First time reloading

F

Florida_Orange

Inactive
I just finished my first attempt at reloading. I reloading 15 rounds of 9mm using a LEE single stage press.

At the range, when I pulled the trigger on my reloaded rounds, the Beretta did not cycle and there was a large amount of smoke.

So now I'm trying to understand what the problem is. I used the least amount of powder according to the reloading manual. I figure the problem is either to little powder, the bullet not seated deep enough or the crimp not done correctly. It seems to me that all the smoke generated from each round means that powder was continuing to burn after the bullet left the barrel. That's why i'm thinking maybe the crimp wasn't done right and the bullet is basically falling out of the gun.

Does anyone have any insight on what might be wrong?
 
What powder and weight of the charge? What weight bullet? also, what was the OAL of the finished round? With that information we can help you get where you want to be

David
 
Help us help you

Were the jams similar to your Beretta 8000? (How did that work out, by the way?)

Make sure the rails are clean and lubricated, too.

We are really "shooting in the dark" without your load recipe.

Bullet maker, bullet type (jacketed, plated, cast lead) bullet weight.

OAL (Overall length of cartridge) so we can know how deep the bullet is set in the case. Extremely important and often overlooked.

Powder charge weight. Powder maker and name.

Primer (magnum or, standard and maker)

Headstamp of your brass (this is not quite so important, but in the interest of completeness, I throw it in)

How hard are you crimping (taper crimp, right?). If you have calipers, measure the diameter at the case mouth.

Hoping to hear from you soon

Lost Sheep
 
Problem solved

Thanks to DavidAGO asking a simple question I've resolved this problem. I have two containers of powder on my shelf. Both are the same size, shape and color. The only difference is the label. One bottle is Hodgdon Tight Group. The other......Pyrodex. I'm embarrassed to admit it but I accidentally loaded my 9mm shells with Pyrodex. Thank God I didn't do the opposite and accidentally load my cap and ball with Hodgdon tight group.
 
Maybe your next thing should be to make the powders more distinctive. That might be something as simple as using a Sharpie to write "Black Powder" on one and "9 mm" on the other. Some people say they read the label out loud to themselves. (I try not to get caught talking to myself. The little voice in my head threatened to charge a consulting fee.) Just use your mistake to learn and create a method to avoid a similar mistake again.
 
No harm, no foul, this time. Please form safety habits now, before you "accidently" switch powders again. Next time could be dangerous.

FWIW; I get all the components I'm gonna use on the bench and check them off. I have written down, often on a sticky note, the load I'm using; brass, bullet, powder, charge weight, and primer (also any "special" instructions). One jug of powder, one box of primers on the bench at any one time. After I double check the components, I stick the sticky on my powder measure, right in front of me, and I glance at it and the powder bottle, and scale a few times during the charging step (Unique, check. Scale set at 9.5 gr., check). I visually verify each case is charged and not overcharged before I seat a bullet.

Using this method has kept me KABOOM free for nearly 30 years.

Go slow, double check everything, and most important, have fun...
 
I am glad I could help, and I am glad you followed up with us. Keep asking questions, and keep posting, one day the information you post will help someone else.

David
 
No harm, no foul, this time. Please form safety habits now, before you "accidently" switch powders again.
Click to expand...

^^ THIS ^^

I couldn't possibly agree more.

Please form safety habits now.

As for propellants . . . I never ever ever have more than one on my bench at at time. My load bench is in the garage. My powders are in the house, upstairs. There's been a time or two where I'm changing from one powder to another, and I bring down the second powder, realizing that I haven't put away the first. I walk the second powder back upstairs, put it back in its place, walk back down stairs, unhopper the first powder, put it back upstairs, THEN bring the second powder back downstairs for the second time, and to the bench. Two powders are never ever ever at my bench at the same time - ever. To me, it's about the same as cleaning a loaded gun. And when I'm loading - like mikld - I have the recipe written down in front of me, and the propellant prominently displayed in front of me - label facing forward.

All this may sound funny; but it's worked for me for about three decades.

Handloading is very rewarding and worth the time IMO. But doing it without established safety habits can have severe consequences. Second chances are rare.
 
That is actually a very dangerous mistake. Do not take it lightly, especially considering that Pyrodex and smokeless powder containers/jugs look nothing alike.

If you are accidentally mixing or confusing powders, eventually, one day, you will probably mix up pistol and rifle powder.

If that happens, you will be jeopardizing life and limb. Here is a thread where a forum member was kind enough to share his mistake, for the benefit of others: https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=553905.

This forum member was severely injured.

Reload safely.
 
You really need a solid fix to this issue.

For example, I have a component storage area and a loading area. When loading, first I document exactly what the load is. Then I move 1 package of each component to the loading area. I confirm my notes to the package and then load the press.

When I run out of something, I get more and check to notes and last package.
 
Using the wrong powder is THE MOST critical mistake you can make in reloading. Sure a double charge cab blow a cylinder on a revolver, but nothing puts your life in danger like pistol in a rifle cartridge. Somehow this problem needs to be solved for good, but I wouldn't know how to address that. I try that mistakes like this could further restrict our hobby down the line. I always wonder how we could idiot proof pistol vs rifle powder, like gas and diesel pumps being different sizes. Maybe our distributors could make a collective to only sell pistol powders in red and rifle powders in green containers or something of that nature, although that still wouldnt be a 100% fix, hopefully it could help down the road.
 
WOW!!!
This could have ended in a REALLY bad way........but glad it didn't.
And I'm glad to see you found your mistake.

But what are you willing to do to make sure this NEVER happens again?

A ton of great advise has been given here. It's to YOUR advantage to incorporate this into your reloading regimen.

Attention to detail & a "no hurry" attitude will serve well in keeping you (and those around you) safe.
 
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