Double feed question

[littlebob3]

Double feed question

Yesterday I went to the range and shoot 100 reloads… berry 115gr, unique 5.0gr, oal 1.1500
Out of the 100 I had 3 double feeds. What am I doing wrong.

I have not had this with any manufactured ammo.

Thanks for any suggestions

LittleBob3

 

[A-FIXER]

What kind of firearm were you using?

 

[918v]

Your load is too light for the recoil spring you're running.

 

[littlebob3]

I'm using a Sig 226 9MM

(recoil spring ) that helps... thank you.

 

[LiveLife]

Your load is too light for the recoil spring you're running.

+1. For 9mm with lighter 115 gr bullets, I find that I need to use high-to-near max load data to reliably cycle the slides on my Glocks. With 124/125 gr bullets, mid-to-high range load data works well to cycle the slides.

Alliant load data - http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?type=1&powderid=3&cartridge=23
9mm Luger 115 gr Speer GDHP OAL 1.125" Unique Max 6.3 gr (1,244 fps)

Lyman #49:
9mm 115 gr Hornady JHP OAL 1.090" Unique Start 4.4 gr (996 fps) 20,600 CUP - Max 5.8 gr (1233 fps) 30,700 CUP

Are you using RN? Since you are using longer 1.150" OAL with Berry's bullets, I would incrementally increase the powder charge until I get reliable slide cycling.

 

[rcmodel]

Berry 115 - 5.5 Unique - seated 1.120 OAL works fine in a SIG P6, S&W 39, and Springfield XDc.

I think you need 0.5 more powder and a shorter OAL.

rc

 

[LiveLife]

Out of the 100 I had 3 double feeds. What am I doing wrong.

What powder measure are you using?

Since Unique meters with .2 gr+ variance in some powder measures, could the 3 rounds have been "light charge" rounds?

I would weigh like 10 powder drops to see what the weight variance is.

 

[littlebob3]

I’m using Hornady’s Case Activated Powder Drop and i am dropping 5.0gr of unique... but it could be (becouse of unique's flake) that it did drop a smaller load.

I have installed a RCBS Lock-Out die and will place a mark at 5.5gr and see waht happens.

Again Many Thanks for the input.

 

[918v]

When I had a P226 I was using 5.7 grains of Unique under 124 grain bullets.

 

[littlebob3]

I just did 28 drops of Unique... Do you think this normal for unique.
Shuld I be looking for better?

Drop 5.30
Drop 5.20
Drop 5.35
Drop 5.35
Drop 5.40
Drop 5.35
Drop 5.25
Drop 5.65
Drop 5.35
Drop 5.50
Drop 5.30
Drop 5.50
Drop 5.30
Drop 5.40
Drop 5.40
Drop 5.30
Drop 5.40
Drop 5.20
Drop 5.40
Drop 5.30
Drop 5.30
Drop 5.45
Drop 5.45
Drop 5.20
Drop 5.50
Drop 5.45
Drop 5.40
Drop 5.30
---------------
Total 150.25
_________________
Ave Drop 5.37

 

[LiveLife]

If your average was 5.37 gr, let's use 5.4 gr as the reference point.

Powder charge weight swing from 5.2 gr to 5.65 gr is .2+ gr variance which also has been the case for me using volumetric powder measure Pro Auto Disk.

Shuld I be looking for better?

I think this is typical for Unique.

Since you got several lighter 5.2 gr drops, perhaps your problem was due to lighter powder charges?

 

[littlebob3]

bds, thank you... that is what i was thinking... I think i will look for a ball powder, I understand it meters better.

 

[rfwobbly]

I agree with the advice you've gotten so far.

May I humbly suggest...

► Winchester 231 (which is also sold under the label Hodgdon HP-38). This is a very economical flattened ball that meters fantastic in most every brand of PM. This will be very easy to find locally, and very easy to locate good loading data for. (See the Hodgdon web site if you don't have a manual.)

► An OAL of 1.130" to give more case engagement to the short 115gr bullet.

► Before loading 100 rounds of unknown usefulness, instead load 8 at 3.8gr, 8 at 4.0gr, 8 at 4.2gr, etc. Then shoot each group at a fresh target from a supported position. The lowest load that results in the tightest group is then best for your gun/bullet combination. THEN you can go back and load 100 at that particular load.

 

[littlebob3]

(rfwobbly) Thank you very much, I will be going to Cabela's tomorrow and picking some 231.

For the 357sig I would use WSF or Universal.

Again Many Thank to ALL

LittleBob3