Ongoing Mystery of the 45 ACP
Quote from Reloader on June 14, 2013, 9:33 pmHere's the situation;
I finally got my hands on some Hornady .451 ACP XTP bullets at 185gr. I'm using Winchester .45 ACP brass and Alliant's Bullseye powder at 4.5gr. My Lehman Reloading Guide (bought with my 650 some time ago) says the OAL is .1.175" when assembled. However, when I made a few rounds (sans powder and new primer) just to gauge how it runs through my Kimber Ultra Compact II the rounds continually jam halfway into the barrel from the mag, forcing the bullet itself to jam down into the brass slightly from hitting the upper inside of the barrel. It's not getting stuck, I can drop the mag and fidget the completed round out but it's not fully feeding/seating the round into the chamber.
I'll admit this is my first time loading pistol since i've always done .308 and these "little" shells and powder measurements are something new to me.
Here's the situation;
I finally got my hands on some Hornady .451 ACP XTP bullets at 185gr. I'm using Winchester .45 ACP brass and Alliant's Bullseye powder at 4.5gr. My Lehman Reloading Guide (bought with my 650 some time ago) says the OAL is .1.175" when assembled. However, when I made a few rounds (sans powder and new primer) just to gauge how it runs through my Kimber Ultra Compact II the rounds continually jam halfway into the barrel from the mag, forcing the bullet itself to jam down into the brass slightly from hitting the upper inside of the barrel. It's not getting stuck, I can drop the mag and fidget the completed round out but it's not fully feeding/seating the round into the chamber.
I'll admit this is my first time loading pistol since i've always done .308 and these "little" shells and powder measurements are something new to me.
Quote from Reloader on June 15, 2013, 2:03 amI Have never loaded 45 ACP but I just looked it up in Loaddata and for a 185 grain bullet the OAL is 1.275. Thats not a big different but it might help. The bullet was a 185 grain Sierra Match.
I Have never loaded 45 ACP but I just looked it up in Loaddata and for a 185 grain bullet the OAL is 1.275. Thats not a big different but it might help. The bullet was a 185 grain Sierra Match.
Quote from Reloader on June 15, 2013, 4:38 pmYa this is where things get "fuzzy" because my reloading book says the OAL should be 1.175", Alliant's website says 1.2" and others I've seen has 1.275".
WTF?
And I tried rounds at 1.2 and had the same result, the bullet feeding up and jamming halfway into the barrel.
Ya this is where things get "fuzzy" because my reloading book says the OAL should be 1.175", Alliant's website says 1.2" and others I've seen has 1.275".
WTF?
And I tried rounds at 1.2 and had the same result, the bullet feeding up and jamming halfway into the barrel.
Quote from Reloader on June 15, 2013, 8:00 pmMight not be belling the case enough
Are you using a seperate crimp die?
Do you have a case gauge /pull the barrel & try droping the round in
Might not be belling the case enough
Are you using a seperate crimp die?
Do you have a case gauge /pull the barrel & try droping the round in
Quote from Reloader on June 16, 2013, 7:36 pmI ran into this problem on .223 and the problem was the magazine spring was too weak. The primer end of the case was not being pushed up fast enough for the slide to push the bullet into the chamber straight. As deadwood (the other reply) said you must have a case gage to check your reload with, LE Wilson makes them but I like the Dillon better.
I ran into this problem on .223 and the problem was the magazine spring was too weak. The primer end of the case was not being pushed up fast enough for the slide to push the bullet into the chamber straight. As deadwood (the other reply) said you must have a case gage to check your reload with, LE Wilson makes them but I like the Dillon better.
Quote from Reloader on June 17, 2013, 9:32 pmI use Wilson Combat mags that are less than a year old so it shouldn't be the spring.
I use the crimp die that came with the Dillon .45 ACP die set with a moderate crimp.
I use Wilson Combat mags that are less than a year old so it shouldn't be the spring.
I use the crimp die that came with the Dillon .45 ACP die set with a moderate crimp.
Quote from Reloader on June 17, 2013, 10:06 pmIt may not be the way you are reloading but the bullets themselves. I haven't lloaded any XTP's but when I first reloaded semi wad cutters for my .45 I had feed problems like you have. When bullets are stripped off the magazine they go up the ramp and hit the top of the chamber which causes them to pivot on the top of the ramp and the bullet tip to go down and the head to rise into the extractor on the bolt. What was happening was the flat tip on the wad cutter didn't have enough round edge to allow the round to pivot with a normal chamber. I had the barrel throated which lowered the ramp a little and rounded the sides of the lower barrel edges and this gave the rounds enough flex room to pivot and not jam the front of the round into the top of the chamber. If you are not having trouble with round nose bullets and only on the flat fronted type. This might be what is causing your problem.
It may not be the way you are reloading but the bullets themselves. I haven't lloaded any XTP's but when I first reloaded semi wad cutters for my .45 I had feed problems like you have. When bullets are stripped off the magazine they go up the ramp and hit the top of the chamber which causes them to pivot on the top of the ramp and the bullet tip to go down and the head to rise into the extractor on the bolt. What was happening was the flat tip on the wad cutter didn't have enough round edge to allow the round to pivot with a normal chamber. I had the barrel throated which lowered the ramp a little and rounded the sides of the lower barrel edges and this gave the rounds enough flex room to pivot and not jam the front of the round into the top of the chamber. If you are not having trouble with round nose bullets and only on the flat fronted type. This might be what is causing your problem.
Quote from Reloader on June 19, 2013, 4:49 ami just got my dillon 650 about six weeks ago. i have loade 45s with berrys, nosler, and xtp (my favorite) bullets all at coal 1.2. i shoot a kimber custom ii, kimber tactical ultra ii, and a colt gold cup. i consider my self lucky that after 800+ rounds not one feed jam or fte. i use dillon dies and a firm crimp. oh i use wilson combat mags that are anywhere from 1 to 2 years old and they are always loaded. but even before my dillon the only failures i had were my fault.
i just got my dillon 650 about six weeks ago. i have loade 45s with berrys, nosler, and xtp (my favorite) bullets all at coal 1.2. i shoot a kimber custom ii, kimber tactical ultra ii, and a colt gold cup. i consider my self lucky that after 800+ rounds not one feed jam or fte. i use dillon dies and a firm crimp. oh i use wilson combat mags that are anywhere from 1 to 2 years old and they are always loaded. but even before my dillon the only failures i had were my fault.
Quote from Reloader on July 30, 2013, 6:32 amGet a Lee bulge buster die, and also ensure that you do not have your re-sizing die set to deep. Most of the straight walled cases are actually tapered. Re-sizing the entire length of the case will cause a bulge near the case mouth after seating the bullet. The Lee factory crimp die will eliminate the "Glock Bulge" that occurs when the brass is fired through a pistol without a fully supported chamber, like a Glock.
Get a Lee bulge buster die, and also ensure that you do not have your re-sizing die set to deep. Most of the straight walled cases are actually tapered. Re-sizing the entire length of the case will cause a bulge near the case mouth after seating the bullet. The Lee factory crimp die will eliminate the "Glock Bulge" that occurs when the brass is fired through a pistol without a fully supported chamber, like a Glock.
Quote from Reloader on August 2, 2013, 3:42 amtRY A LITTLE BLUEING DIE ON THE CASE. tHAT WAY, YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT IS RUBBING. HOPE THAT HELPS, DAVE
tRY A LITTLE BLUEING DIE ON THE CASE. tHAT WAY, YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT IS RUBBING. HOPE THAT HELPS, DAVE