micro Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I am at wit's end, and could use advice on figuring this one out. Bought a Glock42. It works flawlessly with purchased ammo. I am having an issue with my reloads. I've used the following recipes which work OK, except for one issue: 100 gr plated RN 3.1gr TiteGroup mixed brass COAL 0.975 100 gr plated RN 3,2 gr W231 mixed brass COAL 0.980 OK, ready for this one? Today I loaded 100 rounds using the W231. Out of 100, about 15 rounds did not fire. Upon inspection, the firing pin did it's job, and it wasn't a light strike either (see photo. Just to clarify, the rounds shown in the photo were after the first attempt to fire). Just for kicks, I put those rounds back in the magazine, and tried to fire them again. They fired. WTF? I've tried CCI and Winchester SPP's, and it occurs with both primers, on both loads listed above. This is fresh powder as well. And to answer the most obvious question, yes, the primers are seated into the case as far as they can go. If it matters, I'm reloading on a Dillon XL650. Anyone have any idea as to what the issue is here. Thank You in advance for any suggestions. micro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micro Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 I think I may have just figured out my own problem. Upon looking at the photo I posted, I noticed that the brass still had the primer crimp. I checked the over few rounds I brought home with me today, and they all had the crimp as well. That may be causing the primer not to seat fully, this causing the misfire. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowrider Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I cant tell from the pics but are any .380 crimped? I've never loaded it, but have a batch of brass and bullets ready. The pics look like they are crimped and not crimped at the same time (one side looks radiused the other looks to have a crimp ledge). Did you feel normal resistance seating the primer? I know every time I run into a crimped pocket on my 650 regardless of caliber I know it, there's no doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDA Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I know you say the primers are fully seated in your original post but I'd say they aren't fully seated if they are firing on the second strike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micro Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 I'm new to loading .380, but every sample that I have that didn't fire, the brass has a crimped primer, or at least it surely looks like it is. I will have to do some more research on the 380 to see if crimping is common. I may have to pick up a swagger and pull the bullet and see if I can get the primer out with out killing myself…lol. So many things to do, so little time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micro Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Regarding feeling resistance on the 650…I don't recall, but loading other calibers on it, I know what it feels like to push a primer into a crimped primer pocket. I have to pay more attention when reloading the .380. I cranked out 100 before heading tot he range this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vixty Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Those primers don't look seated to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safeactionjackson Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) OP, Here is some .380 reloading data for "reference", I'd agree with what has already been said.... it doesn't look like your primers are seating deep enough. I've had similar problems on my 550b with .380, although primers not seated deep enough would general prevent me from manual indexing. Check your shell plate for play, as I'd think primer that aren't seated properly should allow the press to index, or would surely show some resistance. They don't appear to actually have a "military crimped primer pockets", but some of them can be tight. Good luck and keep us posted on what you find. ~g String: 2 Date: 1/14/15 Time: 9:51:57 PM Grains: 100 Hi Vel: 872 Low Vel: 823 Ave Vel: 847 Ext Spread: 49 Std Dev: 14 Bullet: 100gr Berry Powder: 2.9gr TG OAL: 0.97 Primer: WSP Firearm: Glock42 Notes: Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs 854 85.4 161.926 863 86.3 165.357 854 85.4 161.926 846 84.6 158.907 858 85.8 163.447 858 85.8 163.447 872 87.2 168.824 849 84.9 160.036 827 82.7 151.849 833 83.3 154.061 823 82.3 150.384 832 83.2 153.691 844 84.4 158.156 Edited August 17, 2015 by safeactionjackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob DuBois Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I don't load .380 but load on a 650. The new style primer punch seats the primer with spring tension. I bought a Lee Primer tool and cases that aren't seated to depth can easily be seated. Usually don't have problems with Winchester Primers. I have seen stock Glocks choke using CCI Primers. CCI Primers take the hardest hit to set off. Not seated properly and you'll have issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDA Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I don't load .380 but load on a 650. The new style primer punch seats the primer with spring tension. I bought a Lee Primer tool and cases that aren't seated to depth can easily be seated. Usually don't have problems with Winchester Primers. I have seen stock Glocks choke using CCI Primers. CCI Primers take the hardest hit to set off. Not seated properly and you'll have issues. On a 650, the primer is seated when you push the handle fully forward (the primer is not seated with spring tension). The spring helps to return the handle to neutral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micro Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 Safeactionjackson, no play in the shell plate, or should I say no more than my 9mm set up has (and I have no issues with 9mm). I contacted Dillon Support in regards to possible issues with the press that would cause this. I still think it's an issue with the brass. I will try to reload some this week and pay very close attention to the seating step. I will post any new developments I have as they happen. Thanks to all for your input thus far…we have a great community here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safeactionjackson Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Usually when I start a reloading a new caliber I'll use brass that has been sorted by head stamp, that seems to work well for me, and surely give me better OAL consistency. It also creates a baseline for the caliber being reloading, when I run a different brand of brass I check to see what if anything changes... or if any gremlins rear there heads. Worth a try, keep us posted. ~g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igolfat8 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Try removing the old primers, then cleaning your brass until the primer pocket are Spic-n-Span clean. See if that makes any difference. Old burnt powder crud, in a shallow primer pocket, could keep the primer from seating or create a slight cushion when impacted by the striker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnote Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Try federals and see if the problem goes away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micro Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 I wet tumble with stainless steel pins, then inspect each one to make sure there are no pins stuck in there. I can tell you with 100% confidence that those primer pockets were clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc10mm Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Would an extended glock firing pin be more likely to fire a primer that was not seated fully? I load on a Dillon 1050 and I don't think that there is the same tactile feedback of a 650 when a primer isn't seated fully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safeactionjackson Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Although I don't reload .380 on my s1050, once calibrated correctly I've never really seen a high primer, unless something stopped me from completing a full stroke down, and I forgot to remove the round from the press. While I'd agree that you don't have the same feel, seating on the down stroke is a huge improvement in the process. I don't think and extended firing pin will necessarily correct the problem, and I'm not even sure why someone would go in that direction, I'd instead look for the actual root cause of the issue and correct it. ~g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfalcon00 Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) I wet tumble with stainless steel pins, then inspect each one to make sure there are no pins stuck in there. I can tell you with 100% confidence that those primer pockets were clean. Yeah one of the big reasons I wet ss tumble too. I seem to have a lot less primer problems than most folks. Those pockets almost looked crimped to me but it's hard to see in the picture. If they are that could be the problem. Edited August 22, 2015 by bfalcon00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micro Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 I received some ideas to try from Dillon, which I will check tomorrow. Will post my findings: Two things to check are: 1. Do sure the primer seating assembly is fully threaded up into the underside of the platform. Use a 9/16: open end wrench for this. 2. Push down on the edge of the shellplate at station 4. If it feels springy, then the shellplate bolt needs to be tighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micro Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 Finally had some time to reload and go to the range. I performed the test that Dillon suggested, and the problem was indeed, a small "springy" movement ( I'm talking very small) of the shell plate. I tightened the shell plate down tight enough to where it would not index. Then I gradually loosened it up until there was absolutely no play in the shell plate. I reloaded about 300 rounds, and manually inspected all to see if any primers were not flush with the case. They all looked good. Better still, I went through all 300 rounds at the range today, and had ZERO issues. Thanks to all who helped out on this one. Lesson learned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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