Crazy Paper Tears???

G

GaryC4

Inactive
So I've been making the same 40 S&W loads for a couple of years now and never had an issue with them - Until today. I recently picked up an M&P 40c and hit the range with it for the first time. For some reason quite a few shots are putting oblong tears in the paper, almost like the bullets are tumbling. Anybody have any ideas as to what might be causing this?

GUN:
S&W M&P 40c, 3-1/2" barrel

LOAD:
Brass - Various
Primers - CCI #500 Small Pistol
Bullets - Rainier 165 g FP
Powder - Bullseye, 5.1 g

Average velocity w/ a full size M&P 40 - 1,001 fps

Any thoughts or advice?
 

Attachments

  • ScreenHunter_97 Feb. 07 14.20.jpg
    ScreenHunter_97 Feb. 07 14.20.jpg
    93.4 KB · Views: 102
The bullets obviously not stabilizing for the 3.5" M&P. Perhaps not achieving sufficient velocity for the shorter barrel or maybe an over-sized barrel and the bullet not sufficiently engaging the rifling. Try a lighter bullet and see what happens or increase the charge with the current bullet if the charge is still within loading range.
 
Most of those tears look like the byproduct of the paper itself, combined with the lack of a good backer.
The major hint that it isn't 'unstable' bullets, for me, is that some of the tears extend through the bullet impact in opposite directions.

Use a good cardboard backer, with the target affixed at least at the corners, and try again before assuming the load is problematic.
The cardboard backer will also help identify 'wobbling' bullets, if that really is the case.
 
The way the target is hanging can matter, whether there is anything backing it up. If there's just air behind it the bullet pushes it a bit instead of punching through cleanly.
 
Thanks to all of you for your thoughts. I think before I change anything with the loads I'll take the gun to another range that had cardboard backing to confirm (although I shot the center portion of this same target with a 38 Special that seemed to punch round holes)?
 
Yea, I've shot the other pistol at this range without a backer and don't recall tears like this- but since eliminating the backer as a problem is the easiest solution I'll try this first.
 
Did you check to see if your barrel has rifling? I've heard of 'smooth' bores getting through once in great while. Just a thought....
 
I had really bad keyholes when I started reloading, using .356" TC (lead). They were undersized and over driven. I switched to a .358" and everything cleared up.

It's possible your bullets are undersized if you still have the issue using cardboard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top