Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading

Reloading problems

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Kendahl:
My reloading problems appear to be solved. As jthhapkido suggested, the ignition problem was caused by high primers. The culprit was my old Lee Auto-Prime. It was made of pot metal and had developed a crack. Squeezing the handle opened up the crack instead of fully seating the primer. I now have a Hornady priming tool.

As was recommended, I replaced the recoil spring and the springs in my old magazines. The stubby 200 grain LSWCs are feeding reliably again.

However, I think I will standardize on Berry's plated 185 grain HBRN bullets. They feed as well as factory FMJ ball ammunition when loaded to the same overall length and recoil is much lower. I wondered if a 16 pound recoil spring would be too strong for my light loads but it hasn't been a problem. If plated bullets are less accurate than LSWC or FMJ RN bullets, I can't shoot small enough groups to tell.

My search for a 9 mm pistol is ended. On Friday, I picked up a ported S&W M&P 9L from Guns Unlimited. Having a Nebraska CHP saved me the wait for the store to do a NICS check. Yet another reason to get your CHP. Now, I need to find a holster.

I'm nearing the end of my supply of Unique powder. One of Unique's good points is that my old Lyman book shows loads with it for .38 special, .357 magnum, 9 mm and .45 ACP. Another is that you use enough of it that it's easy to spot a double charge. Its principal drawback is that it leaves a great deal of soot in the gun. Is there a cleaner alternative with the same good points? Except for .357, all of my loads would be fairly light.

unfy:
I still have a fair amount of my unique. I like it other than how smokey it can be.

its been a great all round powder for getting used to reloading diff rounds, but I think I'll go with some less "generic" next go around. Win 231, or auto comp comes to mind. Since yes I will be reloading, I'll go ahead and keep several bottles of powder for specific needs.

Gunscribe:
Unique used to be one of the dirtier powders. More years ago than I care to remember they changed the formula for a more cleaner burning product. It would be wise to check current reloading data if you buy new Unique.

I use the Berry's 185 HBRN for my 45 caliber Glocks. The one thing to remember and you mentioned it yourself; These 185 grain bullets must be loaded to the COL for a 230 bullet.

Winchester primers are suppose to be about the softest primer made. I had to use them in my light spring cowboy action revolvers for reliable ignition.

The Gold Cup was Colts answer to the modifications many of us were making to the standard Colt 1911 back in the day i.e. Smith & Wesson sights etc.. The Gold Cup was introduced as a competition firearm to tighter tolerances than standard 1911's specifically for the 230 grain FMJ Hardball. Like a lot of 1911's they need a modicum of gunsmithing to reliably feed anything else, especially the flying ashtrays (Hollow Points) that some companies market today.

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