george_lehr
Member
I had a problem with some 9mm reloads that would not fully chamber in my Browning Hi Power with bar-sto barrel. I use a Lee factory crimp die and learned that I need to use the plunk test to set up the die.
George
George
45acp reload problem
- Thread starter Digby49
- Start date
your oal is long to me. First do the plunk test. I pull the barrel and keep it handy when i seat bullets and crimp. When i loading cast bullets i seat bullets and crimp in two separate steps. If your loads won't pass the plunk test try seating your bullets a little deeper. I shoot three different 1911's and they a run good with a oal of 1.245. These are 200 grain wadcutters.
daniel lawecki
Member
Acp is a taper crimp I would say your don't have the seating die adjusted right. Set to the correct COL should feed It's your ammo not the gun or spring. Check all your ammo and make sure you have a nice taper crimp. I would bet a box of ammo factory shoots just fine.
No offence intended, but for a peg (cartridge) to enter a hole (chamber) it must be smaller than the hole. If your ammo is "spot on" and your gun shoots factory ammo fine, you handloads should chamber. Try the plunk test...
StakeOut
US Veteran
Cases that have been fired in guns with unsupported chambers like Glocks may be buluged near the base and not fitting in the chamber of the 3rd generation S&W.
Even the Lee Bulge Buster Kit will not fix this if cases were fired in such a gun previously.
As suggested already a case gauge should be used to weed out bad cases
Even the Lee Bulge Buster Kit will not fix this if cases were fired in such a gun previously.
As suggested already a case gauge should be used to weed out bad cases
dave201
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2015
- Messages
- 96
- Reaction score
- 101
Shockbottle Case Gauges - Dawson Precision, Inc.
Bulge Busters LOL I had a snake one time that had bulge, but it went away after awhile
Once the case web is screwed up That's it
I would never buy or use range brass
Trying to run +P pressures in unsupported chambers
Priceless
The only thing that separates the user from high pressure gases
Is that little brass tin can
Treat it gently and it will serve you well
Bulge Busters LOL I had a snake one time that had bulge, but it went away after awhile
Once the case web is screwed up That's it
I would never buy or use range brass
Trying to run +P pressures in unsupported chambers
Priceless
The only thing that separates the user from high pressure gases
Is that little brass tin can
Treat it gently and it will serve you well
fredj338
Member
Except the LFCD does nothing for a round that is too long. So no, the LFCD does NOT insure the will chamber w/o issue.
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
I test fired my first .45 ACP reloaded rounds today for function. Worked like a charm. They were 230 grain FMJ bullets, mixed hulls and I plunked tested them 100% after reloading. I only fired 15 rounds, I needed about 200. 
Have a blessed day,
Leon
Have a blessed day,
Leon
FWIW I had the exact same problem with a second-hand ATI 1911 CS (Compact Slide - a.k.a. Officer's model)I bought at auction.
The recoil spring was weak and slightly kinked. It wouldn't reliably return to battery on its own, but MOST (not all) of the time I could push it forward that last 3/16" with my thumb and it would fire again. Sometimes it would fail to go into battery again on the next shot, sometimes it would fire the next few rounds before doing it again. Once or twice when it failed to go into battery I couldn't push it the rest of the way forward with my thumb and had to re-rack the slide to chamber the next round.
I got a new replacement recoil ring, installed it, and problem solved. That may or may not work for you, but it did for me. YMMV.
The recoil spring was weak and slightly kinked. It wouldn't reliably return to battery on its own, but MOST (not all) of the time I could push it forward that last 3/16" with my thumb and it would fire again. Sometimes it would fail to go into battery again on the next shot, sometimes it would fire the next few rounds before doing it again. Once or twice when it failed to go into battery I couldn't push it the rest of the way forward with my thumb and had to re-rack the slide to chamber the next round.
I got a new replacement recoil ring, installed it, and problem solved. That may or may not work for you, but it did for me. YMMV.
Before you change out anything....
Assume at first that there is nothing wrong with the gun.
Make sure you aren't limp wristing.
Did you weigh the charges to see if they are above minimum load? That 'maximum' load sounds awfully light.
Did you plunk test the rounds? (I've had a lot of odd situations in 9mm because of certain profile bullets causing 'plunk problems'.) The 'smallball' bullets especially kept the slide from going into battery unless they were loaded SHORT. If you can't push the slide into battery when it doesn't close all the way, this may be your problem. Bullets with a more tapered nose are much more forgiving that the rounder profiles.
Assume at first that there is nothing wrong with the gun.
Make sure you aren't limp wristing.
Did you weigh the charges to see if they are above minimum load? That 'maximum' load sounds awfully light.
Did you plunk test the rounds? (I've had a lot of odd situations in 9mm because of certain profile bullets causing 'plunk problems'.) The 'smallball' bullets especially kept the slide from going into battery unless they were loaded SHORT. If you can't push the slide into battery when it doesn't close all the way, this may be your problem. Bullets with a more tapered nose are much more forgiving that the rounder profiles.
