I posted this on the reloading forum too but it probably belongs here.
A newbie reloader I know has a problem with something hitting his face when he fires his reloads. He stated factory ammo doesn`t do it so his thoughts are ammo but I doubt it.

The load is a 185gr Berry plated in a 45acp with 5.0 gr Titegroup and a win primer. The pistol is a CZ97(?) a 1911 type. He claims when he fires he can feel something hot impacting his forehead and upper face. He feels nothing hitting his hands or arms. There are no powder particals to be found on him, and he claims his arm and hand are clean after shooting. Primers are fine, gun function is normal, althogh a couple tenths reduction in charge caused stove pipes, and cases don`t seem to be excessively sooty. The same ammo in another pistol doesn`t do this, so it appears to me to be a gun not ammo problem.
Does anyone have an idea?? Weak spring maybe?

quote:

Originally posted by Ol` Joe:
I posted this on the reloading forum too but it probably belongs here.
A newbie reloader I know has a problem with something hitting his face when he fires his reloads. He stated factory ammo doesn`t do it so his thoughts are ammo but I doubt it.

The load is a 185gr Berry plated in a 45acp with 5.0 gr Titegroup and a win primer. The pistol is a CZ97(?) a 1911 type. He claims when he fires he can feel something hot impacting his forehead and upper face. He feels nothing hitting his hands or arms. There are no powder particals to be found on him, and he claims his arm and hand are clean after shooting. Primers are fine, gun function is normal, althogh a couple tenths reduction in charge caused stove pipes, and cases don`t seem to be excessively sooty. The same ammo in another pistol doesn`t do this, so it appears to me to be a gun not ammo problem.
Does anyone have an idea?? Weak spring maybe?

Does this happen to all shooters of the gun/ammo combination? You report that you have switched variables (good idea) of the ammo and the gun, but not the shooter. The "facial spray" might be related to how stiffly the shooter is holding the pistol. (With some of my, admittedly light, handloads, I get stovepipes with a loose "target" grip, but get no jams using a stiff-armed isosolese stance.)

Also, try this: Drape a soft cloth over the shooter's face (clean, white crewneck t-shirt would be good, with the shooter's eyes looking out the neck hole and all the rest of the head covered with the drape).

With an observer watching from the side, fire a round or two. The observer might be in a position to see if the brass is coming close to hitting the shooter, and any marks or debris found on (or embedded in) the cloth would be clues.

If that does not work, put the gun in a cardboard box (hole in front for the muzzle and hole in back for the shooter's wrist. Fire once and examine the inside of the box for powder burns and other marks. The smaller and whiter the inside of the box, the better (shoe box, maybe?). The muzzle should stick out the front of the box throughout the entire cycle of firing.

My wild guess it that the brass is hitting the shooter, but without more information that is just a guess.

Lost Sheep (Larry)

IT sounds like it is unlocking prematurely. Maybe the faster burn rate of the TG vs factory ammo. Try switching to HP38, it's a close match for most factory 45acp powders.

Just using my imagination here,but will make a fool of myself anyway...might generate some useful thought in others....

Because of short pistol barrel, handloads probably still have fairly high pressure gases in the barrel after the bullet exits, no? (We know they have enough gas pressure left to blow the spent case out and eject it from the gun rather briskly.)

If he is limp-wristing the gun, then it is also likely to assume that the gun is tipping that open ejecion port back toward him too while that gas pressure is still high? Yes?

So that would have the open ejection port facing at least obliquely toward him as the case (and accompanying hot gas) was ejected, right?

Given all the above, I would guess that some of the hot gas is being deflected by the exiting case, and also blowing and bouncing off the standing breech and side rails, into his face.

I'd guess he is feeling that hot gas and the still hot powder ash it contains hitting his face.

Maybe?