new reloader, failures to eject & feed

[ahren111]

I got off work early today so I figured it would be a good day to try out my first ever reloads. I loaded up 40 x-treme 115gr 9mm plated bullets with 2 different powders W231 & Titegroup. I tried two different OALs 1.12 & 1.15. I can't remember the exact amount but I had about 5 failures to feed & 5 or 6 failures to eject. It happened with both lengths & both powders. Any ideas what Im doing wrong? here's a few pics. Thanks in advance for the help.

[Rotting]

What was your charge weight with each powder?

[joelogic]

FTF are usually OAL and or not enough crimp.
FTE can be too light of a charge.

Does the gun shoot factory ammo fine?
What charge are you using?
Do all the rounds fit in a case gauge?

[twoforme2]

Ever have the problem with factory ammo?
How much powder did you use? Maybe not enough to cycle correctly?
Case length before loading?
Where did the brass you used come from?
Many Variables come into play. Tough to answer your question without more questions.

[ahren111]

No problems with factory ammo so far but the gun a FNP-9 is pretty new, about 200 rounds through it. I loaded 4.4gr of w231 & 3.9 of Titegroup. Looking at the data I have those are pretty light loads. I was sort of thinking that might be the cause of the FTEs? Guess I was a little nervous these being my first loads. The brass I bought, is once fired Federal with a length of .746-.749. I dont have a case gauge guess I'll be picking one up. I put a pretty light crimp should I try a little more?

[Rotting]

No problems with factory ammo so far but the gun a FNP-9 is pretty new, about 200 rounds through it. I loaded 4.4gr of w231 & 3.9 of Titegroup. Looking at the data I have those are pretty light loads. I was sort of thinking that might be the cause of the FTEs? Guess I was a little nervous these being my first loads. The brass I bought, is once fired Federal with a length of .746-.749. I dont have a case gauge guess I'll be picking one up. I put a pretty light crimp should I try a little more?

Try bringing the charge weights up a few tenths.

Next, take the barrel out of your FNP. After you assemble a round (right after crimping), drop the round into the barrel. It should slide and "clink" into the chamber. Make sure it goes FULLY into the chamber. If the round "hangs" (doesn't drop all the way into the barrel), add a touch more crimp, rinse and repeat until the round drops and clinks. If you need reference, drop a factory round into the barrel and note the position at which the rim rests in relation to the feedramp--then make your handloads do the same thing!

Another question, what dies are you using? This is potentially irrelevant, but I have heard of people having problems applying the "right" crimp with Hornady auto-pistol dies, as they use a roll instead of a taper crimp.

[Bill Steele]

4.7grs W231 and 4.5grs Titegroup are the start loads according to Hodgdon's website for 115gr jacketed bullet. I would use the above for my next batch and not go over 5.1grs for W231 and 4.8gr for Titegroup (according to Hodgdon's website).

Your OAL's are fine for feeding, it was likely the light powder charge causing your problems. Hodgdon specifies 1.125" as the minimum OAL for the above max charges.

[Rotting]

Here a picture illustrating paragraph 2 in my previous post.

[joelogic]

As far as the fail to feeds, how were you checking your rounds without a case gauge to see if you crimped enough?

You crimp to remove the bell so you could check the rounds with your chamber or calipers.

[ahren111]

Try bringing the charge weights up a few tenths.

Next, take the barrel out of your FNP. After you assemble a round (right after crimping), drop the round into the barrel. It should slide and "clink" into the chamber. Make sure it goes FULLY into the chamber. If the round "hangs" (doesn't drop all the way into the barrel), add a touch more crimp, rinse and repeat until the round drops and clinks. If you need reference, drop a factory round into the barrel and note the position at which the rim rests in relation to the feedramp--then make your handloads do the same thing!

Another question, what dies are you using? This is potentially irrelevant, but I have heard of people having problems applying the "right" crimp with Hornady auto-pistol dies, as they use a roll instead of a taper crimp.

I'll load a few more & try this, thanks. I'm using Lee dies.

4.7grs W231 and 4.5grs Titegroup are the start loads according to Hodgdon's website for 115gr jacketed bullet. I would use the above for my next batch and not go over 5.1grs for W231 and 4.8gr for Titegroup (according to Hodgdon's website).

Your OAL's are fine for feeding, it was likely the light powder charge causing your problems. Hodgdon specifies 1.125" as the minimum OAL for the above max charges.

I'll definitely bump my charge up. The data I have gave me 3.8-5.3 for w231 & 3.7-4.5 for Titegroup.

[ahren111]

As far as the fail to feeds, how were you checking your rounds without a case gauge to see if you crimped enough?

You crimp to remove the bell so you could check the rounds with your chamber or calipers.

I wasn't sure I needed to check the crimp I talked to a few people that said they dont even crimp their 9mm rounds. Others said put a very light crimp specially with plated bullets, so you dont crack the plating. I just followed the instructions for the crimping die & what it said for a light crimp.

[Bill Steele]

I wasn't sure I needed to check the crimp I talked to a few people that said they dont even crimp their 9mm rounds. Others said put a very light crimp specially with plated bullets, so you dont crack the plating. I just followed the instructions for the crimping die & what it said for a light crimp.

On the crimp, all you have to do with your 9mm is take the belling back out, making the case straight again. Any more than that and you can start affecting accuracy.

[Munk]

On the crimp, all you have to do with your 9mm is take the belling back out, making the case straight again. Any more than that and you can start affecting accuracy.

anymore and it won't headspace right. The headspacing indexes off of the case mouth for a 9mm. You want almost zero crimp.


to the OP, Check your charge weight. Make sure you're using an appropriate charge for the bullet weight and design you've chosen. It looks like you're using too little powder.

[Agustav]

Did you use a powder drop or mesured every charge manually?

I used to have this problem when I first started reloading for 9mm. As it turn out the powder drop is too erratic when the new (spread of more then 1 gr). After using the powder drop for a while the drop becomes more consistent and the problem goes away but not entirely...

Also, as others have stated, check your crimp. I didn't on my first batch based on other's recommandation (357 mag). The rounds wouldn't even fit in the cylinder!

[ahren111]

Here a picture illustrating paragraph 2 in my previous post.

I tried this today & my rounds are fine, they look just like factory loads. I guess I'll increase my crimp a hair, up my powder & see what happens.

Did you use a powder drop or mesured every charge manually?

I used to have this problem when I first started reloading for 9mm. As it turn out the powder drop is too erratic when the new (spread of more then 1 gr). After using the powder drop for a while the drop becomes more consistent and the problem goes away but not entirely...

Also, as others have stated, check your crimp. I didn't on my first batch based on other's recommandation (357 mag). The rounds wouldn't even fit in the cylinder!

I used a powder drop but I was checking it often & it was always +-.1gn