Problems loading .45 ACP 200 grain LSWC

[Jboutfishn]

Depending on bullet manufacturer, I have loaded out to 1.248 to achieve consistent feeding in my Sig 1911. Plated bullets seem to require the longer OAL.

 

[gray wolf]

Many people fail to properly crimp their autopistol ammo, convinced that they will have problems because the ammo won't properly "headspace on the case mouth." In reality, in most production handguns, the ammunition is actually headspacing on the extractor hook.

Well in reality the 45 ACP does not head space off the extractor hook,

When it's all said and done it head spaces off the case mouth.
Let me explain:

An ideal situation for the 45 acp case is to head space on the case mouth with the back of the case,(the case head) even with the back of the barrel hood. In order for that to take place the case length has to be perfect for a given chamber. 45 ACP cases have a lot of Grass between case length Minimum and maximum length, further complicating the issue is the fact that 45 ACP cases do not grow when shot and reloaded, they get shorter. I am sure you have noticed that if you load the cartridge.

Take any number of 45 cases and drop them into the barrel chamber with the barrel removed from the pistol, see how many drop in with the back of the case even with the back of the barrel hood ?

What ! you say many go in deeper ? so how does this whole thing work ?
The extractor does indeed grip and hold the case, but there is wiggle room for the case to move forward away from the beach face when the pistol is shot. With short cases the firing pin inertia pushes the case a head into the chamber, the case stops at the end of the chamber and head spaces there while still being held by the extractor.

The length of the firing pin and the slight wiggle room built into the extractor all work together. Ever notice sometimes you will get a light pin strike on a case and a heavier one on another ? the case was in a different position in the chamber while still grabbed by the extractor. A very short case that exceeds the limits of the extractor can be held by it but that is not the norm.

I cast with an original H&G 4 hole # 68 SWC mold that was made in the very early 1940,s Like all semi WC bullets it has a shoulder. The best way to get even ignition and the same position in the barrel with the case head against the breach face or as close to it as possible is to try loading like this. ( it's not my idea ) it is proven way to do it.

Take the barrel out of the pistol, seat a SWC long in a dummy case. You may have to remove some case mouth flare for the bullet to fully enter the barrel. Now drop it into the barrel, the case head should be proud of the back of the barrel hood. Now re- seat slowly till the bullet drops in and is flush with the back of the barrel hood. Add a thou or two for eventual fowling at the chamber end and that is your OAL for that bullet.

My pistol, my barrel, likes about 1.240 1.245
That round should function. If it does not, make sure your barrel is throated properly for SWC bullets,
or adjust the seating dept a tiny amount, a crimp of .469 to .472 should work fine. Over crimping does nothing for bullet hold, to much crimp will actually loosen the bullet hold and just distort the bullet.

Most new guns are set up for SWC bullets with the acception of some 1911 GI pattern pistols that are throated for ball ammo only. A standard GI mag with the dimple on the follower should work fine, it's all I need.

Use a 23# main spring and a 16# recoil spring, A 1911 should NOT need a 20 or 22 pound recoil spring to function with standard Vel. ball or even a soft target load. Heavy springs are a band aid for not fixing a problem

 

[Moonman]

grey wolf,

How about editing and do some paragraph spacing.
To my old eyes your post is very hard to read.

It just looks like a very long run on sentence to me.

Thanks,
MOONMAN

 

[venomballistics]

OK .. see if this solves it for ya.
step one ... back off your seating die so that it does not make a crimp
Step two, adjust the seating punch so that it seats to your desired OAL
Step three back off the seating punch to avoid any contact with the bullet.
step four run the die body down to crimp.
this will separate the seating and crimping functions of the die.
see how THAT chambers for ya.

If this solves it, and likely will, you could add a crimp only die to the set and use your seat / crimp die for seating only.
Or you could perform the above steps in respect to your production run.

 

[KLYDE]

+ 1 for checking shorter lengths, also perhaps +.010” as well. I think the minimum where the shoulder is exactly flush with the case mouth is going to be about 1.230”, most people set the shoulder out about .030’ from the case mouth.
I made a set of dummies at various Col to check feeding. I have more than one 1911, a 4566, and a P220 to feed. So it becomes a bit tricky to get all to work with the same COL.
Missouri bullets are the standard H&G 68 profile. It has a very good reputation for feeding in most 1911s.
I am running 1.240” now with that profile and a .470 taper crimp, everything is feeding.

Been doing my H&G 68 clones at 1.250 and a .470 taper crimp for years with no feeding issues.

 

[Rule3]

Maybe the OP figured out the problem in 2010. Think he is still following this thread??

 

[JBoss]

Improving feeding of SWC bullets

The following URL has an interesting article on 1911 reliability.

1911 Reliability Secrets

One of the things mentioned is having a slight bevel on the inside of the barrel hood to improve feeding reliability. I looked at the barrel hood of a new Colt defender and there was a bevel on the inside of the barrel hood.

Hope this helps.

JB

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Have you checked the bullet in your barrel?? That is remove the barrel and check your fit?? I always let my barrel be my guide-- if the fit is not right, nothing else will matter. That would be where I would start at least--JMHO-