9mm reloads sticking in chamber.

[40n45]

Hello,

I have been reading the forum for a long time but never had a problem reloading with my RL550b until recently starting to reload 9mm. I have a G17 with a lone wolf barrel so I can shoot lead. I am only used to reloading MGJHP in my G35 so 9mm is new to me. I am using 4.0 grains of TG behind a 115 grn. LRN. My load data lists an OAL of 1.100. Compared to factory ammo tha is a lot shorter. I have several issues however when attempting to extract and clear the weapon with a loaded round in the chamber . The round is very hard to extract and invariably I end up separating the round in the chamber with powder spilled in the chamber area and having to clear the bullet head from the barrel.. I am pretty sure it not a seating or crimping problem but not positive. With an OAL of 1.100 could it still be to long and the bullet head is engaging the rifling. I have examined the stuck bullet heads and cannot see any conspicuous marks. At 1.100 I do notice with the 115grn. LRN there isn't much distance left between the case neck and the bullet head lube ring. This forum is a wonderful tool and I hope there is a solution or did I error on purchasing 4000 bullet heads.

[bradthegunmaniac]

Did you try to just drop a round in the barrel? It should fall right out if you tip it upside down.

[mknpwr]

Shorten the OAL to 1.095 and do the drop test as noted above. FWIW I shoot Missouri Bullet 125grain LRN in my Glock 17 with the stock barrel. In the 3700 rounds I have put through it I have had no leading issues. Between the 19 and the 17 I have about 8000 rounds down range no problems.

[The_Vigilante]

You don't indicate which bullets you are reloading for your G17 but I suspect the ogive of the bullet is the culprit meaning you are going to have to shorten your OAL. Shorten it until the finished cartridge drops in and out of the chamber of your barrel freely.

[noylj]

What is a bullet "head?" Is the bullet separating? Can you see rifling marks on the bullet part that was stuck in the barrel?

Dropping an inert round in the barrel to determine appropriate COL has worked for at least 60+ years. The round should drop in the barrel and the case head should be flush to just below where the breech will contact the barrel. Then, the inert round should just fall out of the barrel when the barrel in inverted.

Does the bullet have a very round nose (rather than a more typical parabolic-curve ogive)?

If the bullet is jammed in the lede/rifling, then your COL is too long. If the bullet isn't jammed in the lede/rifling, then you probably have not removed enough of the case mouth flare/bell.

If you didn't start with enough case mouth flare/bell, you could have scrapped some lead off the bullet and it is jammed around the case mouth. Look at your round's profile and be sure that the flare is gone and there is no lead sort of "packed" around the case mouth.

If your round, at 1.100", is jammed in the lede/rifling, then your chamber is too tight and you should contact LW.

In all my 9x19s, a L-RN is generally good to go at 1.150". I generally have a COL of 1.080" for L-RNFP bullets.

[Greg Bell]

Good info so far, and as an FYI the LW barrels have a reputation of being reamed a bit short.

[gng4life]

One thing to remember is that while you are shortening the round, be mindful of the powder charge. The pressure is going to increase as you shorten the OAL. Being minor loads, you should be okay but you can never tell. Just something else to think about as you are troubleshooting. Great info listed already...

[40n45]

First of all thanks to all of you who responded to my problem. I had to close shop for a few days so I won't be able to check anything until Jan.7th. After reading your posts however, I am noticing that the Missouri 115 LRN 9mm Parabellum bullet I am using has a more rounder head than some of the others so it just might be engaging the rifling and shortening the OAL cautiously might be my answer. I also understand about being mindful of increased case pressure and backing down the powder. I have always used TG or Clays and I am reading more about N320. . I am just interested in knocking down steel so if anyone has a better setup for 9mm I know how to listen.

"..............Thanks for all of the advice so far and will keep you posted soon.

[Babaganoosh]

First of all thanks to all of you who responded to my problem. I had to close shop for a few days so I won't be able to check anything until Jan.7th. After reading your posts however, I am noticing that the Missouri 115 LRN 9mm Parabellum bullet I am using has a more rounder head than some of the others so it just might be engaging the rifling and shortening the OAL cautiously might be my answer. I also understand about being mindful of increased case pressure and backing down the powder. I have always used TG or Clays and I am reading more about N320. . I am just interested in knocking down steel so if anyone has a better setup for 9mm I know how to listen.

