.45 ACP reloads don't fire
Quote from Reloader on September 19, 2016, 4:13 pmI need the advice of some other reloaders with more experience than I! I have a Dillion XL650 Press using Dillion Dies. For over 2+ years I have been making 45. ACP reloads with less than 1% not firing on the first attempt.
However after a recent caliber change to 9mm and then back I'm experiencing 50% of the cases that have been fired 2 or 3 times before, not firing on the first attempt from the magazine. However if I manually load in the chamber the second time they fire and eject as expected. I don't see this behavior on brand new cases. So I'm more than a bit flummoxed here!
I'm using Starline, Remington, and Geco brass; Winchester and CCI Large Pistol Primers, and Montana Gold 230gr. FMJ bullets (diameter .452).
The OAL on the rounds varies between 1.255" and 1.269". They feed fine through my weapon and fit perfectly into my .45 ACP case gage.
The primers always appear to be struck properly; even on those 50% that don't fire (but yet they fire the second time when feed into the chamber manually?!?!). At first I though that the primers were not seated deeply enough into the Primer Pockets. So I started cleaning out each primer pocket before reloading the 2nd or 3rd time and adjusted my shell plate so that it was closer to the platform. The Primers were seated deeper in this case but I still had this horrendous FTF rate on the first firing of reloads.
Any expertise would be GREATLY appreciated!
I need the advice of some other reloaders with more experience than I! I have a Dillion XL650 Press using Dillion Dies. For over 2+ years I have been making 45. ACP reloads with less than 1% not firing on the first attempt.
However after a recent caliber change to 9mm and then back I'm experiencing 50% of the cases that have been fired 2 or 3 times before, not firing on the first attempt from the magazine. However if I manually load in the chamber the second time they fire and eject as expected. I don't see this behavior on brand new cases. So I'm more than a bit flummoxed here!
I'm using Starline, Remington, and Geco brass; Winchester and CCI Large Pistol Primers, and Montana Gold 230gr. FMJ bullets (diameter .452).
The OAL on the rounds varies between 1.255" and 1.269". They feed fine through my weapon and fit perfectly into my .45 ACP case gage.
The primers always appear to be struck properly; even on those 50% that don't fire (but yet they fire the second time when feed into the chamber manually?!?!). At first I though that the primers were not seated deeply enough into the Primer Pockets. So I started cleaning out each primer pocket before reloading the 2nd or 3rd time and adjusted my shell plate so that it was closer to the platform. The Primers were seated deeper in this case but I still had this horrendous FTF rate on the first firing of reloads.
Any expertise would be GREATLY appreciated!
Quote from Reloader on September 19, 2016, 5:09 pmThis sounds like the slide is not going fully forward perhaps. Fall back and load a magazine of factory ammunition, see if it fires and cycles.
This sounds like the slide is not going fully forward perhaps. Fall back and load a magazine of factory ammunition, see if it fires and cycles.
Quote from Reloader on September 19, 2016, 9:27 pmDo consider the possibility of "limp wristing". Not a very accurate term. But perhaps some combination of how you are gripping the gun and tension in your arms. Along with the load and components used. Is the cause. If you are using a "shock-buff", try replacing it.
Primers can look like there is no reason in the world for them to have not gone off. But when I replaced the firing pin spring on an Ruger M77, they went bang 100% of the time. Did not really look like the primer impact had changed. How old are your springs? Just something else to think about.
Good luck with it.
Do consider the possibility of "limp wristing". Not a very accurate term. But perhaps some combination of how you are gripping the gun and tension in your arms. Along with the load and components used. Is the cause. If you are using a "shock-buff", try replacing it.
Primers can look like there is no reason in the world for them to have not gone off. But when I replaced the firing pin spring on an Ruger M77, they went bang 100% of the time. Did not really look like the primer impact had changed. How old are your springs? Just something else to think about.
Good luck with it.