.45 semi wadcutter locking up the slide

[FatDogEarl]

You are so right, Motown-Ron. It's hard to describe the contortions I went through to ensure I didn't shoot myself or send a round over the berm when I was forcing the slide closed. In response to you Richard93, I dropped the magazine before trying to rack the slide and it wouldn't budge. I have 390 rounds of this ammo. I'm going to mike a large sample to see if there are any variations in dimensions. Since I could not rack the slide when the jammed round was chambered, I suspect the base of the round was "fat."

 

[Taj]

Try seating that bullet to 1.24". It will work. Give the loaded rounds you have back to your friend.

Roger that. I built a 1911 for a guy that quickly brought it back to me claiming it wouldn't feed. He was loading a 230 grain truncated cone bullet to the same overall length of a 230 grain ball FMJ. The shoulder of that bullet was preventing proper feeding. The OAL of every bullet configuration, regardless of it being the same weight, may not work.

 

[rockquarry]

You are so right, Motown-Ron. It's hard to describe the contortions I went through to ensure I didn't shoot myself or send a round over the berm when I was forcing the slide closed. In response to you Richard93, I dropped the magazine before trying to rack the slide and it wouldn't budge. I have 390 rounds of this ammo. I'm going to mike a large sample to see if there are any variations in dimensions. Since I could not rack the slide when the jammed round was chambered, I suspect the base of the round was "fat."

It's most likely the other end rather than the base that's causing problems.

 

[Rule3]

A little late to the party but SWC are finicky in seating depth. I can't tell from your picture but a good rule of thumb is the bullet body should be just a "thumbnail" out of the case. Just tiny fraction can make a difference.

If you can post a another picture showing this that would help. Just do not go by someones arbitrary OAL.
If the are to long, try seating a few a little more.

It is also not as good idea to shoot some else's reloads.

 

[FatDogEarl]

Thanks, Rule3, I normally do not shoot other people's reloads but this was the exception to that rule. It was my shooting partner's reloads and I had seen him shoot 100s of them from his Kimber. Additionally, he was a meticulous reloader. He and I often swapped our .38 and 9mm loads.

 

[Jim Watson]

Yup, needs to be shorter. Lots of numbers but the final say is the Plunk Test. A loaded round should drop freely all the way into the chamber of the barrel clean and out of the gun. If it doesn't maybe the SWC shoulder is hitting the lands or you are oversize on diameter.

Of course it then has to fit the magazine and feed from magazine to chamber.

I was not able to operate the slide all back because the brass was hitting the bullet in the magazine.

I was not able to load SWCs for a Sig P220 because of this. I just quit trying SWCs and went to RN or ogival JHP for all guns.

 

[FatDogEarl]

That's what so weird, Jim, They pass the Plunk Test. However, I'm gonna measure all of them and plunk test each one. I hope I find some that fail. It breaks my heart to **** can 395 rounds of 45. I could take them apart but I couldn't use the powder because I'm not sure what it is :-(

 

[stansdds]

That's what so weird, Jim, They pass the Plunk Test. However, I'm gonna measure all of them and plunk test each one. I hope I find some that fail. It breaks my heart to **** can 395 rounds of 45. I could take them apart but I couldn't use the powder because I'm not sure what it is :-(

The "plunk" test only checks the round's ability to fit the chamber, it may have no meaning when it comes to successfully making the journey from the magazine into the chamber.

 

[zeke]

The "plunk" test only checks the round's ability to fit the chamber, it may have no meaning when it comes to successfully making the journey from the magazine into the chamber.

If memory serves, which gets questionable as i age out, one of the # 68 design purposes was to replicate the contact points of a 230 rn to help ensure reliable feeding seated at a certain col in 5 in 1911's. Gonna agree with others, the bullet is seated too long (relatively way too long). With the original design, have used 1.250-1.257 col. A lot also depends on the specific pistol. Especially since there are numerous other types of 45 acp manufacturers.

 

[Yendor357]

Diagnose first.

The old “Plunk Test” is invaluable with a semi alto pistol. And a revolver for that matter.

