Trouble with malfunctions - Glock 19

[ke6igz]

I just bought a brand new Glock 19. I am having problems with feeding malfunctions. I am new to loading 9mm and Glocks. However I have loaded other pistol cartridges like 45 ACP for years without problems. Here is my load:

Xtreme Plated 124 gn. round nose bullet
5.6 gn of Accurate Arms #5 powder (starting load)
Winchester small pistol primer
1.160" OAL
Taper crimp with Lee taper crimp die.

I do spot check some of my loads by dropping them in the chamber of the removed barrel of the Glock. They seem to slide in and fit properly.

I get failure to eject, failure to feed and double feeds with this load. This happens on about 10 out of 100 rounds randomly. However I have shot some Federal white box 115 gn loads with no problems at all.

I am thinking that upping the load might solve the problem. I don't know what else could be the problem. When firing my loads and the Federal loads the recoil seems similar. Primers both have the similar pressure signs.

Do Glocks prefer medium to heavy loads or is there possibly another problem?

[TacticalPlinker]

I don't have a manual handy, but that does not sound right.

I was using 6.0gr load of Power Pistol and Xtreme 115gr bullets, for my 9mm reloads run through my Glock 19.

[HighLander51]

ke6igz, looks like you are in the right range with for the Accurate #5 load data.

124 (P) BERRY RN 5.6 to 6.3 1.160
124 (P) BERRY HBFP 5.0 to 5.8 1.060
124 (P) RAIN HP 5.3 to 6.1 1.110

There could be several things going on, new to Glocks usually limp means wristing, Gen 4 models have a dual recoil spring, meaning hotter loads to cycle, and new to loading could be not enough crimp. I would not go up in weight, but first try a 1/4 turn more crimp. Run 10 or so rounds, then shorten the OAL to 1.120" run 10 or so. The basic rule of thumb is to start with maximum OAL, for 9mm, 1.170" and minimum charge weight, adjusting as you go to get maximum accuracy.

Other powders and bullet weight/types have no bearing on your situation. And you have to be very careful with high density fast burning powders because a change of .5grs can be dramatic. I load 124 Bear Creek Moly on top of 4.0 grs of TiteGroup at 1.10" and guarantee it will cycle your gun as will my other loads of 115 Montana Gold JHP on top of 4.8grs of TiteGroup at 1.170" OAL.

[pagedeveloper]

No 5 124 BRY RN 5.6 977 6.3 1,104 34,132 1.160

Yes, that is what the data on the Accurate site states.

OK.. Sounds like you might want to SPOT check all your rounds to see if you can see a issue. So if check each one, you can get an idea if it is something you are doing. I would load 20 rounds, and check each and everyone. Go to the range, and try those.

[ke6igz]

I would not go up in weight, but first try a 1/4 turn more crimp. Run 10 or so rounds, then shorten the OAL to 1.120" run 10 or so. The basic rule of thumb is to start with maximum OAL, for 9mm, 1.170" and minimum charge weight, adjusting as you go to get maximum accuracy.

Interesting. I have never adjusted OAL on pistol loads.
I figured as long as they fit in the magazine and chambered in the gun I was good to go. I always use the OAL in the load data and changed the powder weight. Going to 1.120 will increase the pressure. Is that what I am trying to achieve with a shorter OAL.

[HighLander51]

Interesting. Going to 1.120 will increase the pressure. Is that what I am trying to achieve with a shorter OAL.

Yes, adding more powder or shortening to OAL will increase pressure, hence increased velocity. You can only measure velocity with a chrono, but in this case it sounds like you just need a little more pop. Remember to give it a little more crimp first and try a few rounds, you don't need to try 20, the dies are moving. If I were running your powder and bullet, my start would be 5 grs at 1.170, does it cycle the gun? Keep going up in powder at .3 grs at a try, until it cycles the gun. Is it accurate to suit you? To me thats about 1" group at 15 yards off hand. Then shorten the OAl by .020" until the accuracy drops off. Then don't change anything.... Fastest way to set crimp is with a factory round of the same bullet weight and style, screw the die down on it, then add 1/4 turn.

The object being to get the most accurate load at the lowest pressure that cycles the (your) gun.

[Lifeon2whls]

To put some perspective on the Glock, with factory ammo, if you hold the gun strong and steady, it will cycle every time. However, if you limp wrist the gun or (as my wife was caught doing) pulling the gun back as she was firing it, you will get FTF and/or FTEs. The gun is picky about having the proper force to push the slide back enough to properly cycle rounds.

[Sunday]

Starting loads leave too little room for function failures especially with a new or improperly lubed pistol. You are doing all the right things. I have found starting loads a waste of time. Max loads aren't needed for target practice and the lower kick leads to better shooting habits and doesn't cause flinchitis.

[ke6igz]

I loaded some with a quarter turn more crimp and 5.9 grains of power. I am going to the range tomorrow to test them. out.

[johnny1290]

My experience with my new glock 26 was that it had lots of feed/eject problems.

Everybody told me I was limp wristing.

I don't know what the proper term is but I locked the slide back for a couple days and used some slightly hotter ammo and no more problems.

Now I've reduced the charge to minimum and it works perfectly.

I think the limp wristing thing is over diagnosed. The recoil spring is just tight brand new(mines the double recoil of course), at least IME.

It's a glock, it'll be fine.

Now, about that brass to face problem...

[ke6igz]

I have increases the charge to 5.9 gn. and increased the crimp by 1/4 turn. Now I have had only one malfunction in the last 200 rounds. I have also bought a case gauge and started checking every round. I have found a couple with a burr left on the rim by the extractor. These would no fit into the case gauge. I used a small file to fix the burr.

I believe the problem is solved. Thanks for all the advise.