Reloads for 9mm (need Help)

[RockCreek]

I am new to reloading compared to most of you. I work in a small armory and range. We are reloading the most common rounds for our customers.
The issue I am having is some of the bigger frame Glok's & some other 9mm pistols are having problems. I am using brass from the range all diff brands.
All the brass is being re-sized with a Lee's full length re-sizing die. .001 under
Using 115g lead with brass electroplate with Winchester primers.
I am loading to the top of recommended load which is 4.4 gr using #2 from Accurate and still having issues. Yesterday I loaded 20 bullets using 4.5gr and then another batch of 20 using 4.6gr. The 4.5gr still had issues (not taking the slide all the way back so it would not lock to the rear when empty or the next bullet would jam trying to feed. The 5.6 had 2 out of the 20 miss-feed.

Any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

9mm
electroplated (with brass) lead bullets 115g from Berry's
used brass from different manufactures
Winchester Small pistol primers

4.4 to 4.5g Accurate #2
Large frame Glok's and some others seem to be all large frame and older guns but factory loads work fine in them.

 

[miniMacGuru]

What is your COAL after seating the bullets? I have minimal experience with 9mm reloading, but I've read that the bullet seating depth can have a big effect on the pressure generated.

 

[rg1]

I'd switch to a different powder as it appears AA#2 may be too fast for your application. Any time I've used a powder with a particular bullet that had issues with reliability using up to maximum listed loads then I think another powder would be best. I'd switch to a powder in the Unique to Power Pistol burn rate or using Accurate powder AA#5 for a longer pressure curve.

 

[Steve C]

In one of the free manuals from Accurate in 1994 they stated that fast powders may not function high performance handguns like the Glock and Sig. (see pic below).

I'd suggest you move up to AA5, Unique, Power Pistol, Universal, HS6 or some other slower mid range pistol powder to get proper functioning.

 

[RockCreek]

trying some stuff

ok we have #5 and tried it seemed to work better.

Second thing I did was drop the height of the bullet. I was at 1.15 and took it to 1.12 it has fixed the issue as far as I can tell I took one of the Glok's out that was having problems and ran 30 rounds threw it with 4.3g powder and a OAL of 1.12

OK next. I have about 15000 9mm loaded up with the OAL of 1.15 can I just run it threw the press again and drop the height?

 

[premier1]

I will tell you that re-loads and Glocks struggle. I re-load for my Springfield Armory without any issues in 9mm. I prefer FMJ bullets in all my autoloadrers, they just seem to function better. My load is Bullseye powder, I think around 5grains I also use the Berrys bullets 115 gr. FMJ and a cci small pistol primer.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I'm sorry Premier1 but I have to disagree. My Glocks rarely get factory ammo. I reload almost all of the ammo I use.

Since I compete, and you can't score if the gun doesn't go bang, reliability is key. Finding the right formula is certainly possible and not that hard. I use titegroup for most of my 9/40 loads. Sometimes VV N320/N330/N340/N350

The OP needs to follow the formulas in the loading manuals, it will work just fine.

Edit to add, I also use the Lee FCD, it works well. Dillon 1050 and 650 presses. I have used the press to push bullets in a little further. Maybe try a few, not all 15000 and see how it works. Look for tearing of the copper plating, it might 'peel' off one side if the crimp was aggressive.

 

[ljnowell]

I will tell you that re-loads and Glocks struggle

Absolutely not true. There is nothing about a glock that makes it have problems with reloads. Nothing at all. I have had glocks that NEVER saw a round of factory ammo. They had no problems at all. I would be curious to know why the jacketed would perform better than plated or lead? I know that my most accurate loads in handguns have always been with lead bullets.

 

[LiveLife]

It's been my experience that with newer semi-autos like Glocks with stiffer recoil spring assembly and lighter 115 gr 9mm bullets, I need to push the load to near max to reliably cycle the slide. If I don't, I experience similar symptoms like you with failure to fully cycle, failure to fully extract and failure to lock the slide back etc.

