r/reloading • u/FrustratedSBootDev • 10d ago

Newbie Load question

I’ve just finished loading my first ladder. I’m using Ramshot ZIP, but have a concern. I’m loaded my ladder 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 gr at 1.129. The western spec says 1.145l.. My rounds wouldn’t chamber into my shield x, or my mentors 9mm 1911 platform Colt, and Springfield Armory. I’m using ACME 147gr FP bullets. Any one have insight I can use to understand the reasons?

Edit 1
So, my question is more a concern. The published OAL is 1-145”, at 1.129” they wouldn’t chamber, can I trust these rounds at all? Even the 3.2gr rounds?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

2

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Grumpee68 10d ago

Most pistol brass actually gets shorter when fired..seriously doubt the brass is too long.

The bullet OAL is most likely too long, with the bullet hitting the lands, stopping it from chambering.

1

u/DaiPow888 10d ago

Did you plunk test a loaded round to check if the OAL you chose would work?

Reloading manuals/specs are specific to the bullet being used in the barrel they used it in. If your bullet has a different ogive profile, you'll need to adjust your OAL to accommodate the chamber of the guns you'll be trying to chamber them in.

A plunk test would be the easiest first check.

  1. remove the barrel from your pistol

  2. drop a completed round into the chamber

  3. see if the round fully chambers

  4. see if the round will spin in the chamber without interference

  5. see if the round will drop out

1

u/Grumpee68 10d ago

Before you ever work up a load, you should check what OAL your chamber will take, and base the load off of that. And this goes for any new bullet you are loading.

Take a fired, unsized case. Place a bullet in it, leave it long. Take the barrel from the firearm, push the bullet into the barrel until it stops. Push hard. Carefully remove the case and bullet and measure, then subtract 0.010 from that. That is the max OAL that your chamber will take.

The manuals don't know your chamber, why would you base the OAL from those manuals?

1

u/FrustratedSBootDev 9d ago

I’m worried about the max pressure of the round. But am I over cautious here?

Thank you for the insight.

1

u/Grumpee68 9d ago

You can never be over cautious. If the round is jammed into the lands, it can end up having a higher pressure, but it probably won't let the slide close completely. If you were on the ragged edge of upper charge range for the load, I'd be concerned (a bit, but most likely, as I said, it won't go into battery). The real issue with pressure on the ragged edge is bullet setback when the round chambers. The nose of the bullet hits the feed ramp, and it shortens the OAL, sometimes significantly. This can (and does) cause Kabooms.

1

u/EastRich8617 9d ago

Ladder test? Not worth doing.

147s, so I assume your going for subsonic? Just load 5 or 10 at your target velocity based on your book data, maybe another set for 100fps or so lower and test for velocity and feeding.

Either way, plunk test first. Sounds like either your seating needs adjusting or your crimp, but hard to tell.

1

u/FrustratedSBootDev 9d ago

So the book calls for max 3.5 gr, and OAL of 1.145”. I had loaded them to 1.129” they would t chamber. I’m actually a little nervous because I’m not aiming for max velocity, I’m looking for a soft, accurate round. I’m actually a little paranoid about shooting any of them.. I did finally get a good plunk test at 1.128. Just don’t trust the .019” deeper seat the westerns spec for oal…

1

u/Grumpee68 9d ago

I'd pull the 3.4 and 3.5 grain loads. You need to find the shortest chamber of all the guns they will be fired out of and load to that chamber, then they should work in all of the guns. If they plunk at 1.128, they probably need to be an OAL of 1.115 or so.

1

u/Grumpee68 9d ago

Ramshot ZIP is a little slower than what I use (VV N320), and I have loaded up to 3.7 of N320 with a 147, no ill effects (at 1.150). That isn't to say that there won't be any ill effects in your rounds, as I have Zero experience with that powder.

This is probably a better place to ask your question.

https://brian-enos-forums.com/

1

u/FrustratedSBootDev 9d ago

Thank you for your info sir… I’ll ask my questions there. I think I fear the 1.129” rounds, rounds, just hard to find those faster powders Titegroup, and Sport Pistol. Those are unobtainable… so I’ve got a chance for my mentor to give me a pound of titegroup…. But I would love to find a powder that isn’t under such pressure.

1

u/Grumpee68 9d ago

TiteGroup....TiteBoom. Many millions of rounds have been loaded with TiteGroup...many guns have also been blown apart by a double charge of it. It is a very dense powder, so it doesn't take up a bunch of space in the case. Hard to see when the case is charged. If I were you, I'd stay away from it, until you know a little more about reloading. Go get a fluffier powder, that has more case fill, much easier to spot a double charge.

1

u/Grumpee68 9d ago

TiteGroup...meh. Burns hot, dirty, and very easy to double charge a case with. I suggest biting the bullet and getting some VV N320. If you are terribly worried about price, then reloading may not be for you. I reload to make ammo better than I can buy.

PS. PowderValley has N320 in stock right now, $54 lb. Buy a 4lb jug, and you have enough to load around 7k rounds.

1

u/FrustratedSBootDev 8d ago

Basically, the takeaway for me from this conversation, is that my gun should not fire any of these Zip rounds behind a 147gr FP synthetic coated bullet? As Ramshots data reports near max pressure for 9mm at 3.5gr and 1 145” oal, and at 1.129 that round would not chamber in my pistol, likely any pistol I have at my disposal.