New Reloader with a Problem: UPDATE.
- Thread starter mgunner
- Start date
mgunner
.45 acp
I appreciate your feedback, thank you for taking the time to post a reply.
Being new to reloading, I don't want to take a chance experimenting with information that's not in my manual or on the powder manufacturer's website. The Hodgdon website and my reloading manual state that the OAL range is between 1.169 and 1.100 for the powder and bullet I was using. That's a pretty large range to work within. If I can't get a round to cycle in my firearm while staying in that range, then that tells me something is wrong.
As a newbie to reloading, I watched hours of videos and did some reading before buying a press. During that time, I decided that I would stay toward the middle of the max and min OAL just to have enough of a safety cushion when it came to pressure. I don't feel comfortable going outside the recommended "recipes" even though your suggestions are just a little outside that range.
The copper plated worked fine so I'll stick with it for now. I'll try poly coated bullets from another manufacturer some other time to see if they will work with my rifle. I'm going to stay away from Badman Bullets for now.
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ken75ranger
22lr
I've had very good luck with Berry's and RMR plated bullets. I think your issues will be behind you with those choices.
RMR is also selling FMJ for around the same prices as plated now. Sign up for RMR email. They send free shipping deals out a few times a year.
RMR is also selling FMJ for around the same prices as plated now. Sign up for RMR email. They send free shipping deals out a few times a year.
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
if you get into rifle reloading watch out for case shoulder set back .. i loaded up some 270win rounds .. had gameking SPBT and some hornadys with the plastic tip .. the hornadys have a fast taper sleek n slim compared to the the gamekings .. but the hornadys were hard to get the bolt cloesed on the rifle .. WTH .. check everything over and over .. no way its hitting the lands .. would have the same issue with the GK's .. there fatter at the tip .. .. finally found out the hornadys were in Remington brass .. 1/4 turn more on the sizing die to kick the case shoulder back was the fix ..
My guess is #3. The coating would have be WAY off to cause the problems you were having. Maybe the didn't size them, but I doubt that would have caused the problems you had.
mgunner
.45 acp
Yep, that's what I found out. I used Berry's copper plated and they worked fine. I think it was the bullet profile of the powder coated bullets.
tony
6.5 Creedmoor
on the Badman Bullets link recommended COAL 1.065".
mgunner
.45 acp
Hi, I just saw your post. According to my reloading manual it states the min COAL is 1.100. That's a difference of 0.035. I'm more inclined to trust the powder companies that publish reloading data than a bullet manufacturer. I don't want to run into pressure problems. But thank you for taking the time to let me know what Badman Bullets recommends.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
The min COAL is intimately related to the bullet profile since it's actually intended to control available case volume.
Unless the published COAL you are looking at is for *that particular* bullet profile it is just based on a common profile for bullets of that weight.
If the bullets you are using have an uncommon profile it's quite possible that the COAL for them should be shorter than the common value.
mgunner
.45 acp
Well it seems that those of you that said to seat the bullet deeper are correct according to Badman Bullets. I emailed them and they sent me reloading data for the bullet profile and powder I'm using. They told me that:
"Not all bullets are the same and each can have different recommended OAL’s. What you are referencing in your reloading manual is a different bullet profile than ours. Ours will NOT chamber if you use the standard 1.10”...
I'll try and seat them at 1.065 and see if they fit in the breech.
Badman also sells a 124 grain 9mm polycoated bullet with a different profile. If you look at the bullet on their website there's no notation to seat that bullet differently. But there's a notation to seat the 115 grain bullet at 1.065 and I didn't 'see it. I assume that if I was using the bullet profile of the 124 grain bullet that I would have been able to use the load data in my reloading manual and they would have run fine.
I've included links below so you can see the difference between the 2 profiles if anyone is interested. The first link is the bullet I currently have. I'll let you know how things progress.
www.badmanbullets.com
www.badmanbullets.com
"Not all bullets are the same and each can have different recommended OAL’s. What you are referencing in your reloading manual is a different bullet profile than ours. Ours will NOT chamber if you use the standard 1.10”...
I'll try and seat them at 1.065 and see if they fit in the breech.
Badman also sells a 124 grain 9mm polycoated bullet with a different profile. If you look at the bullet on their website there's no notation to seat that bullet differently. But there's a notation to seat the 115 grain bullet at 1.065 and I didn't 'see it. I assume that if I was using the bullet profile of the 124 grain bullet that I would have been able to use the load data in my reloading manual and they would have run fine.
I've included links below so you can see the difference between the 2 profiles if anyone is interested. The first link is the bullet I currently have. I'll let you know how things progress.
Badman Bullets
Discover the benefits of using these 115 Grain RN Polymer Coated Hard Cast Lead Bullets for Reloading Qty 500
www.badmanbullets.com
Badman Bullets
Discover the benefits of using these 124 Grain RN Polymer Coated Hard Cast Lead Bullets for Reloading Qty 500
www.badmanbullets.com
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You are paying a lot for coated bullets. Have you ever tried xtreme? 9mm-124 RN
There are others with better prices than Badman.
There are others with better prices than Badman.
mgunner
.45 acp
Thanks, I'll check them out. I only purchased the Badman bullets because they were recommended to me by an employee of a gun/shooting range that had reloading components.
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RSCamaro
.38 Special
That range wouldn't happen to be in lower NY on the left side of the Hudson, would it? Doesn't really matter.
The Badman bullets work as well as any coated bullets that I have reloaded. They are accurate and keep the barrel from leading up, unless you are running hot. There are 2 types of coating that I have seen, I think. There is the powder coated style (Badman) and the painted style (Blue Bullets). Both are cured with heat. Both types are accurate as long as they are swagged to a regulated diameter. I have been using Bayou Bullets mostly for the last year or so. They generally have a free shipping deal at the end of the month when you buy a case. A good company to deal with. I guess that they are mixed up with the Miculek's somewhere.
