reload feeding question

[hvychev77]

I just reloaded some 9mm the other night, i went out to run a magazine through my g26 yesterday evening and had issues with them feeding properly. every time i pulled the trigger, the gun went bang of course, but it wouldn't feed the next round nor would it eject the empy case. I loaded 90 grain hornady xtp hollow point, with 4.8 grains of W231, at col of 1.070. This recipe was given to me by a hornady technician when i called them. My question is, is it normal to have a feeding issue or ejection issue from not being a hot enough charge for correct gun function? thanks guys.....hvychev77

 

[warnerwh]

That can happen with a light load. Also a light charge and/or not holding the gun tight can cause that problem.

 

[loadedround]

From your descriptin of your malfuction it appears that your starting load is much too light to completely cycle your pistol. The Hodgdon website shows a starting load of 5.5 gr for the 90 gr bullet. Check these loads at www.hodgdon.com and incease your powder weight as shown and your problems should go away.

 

[hvychev77]

i'm pretty sure i had a firm grip on it when i was shooting, i had it in the back of my mind that it was a lighter load since it was a "starting" load and i wanted to make sure i wasn't limp wristing it. sounds like my suspicions were correct.....thanks for the reassurance guys....hvychev77

 

[MtnCreek]

4.8 grs of 231 with a 115gr FMJ is my plinking rd and it's not hot. I would assume it's a really light load w/ a 90gr bullet.

 

[LiveLife]

G26 has stiffer captured dual recoil spring set than most other pistols (fullsize or sub/compact).

Hodgdon's load data:
90 gr Speer GDHP: 5.5 - 5.8 gr of W231/HP-38 at 1.010" OAL
95 gr Sierra FMJ: 4.8 - 5.3 gr of W231/HP-38 at 1.020" OAL

My experience with 115 gr FMJ in Glocks is that I need to load near max to reliably cycle the slide with the stiffer recoil springs. I would increase the powder charge to at least 5.0 - 5.5 gr.

 

[gamestalker]

My G17 does the same ting with loads that aren't hot enough. I think it's a Glock thing in my opinion. I stepped my load up and the G17 cycled perfectly, even when my wife shot it with her less than firm grip.

 

[slowbutsure]

I looked at my Hornady manual,and find that it gives a start at 4.7grs of w231, col 1.070" with a max load at 5.6grs. (90gr HP-XTP)

Are you sure that your powder scale was set correctly? Could be that you set it at a lower weight, or that the scale was not properly in balance, before you set the weight you were looking for. (Just something to think on.) sbs

 

[hvychev77]

yes my powder scale was set correctly. i check it each time i load for calibration. i reloaded about 20 rounds this evening at 5.5 grns of w231 @ 1.070 and everything cycled fine except the slide didn't stay back on the last round. seems to be alot of conflicting information on the charge amount, this is why i called hornady. it's just weird that it has to be at almost max before it cycles properly. i didn't try shooting any of these in my beretta though, so we'll see if it's a glock thing or not. i haven't shot this particular gun that much so, who knows.. thanks for all the info., it definitely helps..............hvychev77

 

[LiveLife]

it's just weird that it has to be at almost max before it cycles properly. i didn't try shooting any of these in my beretta though, so we'll see if it's a glock thing or not.

No, it's not a Glock thing. You'll have similar experience with semi-auto pistols with stiffer recoil springs. JHP bullets have copper base that really don't expand(deform) to seal to the barrel when the powder ignites. A lot of hot high pressure gas will leak around the bullet - this is the reason why JHP load data charges are higher than FMJ with exposed lead base that expands(deform) easier.

But even for FMJ bullet with exposed lead base, I need to use near max load for reliability and accuracy.

My experience with 115 gr FMJ in Glocks is that I need to load near max to reliably cycle the slide with the stiffer recoil springs.

 

[hvychev77]

well that makes sense. i never thought about the bullet not expanding to fit to the barrel. I guess the extra gases going around the bullet would explain why there's more flash too.......cool to see at dusk though!! i'm sure my neighbors are wondering if i'm some sort of a mercenary now!! haha.....