Then chronograph. Ammo in a semi auto does 2 things. The other is to cycle the gun. The slide has to fully retract, but not so fast that the next round can’t be picked up by the magazine.

Start out shooting single shot style.

Then rectify.

 

[SASFixer]

How much of the front driving band is sticking out of the cartridge case mouth? I have seen this happen several times. barrels with a long lead can be a problem if the bullet engages the taper before full battery is achieved. Those shooting "blue" bullets in Glocks "run and gun" where a bunch of rounds are fired rapidly. The chamber heats up enough to melt the blue paint, when the barrel cools, the bullet is glued into the barrel lead thus locking up the action. Seating the bullets in the case .010 deeper usually fixes the issue.

Mike0231 has a great illustration of not so right and the one on the right that is done right. Also insure that the case expansion done for seating is removed with a taper crimp die. You can pinch the round between thumb and forefinger the case should be a continuous taper from the head to the case mouth the belling should be gone.

 

[Rick H.]

Good quality case gauges are a helpful addition to any serious reloader and there are some really nice ones available these days. They can tell you a lot if you take the time to use them.
Sheridan makes some really nice gauges and are my go-to ones currently.
Rick H.

 

[Buzzzer]

Same thing happened to me with my USP. My own reloads with lead coated 230 grain RN. I had to seat the bullets deeper to prevent this issue. I can't imagine trying to pull this off with SWC bullets...

 

[Forrest r]

Oal's are meaningless.

It's common for the current firearms manufacturers omit 1 step in the bbl making process. Namely throating the bbl. This bbl has not had a throating reamer used on it.

Same bbl that is now throated

The throat affects where the full diameter (.451"/.452") of the bullet hits/sits. The plunk test is showing how to find the correct seating depth for the specific bullet your using. I seat my cast bullets so they look like the "normal" headspace.

3 different cast bullets that I cast/shoot. If you look closely you will see that all 3 have the same amount of shoulder/.452" body of the bullet above the case mouth.

Same firearm, 3 different bullets, 3 different oal's. But they have the same amount of .452" bullet body above the case mouth. Doing ladder testing using 4.0gr og clays and 4.3gr of clays @ 50ft 5-shot groups.

My 1911/45acp really liked the 4.3gr load of clays. All 3 bullets did 5-shot groups under 1" @ 50ft.

 

[Rule3]

Thanks, Rule3, I normally do not shoot other people's reloads but this was the exception to that rule. It was my shooting partner's reloads and I had seen him shoot 100s of them from his Kimber. Additionally, he was a meticulous reloader. He and I often swapped our .38 and 9mm loads.

Thats all fine and dandy but another topic.

Without seeing a picture of you loaded cartridge it's hard to tell.
Plunk test and case gauges have nothing to do with your issue. It is how the round it feeding into the barrel. As I and others mentioned it is the OAL.
I went through the same issue with my Sig P220, it was a just a hair deeper that made a difference,
SWC is semi autos was such a PITA that I just went with RNFP, they make just as good a hole in paper and do not have to fiddle with them for other guns.

 

[FatDogEarl]

I agree, Rule3, I think they're not feeding into the barrel properly.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

A friend of mine gave me 400 rounds of .45 SWC, which ran fine in his Kimber. I know the overall length of these bullets are dead on. I tried shooting them in my H&K USP 45

The chamber on your H&K is tighter than your friend’s Kimber.

You did a Plunk Test?

 

[FatDogEarl]

Where can I get a cleaner pic of the headspace illustration you posted, Forrest R?

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

… I have 390 rounds of this ammo.

Do you have another .45 ACP pistol to shoot them in?

Otherwise I would return them to your buddy. I’m a reloader and I knew a lot of people who reloaded and some of them had no shop skills. JMHO

 

[Yendor357]

For pity sake, would you chrono them already? lol

Might be your magazine.

But chrono them first. H&Ks are set up for 45 Super right out of the box, I’ve been told.

I agree it would be a shame to toss those.

A. Send them to me.
B. Buy a 625.
C. Pull them apart, start over. Colossal pain in the lower back. I’ve done it several times.

Did I mention that you should chrono them? Turn the unknown to the known. One less variable….