I was using plated bullets from X-Treme and Rocky Mountain Reloading for a while. I really liked these companies products and still buy on occasion. What I found out is that for me.... the plated bullets were not as accurate through a polygonal barrel as they were through a conventional rifled type barrel. The low down was that with a Glock, or a Baby Eagle, or a CZ derivative that I have, my average accuracy amounted to an 8" pattern at 25 yards. With FMJ reloads the circle was reduced to a 5" circle with the same pistols. Not so much difference with a land and groove barrel. Its probably just me, but I have to put it out there.
If you don't mind the cost, then FMJ bullets are great. I prefer Zero brand bullets. Though they cost more than other brands. Hornady's HAP (Hornady Action Pistol) heads are good too. I mostly use these for GSSF Glock or other competitions.
On a side note, when you are at a range, don't be afraid to ask other shooters about reloading if you notice they have those colorful boxes that don't have manufacturers names on them.
If the range you are visiting is in Orange County and you are there on Sunday morning/afternoon and notice a few people milling about and talking, please come up and introduce yourself. We rarely bite and are happy to help with any issues, questions, and are happy to B.S. with most everyone.
...Ron
The Badman bullets work as well as any coated bullets that I have reloaded. They are accurate and keep the barrel from leading up, unless you are running hot. There are 2 types of coating that I have seen, I think. There is the powder coated style (Badman) and the painted style (Blue Bullets). Both are cured with heat. Both types are accurate as long as they are swagged to a regulated diameter. I have been using Bayou Bullets mostly for the last year or so. They generally have a free shipping deal at the end of the month when you buy a case. A good company to deal with. I guess that they are mixed up with the Miculek's somewhere.
I was using plated bullets from X-Treme and Rocky Mountain Reloading for a while. I really liked these companies products and still buy on occasion. What I found out is that for me.... the plated bullets were not as accurate through a polygonal barrel as they were through a conventional rifled type barrel. The low down was that with a Glock, or a Baby Eagle, or a CZ derivative that I have, my average accuracy amounted to an 8" pattern at 25 yards. With FMJ reloads the circle was reduced to a 5" circle with the same pistols. Not so much difference with a land and groove barrel. Its probably just me, but I have to put it out there.
If you don't mind the cost, then FMJ bullets are great. I prefer Zero brand bullets. Though they cost more than other brands. Hornady's HAP (Hornady Action Pistol) heads are good too. I mostly use these for GSSF Glock or other competitions.
On a side note, when you are at a range, don't be afraid to ask other shooters about reloading if you notice they have those colorful boxes that don't have manufacturers names on them.
If the range you are visiting is in Orange County and you are there on Sunday morning/afternoon and notice a few people milling about and talking, please come up and introduce yourself. We rarely bite and are happy to help with any issues, questions, and are happy to B.S. with most everyone.
...Ron
mgunner
.45 acp
Range is Master Class in Monroe NY. Friendly and helpful guys. That's where I picked up my reloading components. I told them I was new to reloading and just picked up a press. They spent time with me going over reloading and buying the components I was looking for. The box of bullets didn't state anything about seating them deeper and the employee didn't mention it.
Before I even bought the press I watched so many videos and read many articles online about reloading. They all said to use reloading data from a reloading manual and so I didn't consider checking any other sources. Including just contacting Badman. Then when it was pointed out to me by Tony that the COL on Badmans website states to seat the bullet lower, followed by Spat pointing out how bullet profile is tied to the COL, I contacted Badman and they confirmed to seat to the lower COL and sent reloading data to me. I still have to to give the new COL a try to see if they will fit the breech, but I'm confident they will.
I'll look into the other companies you suggested. Thank you for the invitation to chat with you guys. What range in Orange County?
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RSCamaro
.38 Special
Its the same range, Master Class.
I have a few reloading books myself. I don't open them up too much any more other than for max shell length, not really necessary for pistol brass.
I generally use the Hodgdon site for ammunition information. Profiles on bullet heads vary quite a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer. Most of the time I set the height where the curve starts, and then experiment with the charge. Start at the minimum for 10 rounds and work at a tenth grain to max to see if I can get a good consistent group. What ever that recipe is, is what goes with that bullet in that gun. Record it somewhere.
I also run each round I produce through a chamber checker. EGW makes a good multi round tool and the single units found at Master Class work well too.
Anyway, I generally practice there on Wednesday evenings after work and Sundays if you want to chew the fat as it were.
...Ron
I have a few reloading books myself. I don't open them up too much any more other than for max shell length, not really necessary for pistol brass.
I generally use the Hodgdon site for ammunition information. Profiles on bullet heads vary quite a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer. Most of the time I set the height where the curve starts, and then experiment with the charge. Start at the minimum for 10 rounds and work at a tenth grain to max to see if I can get a good consistent group. What ever that recipe is, is what goes with that bullet in that gun. Record it somewhere.
I also run each round I produce through a chamber checker. EGW makes a good multi round tool and the single units found at Master Class work well too.
Anyway, I generally practice there on Wednesday evenings after work and Sundays if you want to chew the fat as it were.
...Ron
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
A factory crimp die solved a similar problem for me.
gun_slinger_boy
.338 Win Mag
I saw you said you are using spent casings. Are there any burs or imperfections on the rim of the cases? Inspect them very carefully as the smallest dings can cause you to fail the plunk test. If you have some commercial ammo demil a few and use those casings to see what happens.
mgunner
.45 acp
I tried to seat one bullet as instructed by Badman Bullets. Still a problem. Bullet will not fall out of the chamber. I'll continue to try the advice you have given here. I can't believe just getting these rounds to seat is such a pain.