Problem loading 45ACP with cast bullets

rockquarry · Sep 1, 2021

AlHunt said:
Here's the mold:
452-238-HP-AA5 4 Cavity RG4 PB | NOE Bullet Moulds
(This mold has HP pins I can put in that probably shave 20 grains off it)

You guys may be on to something. I do know that if the powder coat is lumpy from being baked in a pile, the lumps interfere and need to be knocked down. Why I tried lubed and sized, by the way.

That bullet design/ ogive, etc. should work okay. Surely the maker tested it in a .45 auto. Play with seating depth and crimp. You should be able to use a cartridge with an outside diameter at the neck of .473", but you could have a tight chamber. Many like to use an OD of .469", but I prefer .470" or .471" and I've yet to find a .45 Auto that won't take such diameter. Use a micrometer to measure this if you want an accurate number. A caliper won't work.

As others have mentioned, drop the loaded cartridge in the barrel (removed from the gun). You don't really need a gauge if you can use the barrel.

Sometimes these heavy bullets must be seated very deeply, far deeper than you might think.

crstrode · Sep 1, 2021

If the cartridge does not fit,
You must size it a bit.

SS336 · Sep 1, 2021

Don’t know if this has been mentioned and I missed it. Beg, borrow or
“steal” another 1911 and see how your load works in it.
You might have a problem with your barrel from the factory. I have never had a problem with a lead bullet designed for a 1911 loaded to oal noted in a loading manual and taper crimped ( in an a separate step) to .468-.470.
Something seems wrong with the reloads themselves if you pistol will shoot factory ammo. YMMV

max · Sep 1, 2021

I have been reloading .45 since the 70's and never the problem you are mentioning. I find .45acp to be one of the easiest to load.

The only bullets I have ever used have been 200gr cast swc or 230 grain cast rn.

USBP SW · Sep 1, 2021

I have experienced a similar problem. I had sized all my bullets to ..452 and left a small amount of lead showing above the case mouth. Some would chamber, depending on how sharp the leading edge of the bullet was, the sharpest cast would not. I ended up seating the bullets flush with the case mouth and that eliminated my issue. Might be worth a try.

Greyman50 · Sep 1, 2021

Been loading 45 ACP for many, many years. Only use 185 or ~200 grn cast SWC or jacketed rounds. Making Sure your cases are the correct length After sizing is 1st thing. 2nd is using a Taper crimp as headspace is off front of case. Adjust crimp so the case is larger than OD of bullet, not squished into the bullet( can easily happen with cast rounds).

342ti · Sep 1, 2021

I ONLY load cast for 45acp the past 10+yrs. You're trying to stuff too much bullet in your gun Brother. 230gr max for 45acp, and don't forget the most poignant part of the reloading process, the "Kerplunk" test!

4barrel · Sep 1, 2021

Make sure the bullet is not hitting the slide release when installing the mag. If it is level with the barrel hood and has a little wiggle it should work. A 245 grain in mine shoots about 4'' high at 25.

STORMINORMAN · Sep 1, 2021

What OAL are you loading to? Why would you not cast these to the original 238gr HP configuration?

Based upon the drawing from NOE I don't see the .345" from the crimping groove to be an unusually long measurement. Have you asked them about your chambering problems?

Cheers!

P.S. A couple images might help...

old tanker · Sep 1, 2021

As a last resort you may want to "smoke" the cartridge, or use some Prussian blue aka scraping blue and see where it rubs off indicating the high spots.

dla · Sep 1, 2021

Need to shorten the OAL. As others have said, do a plunk test.

AlHunt · Sep 1, 2021

USBP SW said:
I have experienced a similar problem. I had sized all my bullets to ..452 and left a small amount of lead showing above the case mouth. Some would chamber, depending on how sharp the leading edge of the bullet was, the sharpest cast would not. I ended up seating the bullets flush with the case mouth and that eliminated my issue. Might be worth a try.