"..............Thanks for all of the advice so far and will keep you posted soon.

If you are interested in knocking down steel then go with a 124 or even better a 147. You can go with a softer load for less recoil yet still knock the plates down better. Win/win in my opinion.

[40n45]

I have finally gotten around to do some in depth checking of my sticking rounds. It appears that the ogive of the 115gr. LRN is rounder than that of a let's say a 147gr. FMJ round and consequently contacts the end of the chamber. It was mentioned earlier that LW barrels are suspected of possibly being a little tight or short in the chamber area. I contacted LW about my issue and they assured me that their barrels are cut to factory specs, however if I were to send them the barrel, three of my rounds and $35 they would recut my barrel to fit. I didn't quite like this idea. I have no other issues with the barrel as it seems to digest FMJ's ok. I got ahold of another drop in 9mm aftermarket barrel made by KKM to use as a comparison. The KKM barrel had no problem with digesting any of the LRN or any FMJ's. All of my LRN dropped fully into the KKM barrel chamber to the proper depth and easily fell out when the barrel was inverted. ....I would like to thank everyone who offered their advice.

[LPatterson]

I have finally gotten around to do some in depth checking of my sticking rounds. It appears that the ogive of the 115gr. LRN is rounder than that of a let's say a 147gr. FMJ round and consequently contacts the end of the chamber. It was mentioned earlier that LW barrels are suspected of possibly being a little tight or short in the chamber area. I contacted LW about my issue and they assured me that their barrels are cut to factory specs, however if I were to send them the barrel, three of my rounds and $35 they would recut my barrel to fit. I didn't quite like this idea. I have no other issues with the barrel as it seems to digest FMJ's ok. I got ahold of another drop in 9mm aftermarket barrel made by KKM to use as a comparison. The KKM barrel had no problem with digesting any of the LRN or any FMJ's. All of my LRN dropped fully into the KKM barrel chamber to the proper depth and easily fell out when the barrel was inverted. ....I would like to thank everyone who offered their advice.

You have discovered what 100's of other people on this forum have learned Lone, Wolf barrels are cheapier for a reason. Remember the old saying "You get what you pay for".

[Flexmoney]

Hello,

I have been reading the forum for a long time but never had a problem reloading with my RL550b until recently starting to reload 9mm. I have a G17 with a lone wolf barrel so I can shoot lead. I am only used to reloading MGJHP in my G35 so 9mm is new to me. I am using 4.0 grains of TG behind a 115 grn. LRN. My load data lists an OAL of 1.100. Compared to factory ammo tha is a lot shorter. I have several issues however when attempting to extract and clear the weapon with a loaded round in the chamber . The round is very hard to extract and invariably I end up separating the round in the chamber with powder spilled in the chamber area and having to clear the bullet head from the barrel.. I am pretty sure it not a seating or crimping problem but not positive. With an OAL of 1.100 could it still be to long and the bullet head is engaging the rifling. I have examined the stuck bullet heads and cannot see any conspicuous marks. At 1.100 I do notice with the 115grn. LRN there isn't much distance left between the case neck and the bullet head lube ring. This forum is a wonderful tool and I hope there is a solution or did I error on purchasing 4000 bullet heads.

LW barrels were known for sticking with lead bullets. Contact them, or research the LW barrels.

(edit to add...I see this is an older thread and that material has been covered before me.)

[Mike_P]

Yep, had an extra LW G34 threaded barrel and it was TIGHT no matter what I put in there. Shot fine with 115gr and 147gr, but was deceiving when drop testing.

Ended up selling the barrel because I didn't use it enough. They definitely are tighter though, despite what LW says.

[Mat Price]

every lone wolf bbl in every caliber I ever owned had to be opened up to shoot lead. the KKM bbls never had that problem. I think lonewolf does this because they know comp shooters will always reload most of the time and the can scam 35 bucks out of them. This is why i stopped using their products.