Montana Gold 155gr stove pipes

[baddad06]

I loaded up some 155gr Montana Gold 40 S&W rounds this weekend that I have had sitting around for over a year. I did 2 batches of 50 rounds just to check them out. The first batch was loaded with 5.5 Titegroup seated at 1.125 and the second batch was loaded with IMR7625 at 6.6 again at 1.125. My goal was to compare the two powders to see which one I liked best before loading a few hundred rounds.

The issue I had was that with the Titegroup after every 4th or 5th round I fired I had a stove pipe. I thought it might be the load so I switched to the IMR 7625 batch. This time every 12 to 15 rounds resulted in a stove pipe.

I was using my EMP 40 which has not had any issues using the same powders firing 180 or 165 plated from RMR or Berrys. I bought the Montana Gold 155's because they were cheap and wanted to save a few bucks.

Any ideas on what might be causing this?

 

[ATLDave]

Lower recoil impulse of lighter rounds not getting enough slide velocity to chuck the brass reliably clear of the port?

 

[nix4me]

Both of your loads are using light for caliber bullets and both are near starting loads (according to my books).

 

[baddad06]

For clarity the stove pipe was not a spent case but a loaded round. That's what has me confused. Thanks

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Sounds more like a gun or magazine problem than an ammo problem. See if it does the same thing with proven loads or factory ammo.

 

[sexybeast]

It should be cycling fine with 5.5gr of titegroup! Check the magazine spring!

 

[gamestalker]

Not at all unusual with a start charge and light bullets. Increase the charge and your problem should go away.

GS

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Not at all unusual with a start charge and light bullets. Increase the charge and your problem should go away.

GS

Did you catch the part where the OP said it was stove piping live rounds, not spent casings? I've never heard of that being because of a light charge. I think you're more experienced with reloading than I am, so you might know something that I don't. Just wondering if you didn't see that part.

 

[TenDriver]

I have had my Smith 6906 stovepipe live rounds due to light charges. I think Gamestalker is likely right. The charge is heavy enough to cycle the action, but not quite all the way back. It's back far enough to strip the next round out of the magazine, but not far enough back to keep the next round orientated properly.

I was able to seat my bullets a tad deeper to increase the pressure of my under powered rounds. They reliably cycle now but will not throw the slide back far enough to lock on the lady round.

I wound say bump up your charge a bit If the bullet will allow you to seat a little deeper, that might be another option but I'd get someone with more knowledge than I to confirm.

 

[zaphar]

What position is the stove piped cartridge facing? Is it facing straight up or out the side? While not the same caliber, I did have an instance where a certain bullet did cause a feeding jam (partialy in the chamber, but also still in the magazine) randomly at the lower end of the charge range. The problem went away by increasing the charge, as mentioned in the post above.

 

[baddad06]

The stove pipe round was straight up vertical. The EMP is very tight and doesn't have more then 500 rounds through it. I am going to try a slightly increased load and see if that resolves the issue. I sincerely appreciate all the suggestions. I take the advice from here seriously and it has allowed me to be a successful reloader. Thanks for the help! I will let you know how it plays out.