Reloading for the Springfield XDs. Remind me again...

[Josh45]

Hello THR,

I just picked up a Springfield XDs about 2-3 weeks ago.
And I started to reload for it. I was lucky enough to find some 230 Gr FN and HP bullets to reload with.

My main concern again is with COAL. I had made some rounds using Armscor FMJ-RN bullets with a COAL of 1.250 that fed great and had good accuracy from about 5 yards. Now with these new bullets which are plated bullets, I have to set the bullets down to about 1.200 in the case.

I got the new reloading manual from Nosler and am following their guide since I have to use that OAL and that is the same OAL they use. When I did try 1.250, The gun got jammed up pretty hard and would not feed the round. When I tried to eject the round, It took a bit of force to remove it.

So of course, I disassembled the gun and am doing the plunk test. It will plunk in but not plunk out and I also noticed that the rim and the hood of the barrel is almost flushed.

My concern is that while at 1.200, It seems like I should try 1.190 and that should get it flushed. I will be using TiteGroup starting loads and am obviously concerned about the OAL being to deep.

Sorry for the rambling! Just wanted a second opinion.
I know that OAL depends in the gun and the type of bullet.
These are just plinking loads and the HP bullets do the same thing.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Don't fret about the OAL. Do the plunk test and set the bullet where it does not touch the lands. The round will drop in and out freely. Reduce the load from the max, and work up to where the gun cycles consistently and you get the needed accuracy.

 

[Josh45]

The OAL concerned me with these bullets because the minimum is at 1.190.
I'll recheck just for sanitys sake

 

[Feanaro]

It takes a certain amount of effort to eject ANY ammo in the XDs. It's just built that way. My A-Zoom snap caps all have little dents on the "bullet" from where they strike the end of the chamber. Perhaps you meant more than the usual amount but I thought I'd point that out, just in case.

 

[dacavasi]

Josh45, I had the exact same experience with my XD 45 (service model). Not sure which bullet you are referring to but I can tell you that I was using a popular 'plated' 200g JHP, setting to a COL of 1.245", and my XD locked up so bad (round loaded but slide would not go into battery) that it took about 20 minutes to finally get it to open up so I could remove the round, after which the slide made a trip back to SA to replace a broken ejector. This happened about 2 yrs ago and funny thing was that my Glock, Colt, and Taurus all digested that same load with no issues. I took the XD out again just the other day and like a fool didn't realize I had brought along a box of the same reloads, and, sure enough, gun locked up on the first round fed again. I've reseated all those rounds now to 1.120" to play it safe. I need to dimension those 200g plated bullets but my suspicion is that they have an ogive radius too far forward for the correct fitment in the XD chamber using the 1.245" COL. Of course, as pointed out by another poster, the 'plunk' test would have helped me to avoid alot of aggravation...

Edit: Meant to say "reaseated all those rounds now to 1.20"

 

[Rule3]

How are you crimping them. What is your crimped measurement? If the crimp isn't right they are not going to "plunk" right They need a slight taper crimp

Look at Hodgdons load data.Almost all the bullets are seated to 1.200

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

 

[Josh45]

My crimp on them is by using a LEE FCD and they have a crimp of .470-.471 on them so I know I am good there. The bullets I am using are HSM, Known as Hunting Shack Ammunition. I use a marker and marked the entire bullet and of course it is hitting the bullet right at the shoulder.

Bullets OAL is .572 IIRC. I made my rounds at 1.190 and they are flush with the hood of the barrel but still will not plunk out. Plunking in works fine. Just not out.
As far as trying to remove the round, This takes a bit more effort than usual. Need both hands on it and try to pull the slide back with all your strength.

So I am 100% sure it is OAL issue with these particular bullets.

 

[Rule3]

I have the XDs and have run my reloads, lead, FMJ and HP through it.

You just have to seat the bullets to where they drop out as Jessie stated above.

Some times it just a fraction more. Start at the low end of the powder charge.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Interesting. My XD-45 feeds anything. Fro. Jacketed to plated to lead, I've had no issues with any of my reloads. I must have gotten lucky so far.