I might’ve had a Kaboom today…

[Steve762us]

While we're on this general subject, just last night I discovered another potential cause of mischief within a large batch of 9x19 I've been handloading.

I'm working from a batch of 1K fired and commercially processed (cleaned, sized and deprimed) brass, which has generally served me well until now.

After I finish each loading session I use one of those Lyman handgun ammo checker blocks to verify specs on every round I've loaded before boxing up the ammo. One round last night did this:

View attachment 1178931

If you're not accustomed to this type of ammo checker, the case should drop into the indicated hole flush, but it is still within spec as long as it doesn't stick up higher than the block's surface. The case in this photo was easily 1mm short! And before anyone asks, it wasn't a .380.



The case has a proper 9x19 headstamp --

Not a .380, but not 9x19 either--that's a 9mm Makarov ("9mm M") case, 9x18.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Not a .380, but not 9x19 either--that's a 9mm Makarov ("9mm M") case, 9x18.

Well spotted! Never loaded Makarov so it didn't even occur to me.

I also thought that headstamp was the same as some others in the batch, but clearly I missed the M -- now I'll double check my loaded stuff to see how and where I got fooled.

I'm glad I don't shoot Makarov -- I thought segregating .380 cases from 9x19 was a nuisance, but these are even closer!

 

[PapaG]

Better safe. Didn't realize case was overlength.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I'm glad I don't shoot Makarov -- I thought segregating .380 cases from 9x19 was a nuisance, but these are even closer!

Our late range officer got us all in the habit of marking our .380s case heads with Magic Marker. Makes sorting off the range floor much easier.
While I'm not as fussy a loader as some of yinz, I do try to pay attention. I'd like to think that a case that much overlength would show up as a little trumpet, after the powder funnel in the Dillon.
Only kaboom ever was of my own making, trying to load some light .45s in a 645. One shot sounded strange, and I had to handcycle the next one...THAT one kicked, a lot. Still have the original barrel in my junk box, looks like a blacksnake digesting a mouse. Replaced the barrel; kinda wish I'd kept the gun.
Moon

 

[sevt_chevelle]

The mention of a CZ 97 is this thread.....


I can't imagine how a SP01 with their tighter than tighter leade would have allowed that extra 2mm to even fully chamber.

Had some dummy loads made that were about 30 thou longer than what my PCR would allow. It took several attempts to jam that bullet deeper into the case and the slide fully close.

 

[film495]

good catch

 

[Jim Watson]

I came upon some overly long Hornady .45 ACP brass. It must have been shot in a long chamber for me to find the empties but it would not load back and fit MY gun.

On the other end, I also scooped up some Boxer primed Makarov brass. It ran through the 9mm progressive just fine. Either the cartridge gauge or just the appearance of extra bullet showing above the case mouth got them rejected and pulled down for the components, but one day I thought what if one slipped through? So I loaded and shot a couple. They apparently "headspaced on the extractor" because they fed, fired, and ejected normally. Case heads and primers looked normal, unlike some of the '9mm P in a 9mm Largo' that Maj. Geo. C. Nonte showed back in the Golden Era of cheap surplus. I always think of that article when I read one of those Buy Big, Shoot Small threads about how well .40 S&W works in a 10mm gun.

 

[Riomouse911]

The mention of a CZ 97 is this thread.....
View attachment 1180193

I can't imagine how a SP01 with their tighter than tighter leade would have allowed that extra 2mm to even fully chamber.

Had some dummy loads made that were about 30 thou longer than what my PCR would allow. It took several attempts to jam that bullet deeper into the case and the slide fully close.

I love the 97B, especially after CGW stuff was added. I must say that gun is one smooth shooting and accurate .45 in my mitts.

I have no idea why CZ discontinued the 97, it’s disappointing that folks I have turned on to this gun can’t find them anymore.

The case was so long the SP slide didn’t go forward all the way, it was still hanging back over the rear of the frame a bit under 1/4 inch. I realized something was wrong when the trigger didn’t reset, then I peeked at the slide and saw it OOB. Glad it was, things would have been bad if it had closed enough to reset and fire.

Stay safe.

 

[ASP]

I've seen a number of posts like this in various gun groups and as a result I measure the overall length of every cartridge and look for any anomalies before using the cartridges. Any cartridge that is substantially shorter or longer than the rest I weed out and I disassemble the cartridge. I haven't seen any shell cases that were excessively long yet.

I use the shell case with primer for any primer strike testing. After I've spent the primer, I remove the primer, drill holes through the side of the shell case and epoxy the bullet into the shell case. I glue some of the bullets into the shell case at the minimum OAL specification, some at the average OAL specification, and glue other bullets into the shell cases at the maximum OAL specification. Then I fill the primer hole with urethane glue and I have a dummy rounds for testing.

View attachment 1178770

What are your ranges for too short/ too long ? I will be trying out this great idea!