Underwood 220gr Hard Cast Pull-Down

[wingspar]

So, Underwood has recently changed the load in the 220 grain hard cast?  I see the second test at 1200 fps now.

I did some research on the "Glock Smile" since I last posted, and this isn't as bad as some.  However, I did find a good video on the "Glock Smile" here. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20aSjSMKqY4

It's an informative video for guys like me that are just starting with the 10mm.  After watching his video, I measured the fired case and the unfired Underwood 220 Gr HCB's.  My results were the same as the guy that did the video.

New unfired brass.  0.422 OD
Fired brass.  0.427 near the mouth and 0.431 near the base at the smile.  (A bulge not visible to the naked eye).
A fired Remington UMC brass that I happen to have laying here 0.425 top and bottom.

Until I watched that video, I really did not understand what "unsupported case" meant.  You can see where the round is not supported at the feed ramp in the left photo below.  The photo below is two photos combined into one.  On the left is an unfired UW 220 HCB.  On the right is a fired UW 220 HCB case with the crack (smile) facing the feeding ramp.  You can see it no longer drops right into the chamber, but can be pushed the rest of the way easily and removed easily.



I've learned a lot today.  I have come to the conclusion that the 220 grain brass is fine to fire in my G20 Gen4, but I should toss the brass and not save it.  Anyone disagree?

Does the UW 180 grain TMJ round suffer this same problem in a Glock?

[The_Shadow]

Well another thing I noticed is that the prime is not oriented correctly to all the brass to be in the position as shot.  That might allow it to slide inside the chamber a little more.  Rotate the brass where the smiled area is located back at the feed ramp and the primer strike is vertical again.

Next, the brass on the right is not headspaced on the case mouth but on the expanded section of the casing.  After it is oriented to the as fired position check to see if the case does headspace flush to the barrel hood again.  If it does not this means that the expanding casing was moving out of the chamber or being wedged out which increases the unsupported area...

If you don't have the distinct line which is the smile, you could recondition (pass-through size) those cases and reuse them with lighter loadings.  Most of the Glock factory barrels will allow the cases to swell to 0.4340" before the smile develops.  I have measured many case in studying this situation and use a good stainless steel caliper to the 0.0000" or 0.0005" thousandths of an inch.  Most unfired Underwood Starline brass measures 0.4215" or 0.4220" at the base before the start of the extractor cut of the casing head.

You could use the damage brass for setting dies and making dummy rounds for various chores.

[wingspar]

Ok, I took the photo over again placing the smile above the feeding ramp.  This time I took the time to use a tripod.  I just replaced the photo in my last post with the updated photo.  The empty does sit down a little lower in the chamber with it correctly oriented.  It never dawned on me when I took the first photo that it would be important to correctly orient the empty case.  I also edited the paragraph above the photo.

Only a few of the empties had the crack (smile), not all of them.  I do not reload, so this is all a learning exercise for me on the higher pressure 10mm cartridges.  I plan to shoot some of everything I have, keep them separate, and measure the empties, mostly for my info and learning experience.  If there is any interest in me posting my findings, I can.  I must have 7 or 8 different loads from different manufacturers.

As for reloading, I want to, but last winter I spent 3 to 4 hours a day for a little over a month doing research and purchasing a couple of reloading manuals.  When it came to finding powder, I found there was none to be had, and there still isn't, so I have not purchased a press or anything else, tho I'm considering a chrono just to have some fun with.  The purchase of my 4th .357 magnum, which was a Marlin 1894 in .357 was what got me to give serious thought to reloading.  Unfortunately, it developed the classic "Marlin Jam" and Remlin has had the gun for over 7 months now cause they aren't making parts.

[The_Shadow]

Thanks for the update on your pictures, most of what I do, is to help other help themselves, as they experience things with their firearms and or ammo.  Just getting them to understand what they need to look for or are seeing first hand.

I'm sorry to hear of the issue with you Marlin 1894, mine works really well but the length of the ammo is something that can also cause issues.  The RCBS 357 180 grain cast silhouette bullet I make, is too long to feed through the Marlin lever gun as seated in the normal cannelure.  I can seat it deeper but I have to reduce the powder charge.

[wingspar]

I have to say Remington CS is non existent.  The issue is with the carrier.  Remington is not making parts.  The manual states a minimum length for .38 Special which is 1.400.  The .38 Special I have is 1.445.  No mention of OAL limits for .357 rounds.  The issue started at 3 weeks and 450 rounds with .357 Magnum loads.  I very much regret sending the gun back to the factory, but since it was new, it seemed like the best thing to do.  Big mistake.  I should have just taken it to the local gunsmith.  I'd have had it back in a few days.  Working.

[Pinsnscrews]

Keep in mind, Remington is currently overloaded due to the issues regarding the R1 and the complete recall. Not defending Remington, just trying to be fair in case you were not aware of how extreme Remington's situation is.

[wingspar]

Keep in mind, Remington is currently overloaded due to the issues regarding the R1 and the complete recall. Not defending Remington, just trying to be fair in case you were not aware of how extreme Remington's situation is.

Not my problem.  It's Remington's problem.  I don't care if they are overloaded due to a recall.  That's their problem, not mine.  I paid too much for my gun that they've had for over 7 months for the replacement of one part that they are not making.  Stupid ridiculous.  Anyway, enough of that.  I foam at the mouth every time I think about it.  Now back to the Underwood 220gr Hard Cast Pull-Down.