These are sort of round nosed bullets so seating them flush would be funny looking.

AlHunt · Sep 1, 2021

STORMINORMAN said:
What OAL are you loading to? Why would you not cast these to the original 238gr HP configuration?

Based upon the drawing from NOE I don't see the .345" from the crimping groove to be an unusually long measurement. Have you asked them about your chambering problems?

Cheers!

P.S. A couple images might help...

I have not asked NOE but it might be a good idea. They do have a forum.

I'll see if I can get some pics tomorrow. I'm thinking I may try seating deeper. I loaded as long as would feed into the mag. I can't remember the exact OAL offhand. 1.250, maybe? I'll verify when I get back to the reloading bench.

I didn't use the HP pins only because I wanted to keep it simple getting started. I thought the HP might give me feeding problems.

terry_tr6 · Sep 1, 2021

" About half of them also just fail going below flush in a case gauge, despite the caliper saying they're in spec."
I don't know what kind of case gauge you are using, but do empty but sized cases also fail to go flush in the gauge? if so, that is telling me the cases are too long as .45 chambers on the case mouth.

AlHunt · Sep 1, 2021

terry_tr6 said:
" About half of them also just fail going below flush in a case gauge, despite the caliper saying they're in spec."
I don't know what kind of case gauge you are using, but do empty but sized cases also fail to go flush in the gauge? if so, that is telling me the cases are too long as .45 chambers on the case mouth.

No, the cases go fine into the case gauge. It's a .... Wilson. Took me a second.

AlHunt · Sep 1, 2021

max said:
I have been reloading .45 since the 70's and never the problem you are mentioning. I find .45acp to be one of the easiest to load.

The only bullets I have ever used have been 200gr cast swc or 230 grain cast rn.

I hear you. 9mm loads fine for me. I'm going to try seating deeper and probably a smaller bullet.

STORMINORMAN · Sep 1, 2021

Any bullet with a crimp groove was "most likely" originally designed to be loaded to the crimp groove... Was this a mold for 45 ACP or is it advertised for 45 Colt?

For revolvers, for the most part, OAL is more of a variable (will they fit in the cylinder?) vs. trying to get the same bullet to function well in a semi-automatic where chamber and magazine variations make feeding issues a bit trickier.

Cheers!

P.S. There is nothing I see in that bullet's profile that would lead me to believe there would be any feeding issues. The suggestion to run some through another 1911 is an excellent one.

Baltimoreed11754 · Sep 1, 2021

I use a lee bulge buster to swage my loads. It irons out any imperfections in the rim or bulges in the case. I run .45s in several pccs, multiple 1911s and revolvers. The semiautos will bang them up pretty good. Plus some chambers are more generous than others. The bulge buster makes my 45s work in anything. I usually load .452 RNFP 200 gr bullets in my ACP and use the same bullet in my .45 colt SA revolvers.

USBP SW · Sep 1, 2021

Greyman50 said:
Been loading 45 ACP for many, many years. Only use 185 or ~200 grn cast SWC or jacketed rounds. Making Sure your cases are the correct length After sizing is 1st thing. 2nd is using a Taper crimp as headspace is off front of case. Adjust crimp so the case is larger than OD of bullet, not squished into the bullet( can easily happen with cast rounds).

AlHunt said:
These are sort of round nosed bullets so seating them flush would be funny looking.

Is it fully round nosed or is there a bearing surface then the rounded portion? If you have a bearing surface, make sure that it is inside the case mouth.

stansdds · Sep 2, 2021

Post some pics of your reloaded rounds so we can see what you are seeing.
I will say that back in my USPSA competition days, I played with 250 grain flat point round nose and 255 grain semi-wadcutter bullets, both hard cast and sized to 0.452". I found them to be a bit finicky when it came to reliable feeding in my 1911. It is a whole lot less trouble to make 185 to 230 grain bullets work reliably in the 1911.

Problem loading 45ACP with cast bullets

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