stovepipe reloads

[Ventura Guy]

Hello fellow reloaders,

I've been reloading for about a year now and experienced some stovepipes with my 9mm reloads. I used 4.6g of W-231, 115 gr Berrys plated, OAL 1.161" WSP Primers and mostly Win or Fed brass. Shot this load from my Beretta PX4 Storm.

Oddly, I would get at least 1 stovepipe for every 100 rounds I shot and mostly between shot 50 - 100. Very frustrating. I tried other powders and hotter recipes with the same results.

I recently shortened my oal to 1.150" and have not experienced any stovepipes for the last 300 rounds. Is it possible that the length was too long before? Has anyone else experienced this issue? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks partners.

 

[murf]

yes, the bullet could have been sticking in the throat. another reason to do a plunk test on newly assembled reloads.

murf

 

[berettaprofessor]

I've loaded both CFE Pistol and 700X in 9mm with CCI primers to shoot through my PX4. My OAL for both is 1.160. I've had no stovepipes.

 

[berettaprofessor]

I shoot berrys plated 124 gr RN and I crimp with a Lee Die. Do you crimp?

 

[LiveLife]

9mm reloads ... 4.6g of W-231, 115 gr Berrys plated, OAL 1.161" WSP Primers ... Beretta PX4 Storm.

... at least 1 stovepipe for every 100 rounds ... I tried other powders and hotter recipes with the same results.

... Has anyone else experienced this issue?

BTW, welcome to THR!

Yes, I found with 115 gr RN 9mm bullets with shorter base (compared to 124/125 gr RN), when loaded long, sometimes doesn't have enough bullet base seated inside the case neck to produce sufficient neck tension for proper chamber pressure build up. This will sometimes result in stovepipes, especially with compacts/subcompacts with stiffer recoil springs.

I recently shortened my oal to 1.150" and have not experienced any stovepipes for the last 300 rounds. Is it possible that the length was too long before?

Looks like it. For this reason, I usually load 115 gr RN/FMJ bullets to shorter 1.135" OAL/COL and many reloaders will load down to 1.125". Try different lengths and see which length produces the smallest shot groups. You can certainly use longer OAL/COL but will usually need to use higher powder charges than shorter loads.

 

[jwalts27]

Try shortening your OAL as suggested above. 1.100 is what I load at, never a stove pipe yet.

P.S Use a light crimp if any, If you have to use a Lee FCD usually your doing something wrong. I have never used it and never will. My .02

 

[Shimitup]

Here's a recent story I thought I'd pass along. My Dad purchased a PX4 earlier this year just before he passed away, sadly he never got to shoot it. Only a couple of weeks ago My Mom decided she wanted to shoot it. I had already taken it to our range and put a box through it, functioning flawlessly. We returned later that evening and in her hands it stove piped every 7th round or so. I know that all semis are to varying degrees grip sensitive. While many of my other totally reliable semis have stovepiped in her hands the PX4 seemed to be particularly sensitive. All that to say you might want to assess your grip and make sure it's firm enough on that gun.

 

[LiveLife]

Do you get stovepipes with factory ammunition?

 

[gamestalker]

Although I don't use Berry's, the plunk test will determine if you are at the right oal for your firearm. IMO, it is absolutely necessary to obtain the right oal for a given firearm, oal is firearm specific, and not something you'll find in the published data either.

And also mentioned already, if there isn't enough bullet in the case, you'll experience lower pressures, thus causing cycling issues.

And one more, also already mentioned possible cause is how you grip it. I have a bunch of sub compacts, and they can be sensitive to how you support them while shooting. My daughter in law has problems with this same issue, even when shooting my full tilt jacketed reloads, no else does, just her. So we worked on her grip, and the problem vanished.

I seat my 115's to 1.100" - 1.125", bullet depending.

GS

 

[Ventura Guy]

Thank you gents for all your great input. I think I'll reduce the oal a bit more and will do a plunk test on every round. I do use the Lee FCD with a light crimp. I think my grip is good and will make sure I have good grip on every shot.

SHIMITUP, I am sorry to hear about your pops.

Thanks again and Happy New Year to all.

 

[Blue68f100]

I'm using the Berry's 124gr RN for 9mm. My OAL is 1.135". Any longer and my BHP has problems ejecting a live round. It's chamber will handle max SAAMI 1.168" without any problem.

Like already said once you done the plunk test the rounds still needs to be able to feed and eject. Sometimes it takes minor adj. This is where your suppose make dummy rounds and test feeding.

 

[edleit]

115 rnds

Ventura Guy,
I've been using practically the same recipe for my 9mm loads (4.6 gr Win 231, 115 gr Berry's RNDS plated bullet), except for COAL=1.125 to 1.136 (1.130 nominal).
I finish them off with a final stage in a Lee FCD. Doesn't matter which primer brand (Remington, CCI, or Magtech) or whether I've used Win, FC, or Rem brass - no stovepipes in my 92FS.
Same holds true for MBC 115 gr LRN w/same charge, but COAL=1.120-1.125

Also, welcome & Happy New Year!

 

[Shimitup]

Ventura Guy,

Appreciate the condolences, we miss him in this season but we were blessed that he made it to 87 in extraordinary health.

BTW welcome to the forum and Happy New Year.