Depending on the brand of plated bullets you are using, you may not be able to use near max jacketed load data or you may start experiencing decreased accuracy.

For the rounds already loaded, I would try decreasing the OAL to 1.135" and verify the taper crimp at .376" If the shorter OAL improve the symptoms but the Glocks still won't function reliably, I would try decreasing the OAL down to 1.125" and/or increasing the taper crimp to. 375".

Brass plated bullets from Berry's? I thought they were copper plated?

PM me if you want specific bullet brand reloading/shooting characteristics, in particular, Berry's bullets.

Keep us posted with a range report.ui

 

[RockCreek]

Thanks you all for your input

I have ordered a ProChrono digital Chronograph. Having no idea what my FPS is seems to be an issue. I am re crimping only 1500 to 2000 at 1.12 so they will work in most guns atm. I am just going to guess till I get the correct tools and keep my fingers crossed. Thank you all for the info.

 

[918v]

Yes, you can just reseat them deeper.

 

[918v]

I will tell you that re-loads and Glocks struggle. I re-load for my Springfield Armory without any issues in 9mm. I prefer FMJ bullets in all my autoloadrers, they just seem to function better. My load is Bullseye powder, I think around 5grains I also use the Berrys bullets 115 gr. FMJ and a cci small pistol primer.

Stop it.

 

[chris in va]

"Reloading for our customers". Before you get in trouble, do you have the proper license and insurance?

 

[RockCreek]

licence

Um I hope my boss does.

Ok before I get in trouble what Licence is needed? For reloading or for selling reloads?
I know he has major insurance but does he need special insurance?

 

[RustyFN]

I am just going to guess till I get the correct tools and keep my fingers crossed. Thank you all for the info.

And you are selling this ammo to customers, WOW?

Um I hope my boss does.

Ok before I get in trouble what Licence is needed? For reloading or for selling reloads?
I know he has major insurance but does he need special insurance?

If I remember right it's a FFL 07 to manufacture ammo.

 

[LiveLife]

No license? Rut ro ...

 

[Promod1385]

So you have little to no reloading experience, your reloading ammo for others at or above published maximum loads? What your doing is seriously dangerous!

License, yes you need a manufactures FFL in order to reload ammo and sell them. I will go ahead and forward this thread to the ATF, I am sure they will track you or "your boss" down in no time.


I feel sorry for any poor bastard who buys ammo from you. What your doing is likely illegal and if not it should be. There really should be an IQ test associated with reloading.

 

[oneounceload]

I will tell you that re-loads and Glocks struggle.

Another vote for BS - Gen 2 G17 has only had reloads for all these years

OP - without the proper licenses and insurances, you are in some SERIOUS deep Federal troubles - prison, fines in the 250,000 range, etc.

Besides the FFL for mfg., there is also the ITAR registration, he will need product liability insurance - and right now, you are also exposed to lose everything if something goes wrong, since you reloaded it

If you want to be smart, you'll stop selling immediately and consult a lawyer who understands the ammo mfg. business and the pertinent Federal laws

Is your location zoned for ammo making? Do you have the proper powder magazine and are following the National Fire regs? Fire suppression system in the reloading area?

 

[[email protected]]

Let me get this straight. You are loading for customers and are having to ask questions on how to develop a load. Please tell me where you are doing this so I make sure not to buy ammo. I am not doubting your skill or ability to reload, but what you described is a classic under powdered round, yet you had to ask about it. Who supervises you with the loading and more important who is going to get sued when someone's gun blows up and they get hurt? I am willing to bet that at lest you would get named in the suit. I cant help but to wonder why a company would have someone new to reloading reload, without some type of guidance be it someone with expierence or manuals. Some have already called BS on reloads for Glocks in this thread, but I must call BS on this thread. I have seen some shady stuff in the gun world, but I just cant wrap my mind around what you are telling us, and I dont mean the stuff about the guns not functioning. If you care about your property and the safety of the shooting community, please dont sell ammo until you learn to reload.

