This question may be as much about the gun, as cast bullets but, here goes:
With the recent aquisition of FWFL bullet lube, I decided to load up a batch of the Lee 240gr HP GC bullets for my Contender, using the new (to me) lube.
Load was 23.5gr H-110, under the above bullets (which run about 235gr, from my alloy), CCI lg pistol Mag primer, and mixed WW and Federal cases-about half and half. This load should be about middle of the road, as a check of several manuals shows an average spread from 20gr to 25gr for the 240gr bullet - some cast, some jacketed.
When I fired this load from my 10" T/C Contender, it turned it into an auto-unloader! First shot, something hit me in the lower lip - Hard! The gun was locked up tight, but it had no case in the chamber. I'll admit to being bumfuzzeled for about a minute, until my brain kicked in. It bounced back down on the front rest, and closed itself. As I had been doing some work with a homemade muzzle brake, I fired 2 more, with the brake removed, for testing (I might also add, these were fired with my hand on the other side of a metal plate from my head & body!) Results were the same, with the exception that it didn't bounce back down on the rest, and close - it stayed unlocked/open.
The primers looked normal, i.e., they exhibited a very slight(normal) amount of flattening, but the radius was still fine, with no cratering. There was a slight dragging of the firing pin on the bottom of the indent, but I would expect this with it comming open due to an aparent overload. Sorry, but the chrono didn't make this trip.
Aside from questions about the gun, what would you suggest might have caused this aparent overload? I can't say I have fired this particular load (I did find one load at 22.5gr)from this gun before, but it has digested comparatively much heavier loads, without problems - like 20gr 2400, and a 315gr cast.
Pulling the bullets showed correct powder charges, and correct bullet weights. I was going to try them in my Taurus, but decided not to push it, and pulled them all down. For those of you that will say "work up to your load" reducing a max charge (25gr) by 10% would be exactly 23.5 gr.
I wasn't looking for a really hot load, and picked what I thought would be a reasonable one. T'wasn't so... What 'chall think?

[ 11-30-2003, 20:35: Message edited by: Bug ]

Bug, check that powder number!!!! Are you dead sure? ... felix

Felix,
The can is still sitting on the bench. And, I checked to make sure the powder in the cases is the same as in the can... It is H-110. No doubt in my mind there. It was one of the first things I checked when I got home>>>>>>>>Bug.

Bug, at the risk of stating the obvious, there are only two things that could cause this. Either a loose/worn/impropery fitted barrel-to-action, or overpressure.

You'd be able to feel if the action or barrel felt loose. So, seems to me, SOMETHING is causing an overpressure. Boolits too big? Constriction in the muzzle (from the work with the muzzle tamer)?

Just be glad you were shooting cast, not harder FLGCs.

Bug, that's a stumper. I've been using a #429421 in a 629 classic an' that 'xact weight of 110 for some time now. I think it's time to have a smithy take a peek. Only thing I can say about your approach is to get a new calculator for figgerin' a 10% reduction (25*.9 is 22.5)....I know, somebody gotta be the smart ass huh?

Regards...

Bug,
Not to sound too preachy,but this query should be copied over to the single shot pistol forum where this can be addressed by contender guys like myself but with more experience....But I can imply a bit of experience here as I was the victim of the same experience long ago. I also had a 44 mag barrel that spat empties at me. I know know it was due to the locking lugs not quite engaging fully and releasing upon the firing of said barrel despite other barrels fitting perfectly. There are fixes available to even neophyte contender shooters. I am not the one to relay the specifics to you but I can direct you to a few that can..www.bellmtcs.com will be your best bet, http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=9066056864 is another, and the single shot forum here at AR should also be a benefit. HTH 45nut

Bug--
Check out Mike Bellm home page TC--- If You can't find your answer there it probably don't exist.

Had a 12ga that was 1/2 a self ejector - it was so loose that it would eject the brass end of the case, leaving the paper/plastic inside the chamber. I'm glad it's LONG GONE.

Grumble: they are .430-4305"(calipered). Just happens to be the only .44 sizer I have.
BLTsandwedge: Uh... boy, is my face red! You're right, of course. And, as I said, I did find where I had loaded 22.5gr, without problems.
45Nut, yeah, I guess I could post it there, but I went to GB's T/C 'site instead.

That's got to be a gun problem, rather than the load.