunked, I use

1. A oversize hard nylon .400 brush, extra long (Brownells),

2. Wrap it with a patch from a choreboy (no other brand) copper patch, and

3. Run the brush at low speed in a battery drill for about ten seconds for each cylinder,

after I saturate and soak the cylinders with, for example, Shooter's choice.

The choreboy patch is not the best patch, but it is inexpensive and easily replaced. It will entwine in the brush--just do enough cylinder soaking first.

Jim H.

[45ACPUSER]

Pro Shot makes chamber brushes.

Soaking the Cylinder in Slip 2000 Carbon Cutter works well....

I solved problem, just down load 357's to 38 spec velocities, and I do not have problems.

[jcwit]

That Choreboy trick is also probably the best/less expensive way to get rid of leading in the barrel. Just don't use the battery drill.

[jcwit]

10-4 on that 45ACPUSER

[Walkalong]

Leading can usually be eliminated or nearly eliminated if you are rolling your own. That is the place to start. Cleaning lead out of revolvers sucks. Auto's are not as bad, but less lead cleaning is always better. :)

Slip 2000 Carbon Killer (http://www.slip2000.com/carbonkiller.html) is very good stuff. It really works on carbon, unlike some other wonder products.

Lead? Lead just sucks. I don't know anything that will get it besides elbow grease. Some products will get under it and help it break loose, but nothing dissolves it.

[RandyP]

And since you don't know how hot the total stranger at a gun show reloaded that ammo, that could also be the sole issue.

I would 'trust' factory ammo and MY reloads. After that the level of trust declines.

IMHO

[SlamFire1]

Slip 2000 Carbon Killer is very good stuff. It really works on carbon, unlike some other wonder products.

Ditto, though I have not tried it on carbon rings in revolvers. It was too much work to remove those rings in 357's and 44 Mag's, so I only shoot 38's in 38 Spls and 44 Spls in 44 Spl revolvers.

[twoclones]

Leading can usually be eliminated or nearly eliminated if you are rolling your own.

Please explain...

[buck460XVR]

And since you don't know how hot the total stranger at a gun show reloaded that ammo, that could also be the sole issue.

I would 'trust' factory ammo and MY reloads. After that the level of trust declines



truer words have never been spoken.........