[Harry2]

I was using 2.5 grains of Clays, WSP primer and a 125gr Berrys. I checked all cases for powder before loading bullets. I heard a pop and felt no recoil, so i checked and sure enough no daylight in barrel, the bullet was flush with the muzzle. i got it out but i cant figure out what happened.

[ReloaderFred]

My guess would be that you either missed seeing a light load, or there was some type of contaminent in the case, such as oil, water, etc. Since the bullet got all the way to the muzzle, there must have been some powder in there.

Also, what caliber were you loading for? That's an awfully light load for a 125 grain plated bullet in most calibers.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[counterclockwise]

Need another hint. What is the caliber, barrel length, etc., you are shooting?
Squibs are not good. Don't shoot this again until thorough review.

[Walkalong]

2.5 Grs Clays with a 125 Gr Berrys is a very light load. My guess is the powder was forward in the case when you shot, resulting in a squib.

The lightest I have shot the Berrys 125 Gr TrFP with Clays is 3.9 Grs. It gave me an average of 814 FPS with the powder back (PB). I only shot two with the powder forward (PF), but they were 550 & 321 FPS (6" barrel). That is very close to sticking a bullet. (I like Clays with plated bullets in .38 Spl despite that. At 4.0 Grs it did much better. I just make sure the powder is not fully forward. It also does much better powder forward with 158 Gr bullets. Clays was one of the better ones, and is clean & accurate.)

I have done a fair amount of experimenting with light loads and powder position in the case. A little bit with .38 SPl, & .45 Colt, and a lot with downloaded .357. Most powders will drop 100 to 400 FPS or more with the powder forward vs powder back. One in particular (SR-4756) that would push a 125 Gr plated bullet at over 900 FPS in .357 cases with the PB, would stick a bullet with the powder forward. It's no fun beating a bullet out of a 6" barrel.


AA #2 has given outstanding powder forward numbers for me.

Example: .45 Colt....6.1 Grs AA #2....250 Gr Ranier TrFP....WLP primer.

PB
HI-660
LO-644
AVG-651
ES-16
SD-5

PF
HI-651
LO-635
AVG-640
ES-16
SD-5

And that is a light load rolling around in a big old case. This is a pussycat to shoot.


I just bought some Nitro 100 to try, and it looked good on my initial test.

Example: .38 Spl....3.8 Grs Nitro 100....125 Gr Powerbond....CCI primer.

PB
HI-943
LO-854
AVG-914
ES-89
SD-31

PF
HI-890
LO-810
AVG-843
ES-80
SD-30

Try this next time you go to the range with those powder puff loads, just remember to bring your brass rod with you. ;)

[parisite]

2.5gr is listed for 148gr flush seated wadcutters and is very soft shooting. For a 125bullet, 2.5gr is waaay too light I would think.

Clays is a great powder for 38 & 45...........if you use enough of it.

[Beelzy]

Fill the void in the case with Dacron pillow stuffing, that will keep the powder at the base. Just a tiny little piece.

[rcmodel]

No hint of what caliber you are loading?

But, 2.5 Clays is well below any starting load in 9mm or .38 Special with any 125 grain jacketed or lead bullet.

You need to increase the load before you hurt yourself.

rc

[mongoose33]

Since the bullet got all the way to the muzzle, there must have been some powder in there.


I'd think so. I had a couple squibs a while back (I'm still new to reloading, only been doing it about a year), and decided to make one up on purpose to ensure I understood what it felt and sounded like.

So I made up a round w/ just a primer, no powder at all. It was enough to seat the bullet into the barrel. Not enough that the next round would have chambered, but it got it in flush w/ the chamber mouth.

But not to the muzzle.

But from my limited experimenting, no way it could get all the way to the muzzle on just a primer.

[HK G3]

My question would be whether or not there was unburned powder when you opened the gun.

Awhile back, someone posted a photo of their gun post squib, and there was unburned powder all over the chamber/barrel.

[Harry2]

Sorry about that guys it was a 38spl out of a 642. There was unbruned powder all over the place afterwards. I loaded 25 of these to try it out and the rest have been stored in a different room so they can find their way into the gun again.

[Galil5.56]

I see you started at the Hodgdon recommended 2.5 grain starting charge for a 125 grain lead bullet for .38 Special (in the Cowboy data) and even when used at the Hodgdon max and a cast bullet, it's still a mess and very wimpy by my my data:

Mod 60 3" barrel, 3.5 Clays, Lee 125 RN sized .358, WW SPP
749 656 680 725 722 av 706 es 93 sd 37

Glad you caught the squib, and all ended well.

[rcmodel]

Don't use reduced load lead bullet data with Berry plated bullets.

The copper plating has higher bore friction then a grease lubed lead bullet.

You might stick one in the bore!

rc

[Walkalong]

Don't use reduced load lead bullet data with Berry plated bullets.In case someone missed it the first time. ;)

I beat a 158 Gr jacketed bullet out of my mother in laws 442 just awhile ago. It was very old Remington "Kleanbore" ammo. Fortunately I was there to tell her to stop when I heard the dreaded "phfffft". She was getting ready to shoot another one, with father in law blissfully/ignorantly standing next to her.

It was heck to get out. Jacketed bullets have a ton of drag compared to lead.

[Harry2]

Well that explains what happened. Thanks guys.

[rcmodel]

Direct from Berry web site FAQ:

Plated bullets occupy a position between cast bullets and jacketed bullets. They are soft lead, but have a hard outer shell on them. When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads.

In your case, I would consider 3.5 Clays a starting load, and MAX at 3.9.

rc

[Walkalong]

I shoot the Berrys 125 Gr TrFP with 4.0 Grs of Clays in .357 Mag cases with excellent results.

I use 3.9 Grs of Clays in .38 cases, also with excellent results.

I consider both of these max for that combination of small pistol primers, Berrys 125 Gr TrFP, and Clays.


So.....I concur with rcmodels advice of starting at 3.5, and working up to 3.9. ;)

[ants]

3.6 grains Clays with that bullet is a favorite of mine. Just don't overcrimp and cut the copper plating.


Harry2: Where are you getting your data? Heaven forbid you have no manual. Go the the powder manufacturer's web site http://www.hodgdon.com/ and use their data for clays.

In my humble experience, Clays is VERY sensitive to 1/10 grain steps in powder charge. It just isn't a good choice for reduced load, you really can't go down below starting loads reliably.

[Harry2]

Thats were i got the data, but i used the wrond load, i was looking for the charge under the wrong bullet. Mistake learned and thank god nothing bad happened.:)

[Walkalong]

In my humble experience, Clays is VERY sensitive to 1/10 grain steps in powder chargeAgreed. Good stuff, but very fast.

[Harry2]

Through some research i have determied that those weird looking specks in my Clays is Trailboss, is this normal?

[Walkalong]

One of my flake powders has some tiny donuts in it as well. Smaller than the TB donuts. I am pretty sure it is my Clays, but I will have to check for sure when I get home.