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s2harry
Member
NO lead
I would only use jacketed bullets and add a slight taper crimp. Lead bullets are oversize.
I would only use jacketed bullets and add a slight taper crimp. Lead bullets are oversize.
...
I would go so far as to say that the .45 ACP loves lead above all others, with the possible exception of 185-grain Nosler JHPs. And unless you're shooting at 50 yards, you'd be hard-pressed to notice the difference between that and a humble 200-grain swaged LSWC.
Lead bullets are usually +.001" in all calibers. A lead bullet has to seal the bore, otherwise gases will escape around the bullet and up the side, leading to flame-cutting, which causes leading and poor accuracy. A jacketed bullet is protected by its copper jacket. Lead has a melting point of 621 degrees. Copper melts at ~1900 degrees.
I would go so far as to say that the .45 ACP loves lead above all others, with the possible exception of 185-grain Nosler JHPs. And unless you're shooting at 50 yards, you'd be hard-pressed to notice the difference between that and a humble 200-grain swaged LSWC.
Lead bullets are usually +.001" in all calibers. A lead bullet has to seal the bore, otherwise gases will escape around the bullet and up the side, leading to flame-cutting, which causes leading and poor accuracy. A jacketed bullet is protected by its copper jacket. Lead has a melting point of 621 degrees. Copper melts at ~1900 degrees.
Of course if you don't load to the correct OAL the Final Sizing die isn't going to help you. I load mine to the correct OAL so running them through the Final Sizing die insures that MY reloads will chamber without issues.
nachogrande
Member
PLUNK TEST FIRST, #1 SUGESTION
I believe in tailoring the load to the gun VS changing springs to fit the load. A dummy round is never a bad idea IMO. Plunk testing EVERY round isn't as bad, or time consuming as it sounds. Finding out if a round sits too low, too high, fails to plunk, or is just too tight a fit in the chamber is better discovered at the loading bench than the range. OTOH those short barreled 45's seem to have more than their share of "issues". My 230 gr cast or jacketed 45's worked fine, but threw the cases the furthest (same load of unique). Dropping down to 200 gr cast reduced recoil, & the long distance brass chucking using 6 gr of unique in a Sig stainless P220. What does ALL that mean??? Back to load testing IMO.
I believe in tailoring the load to the gun VS changing springs to fit the load. A dummy round is never a bad idea IMO. Plunk testing EVERY round isn't as bad, or time consuming as it sounds. Finding out if a round sits too low, too high, fails to plunk, or is just too tight a fit in the chamber is better discovered at the loading bench than the range. OTOH those short barreled 45's seem to have more than their share of "issues". My 230 gr cast or jacketed 45's worked fine, but threw the cases the furthest (same load of unique). Dropping down to 200 gr cast reduced recoil, & the long distance brass chucking using 6 gr of unique in a Sig stainless P220. What does ALL that mean??? Back to load testing IMO.
I have only been reloading 45 ACP for 18 years or so. If a round doesn't pass the plunk test, I find out why and fix it. I have never had a need for an FCD or resizing the round post loading, nothing to hide/cover up. I have a case gauge for 45 ACP, but I no longer use it, as I'm not firing any rounds through it. My gun's barrels are what matters...
Bill Lear
Member
You say the "dimensions of the round" are "spot on." What exactly does that mean?
Failure to feed is often a problem with cartridges that are too long and fail to be released from the magazine feed lips in proper sync with where the nose is on the feed ramp. Overly long rounds tend to stall, then nose up sharply and jam half-way in the chamber.
Better to build your cartridges too short - especially with the .45 Auto than too long. As long as you're working up charges with the SAME bullet seating depth (C.O.A.L.) pressure won't be an issue.
garryj
Member
scattershot
Member
When you said your OAL was spot on, based on what? where did you get your info? The OAL will change with bullet shape and type. I agree with thise who said your problem is a failure to go into battery rather than a failure to feed. Dollars to donuts your bullet is contacting the leade or rifling in the barrel. Plunk test would be the first step. You might also look closely at one of the rounds that didn't chamber properly, and see if there are rifling marks on the bullet.
Can you post pics of your ammo?
Can you post pics of your ammo?
You mentioned your load was "Spot on"...... per the manual.
A OAL length of 1.269" was mentioned.
Earlier I stated that your weapon was not going into battery.
If you get a chance, load ten of your lead 230 gr bullet up with.....
a OAL of 1.17" that is for a TC lead design and repot back with the results.
Have a great day.
A OAL length of 1.269" was mentioned.
Earlier I stated that your weapon was not going into battery.
If you get a chance, load ten of your lead 230 gr bullet up with.....
a OAL of 1.17" that is for a TC lead design and repot back with the results.
Have a great day.
