Failure to fire

[Raptor1956]

I've just started to reload and have experienced several FTF with some of my handloads but never with factory ammo. The first time out with handloads I had about 10 faliures that have this indication: after firing the first round or perhaps several rounds the gun doesn't fire and I have a devil of a time pulling the slide back to remove the unfired round.

The thing is, although it sounds/feels like the striker is firing there are no marks on the primer and I'm beginning to wonder if the mechanism is fully closed (battery?). Well for this round of handloads that I fired today I had just one failure to fire and the only thing I can think of is that I loaded to a slightly shorter COAL at about 1.130" versus 1.138" the previous time. The specifications indicate a maximum COAL of 1.140" and it's possible that some of the first batch were a bit over that but the second batch should not have had any over about 1.135".

I haven't measured all my factory ammo but I seem to recall that they tended to be in the 1.120-1.128" range so if that's the only thing that's different I guess it could be that COAL I'm loading to should be kept below 1.130".

I should point out that all the bullets I've used have been JHP's (Spier GD's, Hornady XTP's, Sierra SM).

Any Ideas?


Brian

[agalindo]

First off are you resizing the cases fully? Second, what caliber are loading? The bullet sticking in the chamber is a sign of a case not fully sized or a case that is too long. Since the frame is not going into battery you will get FTF.

[kidcoltoutlaw]

Are there any marks on the bullet to indicate it was jammed into the lands. A COL of 1.135 for a pointed bullet is different for a Flat Nose bullet. If I seat a FP to 1.135 it jams into the lands in my 9mm but it does not if I seat a pointed bullet to 1.135. Like the other guy said the die may not be sizing the case enough. Take the barrel off and drop the round in I can tell by the sound it makes if it is right or not. If it sticks up above the hood of the barrel you have a problem. I had the same problem using Nato brass once fired. I got Redding dies and the problem went away. It was only a problem in my Bar-Sto because it has a very tight chamber. Even the Lee factory crimp die did not help. It can stick because it was not sized enough and the recoil spring and the weight of the slide drive the round home anyway. As long as I know that is the problem and it is not a double charge making the round to long I shoot it empty. I use a powder that is on the slow side for the caliber I'm loading so it fills the case and will run over or make the round to long to chamber if I screw up,

Thanks,Keith

[Raptor1956]

Originally Posted by agalindo

First off are you resizing the cases fully? Second, what caliber are loading? The bullet sticking in the chamber is a sign of a case not fully sized or a case that is too long. Since the frame is not going into battery you will get FTF.

Yes, I am fully sizing the cases. In fact, I had a problem with the carbide sizing die I ordered from Dillon as part of the RL550B kit I just put together -- the cases were sticking so badly, even with lube, that on about the 4th case the die collets (carbide) pulled out of the die body. I bought another full sizing die to hold me over until Dillon could replace the bad one I originally recieved and have used that for the first two reload batches. I just received the replacement sizing die from Dillon but have not had a chance to check it out yet.

I do get the feeling that it's a problem with COAL.

The caliber is 357 sig.

I'll have to inspect the bullet and case more closely the next time this happens and also remove the barrel and drop one in to see as suggested.

Lot's of good ideas guys -- I appreciate...


Brian

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by Raptor1956

Yes, I am fully sizing the cases. In fact, I had a problem with the carbide sizing die I ordered from Dillon as part of the RL550B kit I just put together -- the cases were sticking so badly, even with lube, that on about the 4th case the die collets (carbide) pulled out of the die body. I bought another full sizing die to hold me over until Dillon could replace the bad one I originally recieved and have used that for the first two reload batches. I just received the replacement sizing die from Dillon but have not had a chance to check it out yet.

I do get the feeling that it's a problem with COAL.

The caliber is 357 sig.

I'll have to inspect the bullet and case more closely the next time this happens and also remove the barrel and drop one in to see as suggested.

Lot's of good ideas guys -- I appreciate...


Brian

The 357sig headspaces on the shoulder. You are probably sizing too far & setting the shoulder back. Use your bbl. as a guage & set the sizing die so the case just seats flush w/ the bbl. hood. If it is setting too deep, the firing pin is not wuite getting there.

[kidcoltoutlaw]

Get the Wilson Case gauge treat it like a rifle. I was in on the first 50 to order the 357 SIG case gauge and we at SIGforum.com --A discussion forum for SIG enthusiasts got Wilson to build them in the first place. My small claim to fame. My first 357 SIG was a SIG P229 Sport it had to be sent back to the factory to have the barrel refitted. That did not stop me I have 7 guns in that caliber. Not all .355 bullets will even work. The must be .355 where the case meets the bullet in order to hold the bullet in place. Rainier 124 and Speer GD 125 work great so will most 124 or 125 as long as they are Flat point. I have loaded 1000's of rounds of 357 SIG. I have a list of bullets that will work I will find and post if you need it. The Hornday 124 or 125 I forget FMC ENC FN works great. With the Rainier I don't even flair or chamfer the case just seat it slow and you can tell when it slips in the case. I always load to 1.135 only the P239 with 357 SIG mags must be shorter. My standard load was from the Speer book 10.5 grains of Bluedot with a 124 or 125. A good match load would need to be slower. There is a lot of good info on the 357 SIG at The Firing Line and THR - Powered by vBulletin also SIGforum.com --A discussion forum for SIG enthusiasts




Thanks,Keith

[arizona98tj]

....the gun doesn't fire and I have a devil of a time pulling the slide back to remove the unfired round.

Originally Posted by fredj338

The 357sig headspaces on the shoulder. You are probably sizing too far & setting the shoulder back. Use your bbl. as a guage & set the sizing die so the case just seats flush w/ the bbl. hood. If it is setting too deep, the firing pin is not wuite getting there.

How does this account for the very difficult extraction when FTF occurs? (never reloaded 357 SIG)

[xd4zero]

A hard extracting 357 sig case that will not fire is usually a sign that the case has not been sized enough and is jamming in the chamber not allowing the gun to go into battery. Until you can get a 357 Sig Case Guage. Use your barrel as a case guage. Remove the barrel from your gun then drop the loaded round into the chamber. It should drop easily into and out of the chamber. Usually the rear of the cartridge should be a few thousandths of an inch below the hood on the barrel. If the rear of the cartridge is sticking up above the hood, you are not sizing the case enough. Another common problem with the 357 Sig is that the sizieing die is not screwed down far enough and is not setting the shoulder of the cartridge back far enough to allow the chambering of the resized case. This will also result in a hard extracting round and possibly not allowing the gun to go into battery. You don't need a fully loaded round to chamber check your round in the barrel, resize a fired case and drop the resized case in the chamber to see how it fits. If it drops into and out of the chamber freely and a little below the hood of the barrel. You are GTG. Hope this helps.

[kidcoltoutlaw]

Gun is trying to size the case for you.

[arizona98tj]

Totally agree.....rather than being "too sized" as was previously mentioned, it is not sized enough.