Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Recently I shot some .357's that I reloaded. I had a miss fire, no bang. I broke open the cylinder to the gun to see what was going on. When I pulled out the shell the powder dumped out. Then I noticed the back of the barrel was also full of powder. After cleaning the powder out of the barrel I saw the bullet lodged about a half inch into the back of the barrel. My quess is the primer fired just enough to throw the bullet out of the shell but did not ignite the powder. I have shot a couple hundred rounds of this reload and it has happened twice. Can anyone give feedback, info, advice, anything.

I'm using: .38/.357 125 gr. FMJ bullets
21 gr. of H-110 Powder
Wolf sm. pistol primers

Thanks!

That load sounds about right, but you should be using Magnum pistol primers. I would need to check the load books when I get home.

Edit:

Hodgdon's online manual says 21.0gr is a good staring charge for 125gr/H-110.

Realize that most small pistol primers are setting off only 2-6grs of powder. Part of what makes H-110 such a great magnum revolver and subsonic rifle powder is the fact that it burns much slower than most other "pistol" powders. Particularly for subsonic rifle loads it tolerates the low load densities and is more resistant to SEE.

That's what I was thinking too. A friend of mine that has been reloading for years told me to try the same thing. I haven't had any problems with the Wolf primers on any other caliber or powder. So I think you are right. Probably just now hot enough. I will try them with magnum primers. Thanks for the info.

p.s. Just for the record if anybody hasn't tried this load that reloads .357's. Try them, they are a blast!!!! (No pun intended)

H-110, like W296, is hard to ignite. That's why it needs those magnum primers. And thanks for the reminder to stop and check if we get squib-fires like that. This could've ended very badly, and fortunately it didn't.

Hodgdon describes H-110 as "the powder that screams 'no wimps, please!'" for a very good reason. It's a terrific powder for Magnum-style loads. But don't try to download it too far. It doesn't like that at all (2400's better for that).

Please, let's use common sense. If it say's MAGNUM then use a MAGNUM primer if the load call's for it. Not to bust your chops, but I have seen several burst weapons from this very problem and the damage that a handgun did to some people that I know when this happend.
Please let's be carefull with our reloading.
Bill

True. Just checked Hodgdon's manual. Turns out Hodgdon recommends use of magnum primers with .357 Magnum H-110 loads. Actually, they spec Winchester SPM primers for all of their listed .357 Magnum loads.

You guys rock. Thanks for the info. That's why I turn to the pro's. I just bought some Winchester small pistol magnum primers. I will try them hopefully this weekend. Again, thanks for the input! Next I will try and master reloading .45 auto. I'm sure I will chew ya'll ears again.

What make do you plan on shooting the .45's in? And what kind of projectiles (That's a fancy word I learned for boolits - from gunderwood )

I'm playing with 8.4gr of HS-6 (probably up it to 8.6gr ish since this is a new lot) and 230gr FMJ.

A buddy of mine uses 4.8gr Titegroup under a 200GR LRN in his 1911.

CowboyT wrote:A buddy of mine uses 4.8gr Titegroup under a 200GR LRN in his 1911.

Titegroup in .45 is probably the powder for competition with lead rounds.

Palladin wrote:What make do you plan on shooting the .45's in? And what kind of projectiles (That's a fancy word I learned for boolits - from gunderwood )

Got a Kahr P45. I've done some reloading with it. But have a few kinks to work out. First I figured out my gun didn't like anything other than round nose bullets. Gun loves factory loads but she's a little picky about reloads. At first I think I was crimping too much. An ocassional shell didn't want to load all the way in. Then I tryied less crimp now a I think a few are going a little too far in. Need to find a happy medium. Sound right?

youg wrote:

Palladin wrote:What make do you plan on shooting the .45's in? And what kind of projectiles (That's a fancy word I learned for boolits - from gunderwood )

Got a Kahr P45. I've done some reloading with it. But have a few kinks to work out. First I figured out my gun didn't like anything other than round nose bullets. Gun loves factory loads but she's a little picky about reloads. At first I think I was crimping too much. An ocassional shell didn't want to load all the way in. Then I tryied less crimp now a I think a few are going a little too far in. Need to find a happy medium. Sound right?

Are you using a headspace gauge? I like the Dillon's best because they are stainless steel vice a carbon steel of most other brands (or a low grade stainless).
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/conten ... Case_Gages

I use those for all calibers, but also have the Stoney Point gauges for calipers.


Keep your reload powder charge low (don't push pressures) until you are certain you have worked out these kinks. An incorrectly headspaced high pressure round is bad news.

youg wrote:

Palladin wrote:

Sound right?

Working out kinks definitely sounds right! I've been messing w/ 45ACP in an XD45 Tac for a year now, and I still feel like a noob. there's a lot variables, that's for sure. I'm running cast lead in two shapes (both 230gr), and with Titegroup, Trailboss and Bullseye. Jury's still out, but I'm having fun and have blown anything up yet (other than some water bottles).

Add another voice to the H-110/W296 won't light reliably with wolf primers. I was using wolf's .223 line which is supposedly a slightly harder cup, and also bit hotter than even their small magnum rifle. I was loading a .460, so the hot/hard primer was a plus in this application.

I've switched to Ramshot Enforcer for my magnum pistol loads and get similar performance with a powder that seems a bit easier to light.

I've also heard very good things about Alliant 2400 for magnum uses.

Wolf magnum primers will ignite H-110 just fine, but the standard primers, you're right.

I can now confirm that Wolf standard primers have no trouble at all igniting 2400. Recently tried some in my...umm..."warm" .38 Spl load. Very satisfying BANG's!