case issue? or new reloader issue?

Desolo · July 27 2014 07:04:56 PM MDT

Hello, I just joined up and had a quick question for you all....

Yesterday I went shooting with a friend of mine and took my Para LS Hunter with us to shoot, and some of my reloads to feed it.

All in all we fired a bit over 300 rounds of ammo, and had probably 4 instance of malfunction (not including the rear sight deciding this was the day for the non-loctited screws to loosen lol) , all of which were the slide not going completely into battery, it would be juuust far enough to not allow the disconecter reset, and a light press of the thumb would put it foreward into battery, each of the 4 times it happened I inspected the rounds and other then a couple small bumps and what not on the cast lead projectile they looked fine, after they were placed back into the mag, and they went through fine.

I thought to look at the headstamp on the offending cases after the first time (should have thought about it, but I didn't ${$default_embarrassed_smiley}$ ) and all of the three I looked at the headstamps of were of pmc make, could the cases be "sticking" because I didn't size them well enough?

They seemed to fit fine in the chamber after examining them.... I know I probably am worrying for nothing, but I'm considering seprating out my pmc brass this go around and seeing if this malfuction happens again.

The_Shadow · July 27 2014 07:28:34 PM MDT

Desolo, do you pass-through size your brass? If not read through this section, there is a video also...
http://10mm-firearms.com/reloading-10mm-ammo/pass-thru-sizing-using-lee-fcd/

Desolo · July 27 2014 07:41:07 PM MDT

No, I've not tried pass through sizing yet.... I've just been using a lee sizing die that came in the 40/10mm die set, I've been using my factory crimp die to crimp the rounds after using the seating die set to only seat the bullet. Is it worth getting an "extra" fcd and using it for full length sizing?

The_Shadow · July 27 2014 08:02:44 PM MDT

You can use the FCD you have, just remove the guts, then all you need is a push pin, some guys have used a brass casing (so it fits the shell holder) and fill it with a piece of steel rod placed inside as their push pin.

Having a case gauge will definitely show it you have issues, but using the pass through method they will fit the gauge.

Some care with regards to cast bullets is just enough case mouth flair to accept the bullet, seat it to depth without any crimp being applied (otherwise the bullet can snag the casing a shave bullet material, that can build up on the edge of the case mouth or roll inside increasing diameter and headspacing issue). Crimp in a separate step to finish. These are the things that will insure 100% feeding reliability.

Good luck!

Desolo · July 27 2014 08:30:51 PM MDT

I made sure to tinker with the case flair and to make sure not to shave the lead bullets, and using the fcd on a nice light setting just to make sure it is all even, must have made 2-3 dummies just to take apart and look at the markings left on the lead, until I got none other then scuff type from the puller...

So I take the center out of the fcd, and make an insert of some type to just press it through the carbide ring? Sounds simple enough, ill have to investigate this, although I've been doing my loading on a lee handheld press, so I'm not sure how well I could do this with that.

Desolo · July 27 2014 11:38:47 PM MDT

I figured it out, I dissassembled the fcd, and then took apart my ram prime primer carrier, and used the base with nothing else in it to press the empties through the carbide ring, this isn't to bad, just takes some elbow grease ${$default_smiley_smiley}$

tommac919 · July 28 2014 06:38:09 AM MDT

"Having a case gauge will definitely show it you have issues"

The min/max gauge is prob the best $10 I've spent... Picked on up on Ebay and it catches ALL the case problems.
Of course a barrel will work too ( use the tightest you have ) but I can leave it on the bench and use it more often due to same.
I just do a random bullet now and then, but when sizing some brass check more often.

gandog56 · July 28 2014 06:41:28 AM MDT

If I pick up or trade for some new 10mm brass that's already been fired, I run them all through a Lee Bulge Buster setup in case they were fired by a gun that did not have a fully supported chamber. I don't like Glock smilies.

sqlbullet · July 28 2014 07:59:53 AM MDT

My Para is sensitive to COAL. How long where these loaded?

In mine, anything over 1.250" overall will result in the types of stoppages you are describing. There are some bullet profiles that are more forgiving than others. But in general I have just landed on loading to 1.250 and calling it good.

Desolo · July 28 2014 06:29:33 PM MDT

I was aiming for as as long a coal as I could as I understand it is supposed to keep pressure down, started at 1.260 on the first batch I did, backed it off a bit with this batch, was aiming for 1.255.

The offending rounds were truncated cones, never had an issue with the rnfp, so perhaps I am loading them too long for the tc projectiles?

Ill double check with an alternate set of calipers later to be sure I've got them where I THINK I've got them.

I've pass through sized all the brass Id reclaimed from my last shooting session, and got done depriming them in the sizing/depriming die last night, after I've loaded a few from that batch ill see about comparing them to any of the pmc cased rounds out of the previous batch that weren't fired this time, maybe the pass through sizing will have made a difference in the end of the cases.

Sqlbullet, what model para 10mm do you have? Has it had any other particular quirks? Does the coal you prescribe apply to all bullet weights and profiles? What about 220's? I've been considering loading some of those in the future.

The_Shadow · July 28 2014 06:42:50 PM MDT

Just a side note see you are shooting cast bullets, check the end of chamber cut in your barrel. Recently I found a small bit of alloy that got stuck to the headspacing cut and that presented a failure to return to battery and full lockup on my G-30 using cast bullets. Sometimes it can be the simplest things that make us scratch our heads and say WTH. ${$default_huh_smiley}$

Based on many pull-downs, I have seen many cartridges loaded to lengths shorter than 1.2500".
Just today the Federal XM1003A 190gr measured 1.2485" I have measured some stuff at 1.2420" like the DT 200 & 220 gr WFN cast.

Desolo · July 28 2014 07:58:31 PM MDT

This DID start to happen after it had some rounds through it, I hadn't thought of that!
I know some of the pmc cases went though the pass through a bit more stiffly then others, I wonder if it could be a combo of a tight chamber that was fouled AND brass that wasn't sized to the base....it was atleast 100 rounds in before this started so it had certainly gotten fouling built up a little.

gandog56 · July 29 2014 07:01:19 AM MDT

I don't like exposed lead in my 10mm. I always use powder coated like Blue Bullets or Precision Bullets. Here was my last batch of 10mm/.40 cal using Blue Bullets and nickel plated cases. Aren't they cute?

gandog56 · July 29 2014 07:02:49 AM MDT

By the way, with 200 grain bullets I do use a COL of 1.260". They work in all my 10mm pistols, but I don't have a Para.

sqlbullet · July 29 2014 11:48:26 AM MDT

I have a P16-40 that I converted to 10mm. It has no other quirks.

Yes, TC or SWC bullet styles are far more sensitive, as well as any RN or HP design that has the ogive starting much past the mouth of the case. It really seems to be an issue with the shoulder of the loaded round being over 1.05" more than anything else.

I run a bunch of 175 grain SWC, but have had the issue with other HP and RFN bullets from time to time. If I keep my COAL below 1.250, I never have issues.