Plunk test

[mcb]

Chamber checker are a fast and easy way to help QC your ammo. Everything I reload for completion goes through a chamber checker and into boxes. Between me handling the ammo and the checker and then going into boxes I catch things like high primers, split cases, burrs on rims, damage cases, the occasional 38 Super Comp with a 40 call bullet stuffed in it, etc.

 

[Walkalong]

I will seat a few rounds deeper and let you know how they turn out. Thanks again.

That's how you do it.

The Plunk Test

Just looking at those rounds it looks like they would have trouble in some chambers.

 

[wiiawiwb]

I reduced the COAL to 1.40 and, using the Glock 43X barrel, each round would plunk then fall out when the barrel was turned upside down. Only 50% of those would spin without catching on a land. When I reduced the COAL to 1.35, all would plunk, spin, and fall out.

The difference between 147gr bullets from MBC that I used before compared to the new ones I'm using now is the new ones are grooveless. The older rounds I made, the COAL is 1.157, pass the plunk test with flying colors but the new grooveless ones need to be 1.135. Not sure why that is.

It never dawned on me that, at a COAL of 1.157 the old 147gr passed the plunk test in both the Glock 17 and 43X, and the new 147gr grooveless would passed the plunk test for the 17 but not the 43X.

(the new grooveless bullets are dark gray)

 

[fxvr5]

I reduced the COAL to 1.40 and, using the Glock 43X barrel, each round would plunk then fall out when the barrel was turned upside down. Only 50% of those would spin without catching on a land. When I reduced the COAL to 1.35, all would plunk, spin, and fall out.

The difference between 147gr bullets from MBC that I used before compared to the new ones I'm using now is the new ones are grooveless. The older rounds I made, the COAL is 1.157, pass the plunk test with flying colors but the new grooveless ones need to be 1.135.

Does that make sense?

If that's what it takes to make them fit, then that's what it takes to make them fit.

We have to do the plunk test with every new bullet we use to find the OAL that will fit the chamber. Even small differences in bullet nose shape can have a big affect on how they fit the chamber.

 

[higgite]

The difference between 147gr bullets from MBC that I used before compared to the new ones I'm using now is the new ones are grooveless.
(the new grooveless bullets are dark gray)

Different bullet. That should have been your first clue. Glad you got it worked out.

 

[wiiawiwb]

I want to thank everyone here for sharing your knowledge and experience and helping me out with this. I appreciate it very much!!

 

[LiveLife]

Great.

I love happy endings.