 

[dragon813gt]

Rule #1, never buy someone else's reloads. Especially when they don't have the proper manufacturing license.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.

 

[ljnowell]

License, yes you need a manufactures FFL in order to reload ammo and sell them. I will go ahead and forward this thread to the ATF, I am sure they will track you or "your boss" down in no time

You know, educating this guy is one thing. Maybe even give him a dressing down for not looking into this stuff a little better would even be appropriate. Threatening to run to the ATF? The very people who try to stomp on our rights? You know, the worst enemies to the gun community are people that would do what you just stated. The language isnt very high road either. In your 64 other posts I certainly hope you contributed a little more to the community than that.

 

[RockCreek]

Just A note

So I was laying in bed thinking about what I have read here. I could not sleep because I felt bad that maybe I had done something wrong.

SO yes my boss has the licence to sell ammo and reloaded ammo to the public. I never said we were giving out or selling the ammo I am testing with different loads. BTW the guys over at Accurate told me that I can load my combo up to 4.9 without any problems as long as my OAL was at 1.15 so ya thanks to all that helped you other TROLLS please go away. The forum is called the high road. I read all about the way we are expected to treat others on the forum and I can say I am pretty troubled by some of the attacks that I got trying to learn a new tradeskill. I am a disabled Vet trying to make it. I was lucky enough for the owner of this business to ask me to learn how to reload for him. Bet you this will be the last post by me.

 

[ljnowell]

Bet you this will be the last post by me.

I hope a mod takes the time to read through the responses in this thread. There has been a rampant amount of jerk-ism in the last year or so on this board, with more and more being tolerated. I wish you well.

 

[Sam1911]

Ok, ok... First off, we do strive to be polite and above reproach in our dealings with each other here. This IS the High Road.

Having said that, Clyde you are obviously hurt by a few of the posters comments, but you must recognize that what you said in your posts prior to #22 did not paint the same picture for us that post #22 has. You sent up a bunch of red flags that really scared several people.

The idea that you seemed to be making ammo for sale to the public without knowing about the right licensing was worrisome.

The idea that you were making ammo for sale to the public when you're so new to the process that you have to ask this kind of question was pretty darned frightening!

If you'd said you were trying to get your process right because you'd like to -- EVENTUALLY -- be making ammo commercially, that would have been fine. But nobody makes fifteen THOUSAND, or even fifteen hundred of a load without testing it to make sure it works perfectly.

Unfortunately, the way you started this off, "We are reloading the most common rounds for our customers," made it sound like this is something you were already doing -- that you'd already put ammo through customers' guns -- and were just now realizing that your loads were unsafe and you weren't really a master of the process.

Understanding that you AREN'T yet selling ammo, and that you will dedicate yourself to mastery of the principles and process before you do sell any, makes things quite a bit better, and I'm sure no one will deride you for asking questions as you work on the skills you need to -- SOMEDAY -- make ammo for sale to the public.

 

[Sam1911]

I hope a mod takes the time to read through the responses in this thread. There has been a rampant amount of jerk-ism in the last year or so on this board, with more and more being tolerated. I wish you well.

For my part I do not see ANYONE here who responded as a jerk or inappropriately. (Well, the guy who said he'd call the BATFE gets to wear the JERK hat and sit in the corner for a few minutes , but I understand his point.)

What I see is that the OP -- apparently accidentally -- gave everyone the impression that he was doing something that was both illegal and HIGHLY dangerous, in actively selling ammo to the public which was the screwed-up fruits of his practice sessions at the reloading bench. We all have every right to get pretty alarmed at such behavior.

It wasn't until Post #22 that Clyde set the record straight and cleared up that what he's doing is both legal and still just in the testing phase.

I think everyone will be a lot gentler on Clyde now that they understand he's not actually endangering anyone.