I'm reloading 9mm with acc #5 shooting 115 grain berrys plated bullets. ive varied the grains from 4.5 grains almost to 7. ive also varied the overall case length and ive tried crimping and non crimped and still will not cycle my guns ive shot the ammo in both a glock and a cz so I know its not the gun. a couple of the rounds have tried to eject but just get jammed. any ideas of what to try would be great.
reloads not cycling
- Thread starter ESain
- Start date
Welcome to TFL. Wish it was under better circumstances.
I'm not going to be a lot of help because I don't load much 9mm (I do load 9mm, but I have a lot of factory ammo; I only shoot 9mm for carry practice, yadda yadda yadda . . .). But I can at least get this pointed in the right direction:
I e-mailed Berry's a couple years back and they sent me their recommended OAL data for all their bullet profiles. For their 115 FP, its 1.060". For their RN and HBRN, it's 1.130". Now the perfect OAL for your gun(s) may be something different. But considering the situation, I'd use Berry's recommendation until the problem is corrected.
I checked my load data, and I have never loaded Berry's 115's (RN) with AA#5. I use both, but just never in combination. I generally load 115's with AA#2. Again, I haven't loaded a lot of 9, but I've never run into cycling problems. Generally, 9mm's will cycle if the ammo is anywhere near the ballpark of being correct.
My only other suggestion is to make sure your guns are clean. And make sure you're keeping a good firm grip on the gun - "limp wristing" can cause cycling problems.
It would be good to get additional information too. How often is there a cycling failure? Evey shot? Pics of your loaded ammo may be helpful too. Any other details may be useful.
I'm not going to be a lot of help because I don't load much 9mm (I do load 9mm, but I have a lot of factory ammo; I only shoot 9mm for carry practice, yadda yadda yadda . . .). But I can at least get this pointed in the right direction:
I e-mailed Berry's a couple years back and they sent me their recommended OAL data for all their bullet profiles. For their 115 FP, its 1.060". For their RN and HBRN, it's 1.130". Now the perfect OAL for your gun(s) may be something different. But considering the situation, I'd use Berry's recommendation until the problem is corrected.
I checked my load data, and I have never loaded Berry's 115's (RN) with AA#5. I use both, but just never in combination. I generally load 115's with AA#2. Again, I haven't loaded a lot of 9, but I've never run into cycling problems. Generally, 9mm's will cycle if the ammo is anywhere near the ballpark of being correct.
My only other suggestion is to make sure your guns are clean. And make sure you're keeping a good firm grip on the gun - "limp wristing" can cause cycling problems.
It would be good to get additional information too. How often is there a cycling failure? Evey shot? Pics of your loaded ammo may be helpful too. Any other details may be useful.
4.5 grains of Accurate No. 5 is way below minimum for a plated 115. Accurate says 5.6 is the minimum. 6.6 is max.
Taper crimp only with 9mm and only enough to hold the bullet in place. Too long an OAL will cause feeding issues. 1.130" is what Accurate suggests. Only ever load cast 121 grain TC's at 1.169" myself. Never had any issues.
Taper crimp only with 9mm and only enough to hold the bullet in place. Too long an OAL will cause feeding issues. 1.130" is what Accurate suggests. Only ever load cast 121 grain TC's at 1.169" myself. Never had any issues.
Yep, that's the problem. You're loaded way down. Figure target loads are normally about 15% slower in velocity than standard loads. (Remember that energy is proportional to the square of velocity, so this is a 38% drop in energy and recoil will go down similarly.) For 115 grain bullets, 1162 fps is the maximum load called for by Accurate, so you want to be aiming at something like 990 fps, but instead your load is going to be about 830 fps (these velocities assume a 4" barrel). It's just too much reduction in pressure for that powder to burn efficiently and, as you've found, too little energy to operate the gun.
Average Joe
New member
If you have loaded up to 7.0 grains and still can't get the gun to cycle, then you have other problems that need to be resolved first before you proceed.
( if 7 grains is what you meant and not 4.7 grains.) other wise start at 5.6 and work up, but do not exceed the max of 6.6 grains.
( if 7 grains is what you meant and not 4.7 grains.) other wise start at 5.6 and work up, but do not exceed the max of 6.6 grains.
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Are your charges weighed on a scale or just using a measure / dropper?
OAL is a bit on the long side but at max you should be getting ejection. From what you have said you seem to be short stroking the slides. Have you been full length sizing your brass?
Do your rounds pass the push test? As in do you have adequate neck tension?
Edit to add: Do you have lots of unburnt powder in the gun from the failed rounds?
OAL is a bit on the long side but at max you should be getting ejection. From what you have said you seem to be short stroking the slides. Have you been full length sizing your brass?
Do your rounds pass the push test? As in do you have adequate neck tension?
Edit to add: Do you have lots of unburnt powder in the gun from the failed rounds?
I had similar problems with my Beretta 92FS. Surprisingly not with my H&K USP. (Both 9mm). The beretta is very picky. The H&K eats everything. I was using to much crimp. Once I put on a minimum (very very light) crimp my problem went away.
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Gregory Gauvin
New member
Fire a factory round. Fire your reload. Is your reload have significant decreased felt recoil?
