FTE with Military Brass (9mm)?

[Peakbagger46]

I have shot over 550 reloads through my Shield 9mm with zero jams. I just acquired a big box of military WCC 87 brass. I loaded up 50 rounds of it (lee dies, lee factory crimp, same process I have been using all along) and had three failures to eject (brass stuck in the chamber after firing). Shot another box of reloads after with no issues.

I did notice the WCC brass seemed to take a lot of force to resize. I did remove the primer crimp prior to seating new primers. Any of you knowledgeable folks out there have any idea why this brass would jam on me?

 

[rsrocket1]

Need more details and a picture of the brass stuck in the chamber would have helped.
Did the extractor tear the rim off the brass? Is there a lot of crud build up in the extractor claw? Was the brass difficult to pull out and how did you get it out of the barrel, disassembly/rod through the muzzle/drop the slide and rerack (hopefully not that way).

How easy were the loaded rounds passing the plunk test? What was the load? I've had some rounds that were fat on the bottom vary between not passing the plunk test to barely being able to pass but sometimes causing extraction problems.

Take some brass, size it and see how they plunk in your Shield barrel after each stage in your loader. You might need to screw your sizing die down a little more. Sometimes marginal brass can get fatter with a compressed load. I took the lazy route and labeled them as "92FS only" because the rounds that would not fit in my M&P 9 or Shield 9 would fit and work just fine in my Beretta 92FS.

 

[goldpelican]

I've had three WCC cases fail on me in 9mm - all 80s headstamps, all case head separation. I culled the lot and threw it in the recycling bucket. One was a catastrophic failure - put a bunch of hot gas and a brass fragment in my cheek. Another was just a big "BANG!" that ejected but was immediately located, another I didn't find until depriming months later (didn't notice it while firing).

First and last time I bought gun show reloads - they weren't particularly hot, if anything they were weak loads that occasionally failed to cycle.

Dump it. Brass fragments rattling off the safety glasses isn't something I want to repeat. Now I only reload my own brass or "new" range pickup - who knows how many times they've been reloaded.

 

[rg1]

I've loaded a bunch of WCC 9MM brass for my pistols and carbine rifle. No issues and I find it to be nearly identical to Winchester commercial brass except the primer crimp. I suspect your lot has some brass that was fired in large chambers possibly open bolt firing sub guns that leave the lower part of the brass swelled? Possibly your sizing die isn't sizing the case far down enough. It's common since pistol sizing dies stop sizing far above the case head. Possibly lowering your sizing die to almost touch the shellholder or even buying a Lee Undersize Die? Can't think of any other reasons WCC brass would hang in your pistol.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/386755/lee-undersized-carbide-sizing-die-9mm-luger

 

[2bfree]

I know my Shield has a really tight chamber. I loaded about 400 rounds without the sizing die down far enough ( that's a story in itself ) Almost every one would lock up my slide but all worked fine in my Beretta and CZ.

 

[spanky1968]

I have not had a problem with WCC brass functioning with my loads. 124 gr RN or HP pushed by 5.0 gr Autocomp.

Autocomp cycles my 9's reliably in all three of my pistols. I HAVE had cycling issues with WCC factory 115gr FMJ ammo.

 

[mdi]

One thought; try the "Plunk Test" to check case dimensions prior to firing. Cartridge may be a little too snug in your gun's tight chamber...

 

[Peakbagger46]

Thanks guys. I did not try the rounds (or brass for that matter) in the chamber prior to shooting. I will on the next go around. The stuck brass did all eject after my "tap rack" malfunction clearance. I didn't pause to analyze as I try and train to fight.

Load was 4.1g win231 with Berrys 124g plated RN. I'm going to try another batch and check them in the chamber.

My extractor and under is crud free. Brass is indeed once fired as primer crimp was still present. The idea about the rounds possibly being fired previously in a loose chamber may be a good one.

I'll post my progress once I load some more.

 

[2bfree]

Where did you get that data ? According to Hodgdon load data max is 4.4. I load my Xtreme and FMJ loads at 4.4.
Winchester
231
.356"
1.150"
3.9
920
27,400 PSI
4.4
1,037
31,900

 

[Peakbagger46]

Crap, I meant 4.1! I'm going to edit my previous post for safety sake...

 

[2bfree]

Crap, I meant 4.1! I'm going to edit my previous post for safety sake...

That sounds a lot better

 

[ReloaderFred]

And that's the exact reason I don't publish data in open forums. It's just too easy to mess it up.

As for the GI brass, I prefer it in 9x19, since it's generally of heavier construction, and I don't mind at all removing the primer crimps.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Peakbagger46]

OK, just got done loading another 50. All of the completed rounds fit in the Shield chamber just fine and fell back out without resistance. Any other ideas? Hopefully I will be able to fire them tomorrow.

 

[mdi]

And that's the exact reason I don't publish data in open forums. It's just too easy to mess it up. Reloader Fred

Me too, and I pay very little attention to any data from any forum expert, pet loads website, range rat, gun counter clerk, or gun shop guru. I get 98% of all my data from published manuals...

 

[FROGO207]

As Reloader Fred says the WCC brass is a bit heavier and that means it is a bit thicker and therefore has less internal volume. I agree with that theory from what WCC 9MM brass I have randomly measured in the past. If you have a near max load and a tight chamber this might add up to the brass sticking a bit due to higher pressures when fired. Or the extractor is a bit rounded/bent and will not grip the brass well due to a thicker rim. That is where I would look. Did the rounds sound/feel the same when shot or could you even tell the difference. I like that brass as well and do not hesitate to use it.