Didn't Pass Plunk Test, But Load-Shoot-Eject OK

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nevadabob

nevadabob

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I'm a big fan of the Plunk Test. I bought some Ibejiheads coated 124 CNBB 9's to try out. BTW, these are great bullets and my post has nothing to do with slamming them. I'll be buying more. I have 4 9's that I shoot and removed the barrel from each. I loaded to a COL of 1.120-25 and and with 3 barrels this was OK with the Plunk Test. But when I dropped the round into my Walther PPX barrel, there was no plunk and the bullet wouldn't release itself with the barrel upside down. Fast forward to shortening the COL to 1.090-95 and the plunk magic happened. I figure the chamber in the PPX is of the short CZ variety and was content on making rounds specifically for it and keeping the 1.120-25's for the other 3.

But out at the range I decided to try out the 1.120-25's in the PPX. It ate the 1.090-95 variety just fine as well as the 1.120-25's! There was no problem with feeding-shooting-ejecting the longer rounds. I shot about 40 of them.

Can I continue to use the longer COL rounds in the PPX?
 
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The only concern I can imagine, would be a failure to go completely into battery, though it appears not. It appears that the action is slamming closed hard enough to jam them into the lands, thus allowing it to go into battery. Though this isn't optimal, if it works, shoot them. But if you get some that seat a tad longer, the firearm may not go into battery.

GS
 
And that was one concern I had about damaging the lands. I just want to load "one COL" for the 4 guns. Prior to this, I have loaded shouldered 124/5's @ 1.120-25 and the PPX passed the Plunk Test just fine. The Ibejiheads are a new bullet for me.
 
I would load for your ppx. Shooting a round up against the lands can cause high pressure. I know seating a bullet deeper can make pressure go up too but at least that can be monitored and is more constant. Just my 2cents
 
BigBore45 said:
I would load for your ppx. Shooting a round up against the lands can cause high pressure. I know seating a bullet deeper can make pressure go up too but at least that can be monitored and is more constant. Just my 2cents
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This...and shoot lower pressure rounds if you do decide to let it slam them into battery. If you are running higher pressure rounds already you could easily be spiking at or near dangerous levels seating into the rifling.
 
Looks like I'll be loading @ the lower COL for the PPX. I'd rather err on the side of safety. It's the "lazy in me" that is drawn to the "one size fits all" motto. Thanks for the advice.
And Moxie you did fine!
 
I have one of the short throated CZs that you referred to and I just load to the longest COL that passes the plunk test in that pistol. The others don't seem to mind and it simplifies die set up, loaded round storage/labeling, etc.
 
check the chambered round

Why don't you take one of the 1.20col rounds, action your pistol, let it seat but then pull the bullet instead of firing it and see what if anything has happened? I.e. can you see the lands grooved into the bullet or did the force chamber actually seat the bullet more?? That would provide you with the detail to determine what the best course of action should be. :confused:

Lefty
 
Ive kind of wondered about this. I get a lot of non plunk passers that shoot just fine out of my p238..380 may be a whole nother story, but I've had to squeeze the cartridge way shorter than I'd like when I use a few types of bullets in 380, in order to pass the plunk. And most of those will shoot ok if a bit longer, even though theyre not plunk passers..something like that:rolleyes:
 
I have similar situation with my Walther PPQ and Browning Hi Power. I need to go quite short for the PPQ. The Browning handles them short no problem.
 
I just have to ask, why even perform the plunk test if you are going to shoot them anyway, against better judgment ?
 
Good responses.
Lefty...I bought a sample pack and shot all the bullets on Saturday. That makes sense though.
Ulflyer...That would probably work.
2bfree...I don't know if your response was directed to me. If so....I always do a Plunk Test with "new-to-me" bullets. This is the 1st time I've encountered such with the PPX.
 
The plunk test is an "indicator" of whether the round will fit the chamber. The fact that some of your rounds don't pass, when most do, isn't really a matter for concern. Especially with cast lead bullets. Especially when you know it's "fatness" that's causing a problem, not excessive length which can be checked by looking at the nose of the bullet as noted above. So it's really not a violation of "better judgment" in most cases to go ahead and fire them. The plunk test is good helping you determine if you need a bit more flare removal to aid in chambering. Needing a bit extra push chambering a round usually doesn't hurt.
 
You might consider cleaning the PPX carefully and trying the plunk test again with the longer rounds. From time to time, I've found that some fairy dust or something got onto the land and messed up the chamber dimensions.
 
Especially when you know it's "fatness" that's causing a problem, not excessive length which can be checked by looking at the nose of the bullet as noted above.
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Well, the OP did not know this, he actually was thinking they might be a bit long according to his first post.My point was make sure WHY first. It could be something simple such as fat lead, to long, or even not a fully sized case that came from a gun with a larger chamber. I just know I would not fire them until I found out what the cause was.
 
2bfree said:
Well, the OP did not know this, he actually was thinking they might be a bit long according to his first post.My point was make sure WHY first. It could be something simple such as fat lead, to long, or even not a fully sized case that came from a gun with a larger chamber. I just know I would not fire them until I found out what the cause was.
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Agree. The usual cause is fatness and bullet lube residue.
 
Almost all of the " cull" rounds I have from casegauges will still run when my friends shoot them. They are culled so I know my match or hunting ammunition will run, doesn't rely on hope or "more often than not".

A case gauge will even catch ammunition that could pass a "plunk" test, as they rarely detect a rim defect (the part that is untouched by "normal" reloading processes.

DSC02128.jpg

However can be found when they try and enter the breech face/extractor and cause a FTF.

DSC02130.jpg

Some of my bolt action rounds would also not pass a plunk, because the bullet is actually seated into the rifling/case a bit more as the bolt is closed.

As above, what works best for you and your gun...
 
Potatohead said:
...but I've had to squeeze the cartridge way shorter than I'd like when I use a few types of bullets in 380, in order to pass the plunk. And most of those will shoot ok if a bit longer, even though theyre not plunk passers..something like that:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
What do you think is happening when you chamber them?
 
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