Didn't blow myself up

[Zen21Tao]

I am brand new to reloading. A couple days ago I took my first batch of reloads (in 10mm) to the range and managed to successfully shoot them without blowing myself up. Some novice problems I did enounter: many rounds too long to feed in my Glock magazines, had many failure to fires (w/dimpled primers) but all fired on second try, and I did have one squib as a result of running out not noticing when my powder measure began to run low on powder. Now I'm just (rather impatiently) waiting on mail ordered supplies so I can try another batch. I think I'm now a reloading addict.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

managed to successfully shoot them without blowing myself up

Well, absolutely, that's a start! You obviously enjoy it so I suspect you'll become one of the resident reloading experts here and elsewhere. Welcome to the club.

Personally, I started reloading because I liked to shoot but couldn't afford factory ammo. Now I reload because I like to shoot kinder, gentler loads. It's easier on me and definitely easier on my guns.

Keep up the good work, friend.

 

[ReloaderFred]

As you've found out, the limiting factor on most rounds for semi-auto handguns is what the magazine will hold. You'll have to find out what the magazine will tolerate, but be sure to use a full magazine to come up with the maximum length. If the overall length is near the maximum for your magazine, you'll find that they will jam from friction when the magazine is full.

You've also discovered one of the biggest problems for new reloaders, which is not seating the primer properly. Ideally, the primer should be roughly .004" below the level of the base of the case, but generally if you can keep them flush with the base, you'll be ok.

Also remember that the 10mm is a high pressure round, and you're going to get flattened primers with any load that approaches what the round was designed to do. Flattened primers in this round are not a good indication of excess pressure, but expansion just above the base of the case is a good indicator.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Master Blaster]

But from what you described you may have come real close.....


The fact that you loaded them too long for the magazine, and you got a few dimpled primers that did not fire out of a Glock, tells me that you need to reduce your overall length to the correct length denoted in your reloading manual. You also need calipers so you can measure your rounds. The dimpling but not firing thing, means the slide and barrel are not solidly locked up.

The result of the problems you had could be a KABOOM, with the gun firing just barely in battery (dimpled but not fired primers). Up your powder charge a bit with a too long round and you may be posting about how your glock turned into a handgrenade.