The length of the 115 grain JHP bullets I load is .550". I load them to 1.125" COL. Many 115 FMJ bullets may measure .580". Seating them at 1.155" may work well, as several manufacturers use that OAL.
I run HS-6, which is a similar burn rate and charge / velocity compared to #5. With 7 grains (listed as a MAX charge for both powders) should definitely cycle. I started my load data at 6.7 grns and felt recoil was right there with WWB rated at 1190 ft/sec.
I strongly recommend you double check your scale calibration and verify the throw weight and make sure your cases are being fully sized. I do not recommend running a crimp.
The length of the 115 grain JHP bullets I load is .550". I load them to 1.125" COL. Many 115 FMJ bullets may measure .580". Seating them at 1.155" may work well, as several manufacturers use that OAL.
I run HS-6, which is a similar burn rate and charge / velocity compared to #5. With 7 grains (listed as a MAX charge for both powders) should definitely cycle. I started my load data at 6.7 grns and felt recoil was right there with WWB rated at 1190 ft/sec.
I strongly recommend you double check your scale calibration and verify the throw weight and make sure your cases are being fully sized. I do not recommend running a crimp.
Tagged to follow because there is something amiss here . I load the bullet but not the powder and based on others statements on powder charge . It sounds to me there is no reason the powder charge alone is the issue . There is something else going on here .
If the gun cycles with factory ammo and not reloads with close to +p charges . The charges are not likely correct or there is some other major issue .
I must be lucky , "really" . I've been loading rifle for several years now and going on two years of hand gun loading . I've never had one of my semi autos fail to cycle my reloads . Not even in load development when starting at minimum charges . Might be because I'm a pretty big guy that puts a pretty stiff grip to my hand guns .
Anyways this thread for what ever reason has really peaked my interest . I really want to understand what's going on here
If the gun cycles with factory ammo and not reloads with close to +p charges . The charges are not likely correct or there is some other major issue .
I must be lucky , "really" . I've been loading rifle for several years now and going on two years of hand gun loading . I've never had one of my semi autos fail to cycle my reloads . Not even in load development when starting at minimum charges . Might be because I'm a pretty big guy that puts a pretty stiff grip to my hand guns .
Anyways this thread for what ever reason has really peaked my interest . I really want to understand what's going on here
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This is interesting. I didn't catch that he'd got up to nearly 7.0. In theory, we'd expect that to work.
I'm starting to wonder if it's a lot problem. If I use the pressures published in Accurate's data, I get 6.7 grains giving 35,917 psi. But if I run it in QuickLOAD, whose author measured a purchased quantity of another lot of the same powder, I get only 25,133 psi using a case with 15 grains case water overflow capacity (large side, but not out of the question). Basically, that's a starting load pressure, which some guns might not be satisfied with. Anyway, I would try a quicker powder.
I'm starting to wonder if it's a lot problem. If I use the pressures published in Accurate's data, I get 6.7 grains giving 35,917 psi. But if I run it in QuickLOAD, whose author measured a purchased quantity of another lot of the same powder, I get only 25,133 psi using a case with 15 grains case water overflow capacity (large side, but not out of the question). Basically, that's a starting load pressure, which some guns might not be satisfied with. Anyway, I would try a quicker powder.
If it were me, I think I would try another powder right now as well. Better yet, make up some dummy rounds and manually cycle them through your gun. My dummy loads will cycle while working actions easily and slowly as well as quickly and with force.
For working up a load with a new gun or bullet design, or both, I make up some dummy rounds. Crimp groove usually determines length unless it's a plated or fmj. Then I do research and shoot for a certain overall length. I do a plunk test in the barrel or barrels that I plan to shoot it in. Then I load a magazine and cycle the gun manually to make sure dummy rounds feed, eject, etc..
Then, with components picked out, I usually use CCI 500 primers, I work up some rounds. Usually 5 rounds at starting load and 5 more at each 1/10 grain increase until I have 25 rounds. So if I start at 4.0 grains (an example), I would have 5 rounds each at 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4. Usually, I'm not at max load but maybe halfway there. I then shoot for function test and accuracy.
I realize that I may do this different than some or am going over basic load info, but I would change powder and start again. Then, if it kept happening, I know to look elsewhere in the process.
For working up a load with a new gun or bullet design, or both, I make up some dummy rounds. Crimp groove usually determines length unless it's a plated or fmj. Then I do research and shoot for a certain overall length. I do a plunk test in the barrel or barrels that I plan to shoot it in. Then I load a magazine and cycle the gun manually to make sure dummy rounds feed, eject, etc..
Then, with components picked out, I usually use CCI 500 primers, I work up some rounds. Usually 5 rounds at starting load and 5 more at each 1/10 grain increase until I have 25 rounds. So if I start at 4.0 grains (an example), I would have 5 rounds each at 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4. Usually, I'm not at max load but maybe halfway there. I then shoot for function test and accuracy.
I realize that I may do this different than some or am going over basic load info, but I would change powder and start again. Then, if it kept happening, I know to look elsewhere in the process.
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Average Joe
New member
Just a thought, are your cases 9x19 ? Makarov cases are 9x18 and will load and shoot, but will not reliably recycle in a 9mm handgun. You never said what brass you were using, so we need to know... just throwing that out in case you missed something.