Reloads Bad?

[Bukowski]

Depends on the gun, some are more picky about OAL etc. My freaking Ruger .22 likes exactly two brands of ammo. ALL other give FTE etc. Learn what they like or get a revolver

[Mstnpete]

When I load my own I have a OAL length that works on my Glocks, Sigs & 1911s.
It depends on barrel ramp, Over all length, mag followers and weak mag springs that could cause issues.
Plus most 1911s need barrel throating done on them so it won't be ammo picky.
Using round nose bullets would be better than using semi-wad on new 1911 pistols.

[pepsi2451]

When I first started reloading I took my reloads and some reloads someone gave me and shot them through a RIA 1911. They where both 230 grain lrn bullets. I don't know what kind he used, I casted my own with a Lee mold. The ones that where given to me had the same problem your having, they would hang up every other round. Mine worked perfect.

Just because your gun doesn't like those reloads doesn't mean reloads are bad. Maybe its time to start rolling your own and customizing them to your gun.

[Colt]

when i see vids of guns exploding there all from reloads

Saw one in person last weekend. Guy a couple lanes over from me had a Glock blow - it broke the mag catch.

I wanted to tell him he was hallucinating, because Glocks don't break...

But in all seriousness, this was a catastrophe avoided. The mag catch broke on the right side of the pistol - it easily could have caused severe damage to his hand.

Turns out he was shooting reloads made by someone else.

[J-cat]

when i see vids of guns exploding there all from reloads

So?

[rero360]

when i see vids of guns exploding there all from reloads

*They're*

However I would contend that just because the small sample you have seen points to reloads being purely the culprit that factory ammo produces just as many exploded guns. I have seen numerous AKs and ARs kaboom using factory ammo, military ammo to be exact.

I personally have ran 800 rounds of .45ACP thru my SA 1911 so far that I reloaded, I have only experienced 2 problems, one was a dud primer and the other was a squib, either the powder was contaminated in the case or I failed to put powder in that case all together, knocked the bullet out of the barrel without any damage or serious strain. I loaded up a batch of 1k at once and am still working my way thru it, they were my very first reloads.

I have since loaded and shot hundreds of .308 rounds with only one problem, a round would not chamber as the runout was to great, switching from a Lee Turret to a RCBS Rock Chucker and upgraded dies solved that and tightened up my groups.

[zfields]

Well, im about 1.5-2k into my own reloads. No booms. And again, if you take your time, and insure you repeat the process without interuptions, your reloads will be nearly as safe as factory, if not more.

[1forall]

^^yeah I'm thinking of reloading myself. The range charged me $25 for a box of PMC fmj, ridiculous right.

[zfields]

my local range charges 38 bucks for winchester white box .45 ammo.

[Masterdebater]

45 is ridiculous in price ... get to reloading man best 200 u can spend if u like to shoot alot

[fennecfrank]

I like to use factory ammo on a new gun just to insure the gun and mags are working perfectly. Some of the tighter 1911's do require a 'Break-in' period.
Once the gun is confirmed in working order, I will shoot range reloads or factory, whatever is cheaper.
Try some factory ammo before making any decisions on the gun.
Good luck.

+1. New guns require break-in period, especially 1911's. I would only use factory loads for, at least, the first 1,000 rounds. After that, you can go back to reloads to see if you have the same problem

[Craigwood]

I took my RIA 1911a1 to the range today for the first time. I used reloads and it jammed or failed to go into battery every other round, so I used factory ammo thereafter with no issues. Is this a common problem or just bad reloads.

I do all my reloading myself. And it was just last week that the reloads I made for my 9mm Ruger P85 were giving me problems. When I do reload, I take a Factory Load, a pair of calipers and the barrel of the piece I am making them for. I will measure OAL, diameter to do my initial set up for my dies and see if it fits in the barrel.(9mm broken down and just using the barrel). When satisfied, I will go to my reloader and duplicate the exact measurment of the factory. Make a batch of 10 and trial fit. Put the gun back together again, load the clip and action those 10. When I know they all match my gun, I will proceed with the remainder of the batch. As I said the problem I had last week, I did not test those in my gun before going to the range. I assumed they were correct from the last reloads I did and made no adjustments. So, do not assume. In other words take those reloads you have and see if they fit in the barrel. If they stick just a little bit, you will get a jam. As for mine, they will need re-crimping again. No big deal. And check OAL against factory specs. Another thing check to see if those reloads have a roll crimp. Typically, auto pistol loads do not have a roll crimp. If so very slight. If you note the factory loads, they have No Roll Crimp at all.

[zfields]

I do all my reloading myself. And it was just last week that the reloads I made for my 9mm Ruger P85 were giving me problems. When I do reload, I take a Factory Load, a pair of calipers and the barrel of the piece I am making them for. I will measure OAL, diameter to do my initial set up for my dies and see if it fits in the barrel.(9mm broken down and just using the barrel). When satisfied, I will go to my reloader and duplicate the exact measurment of the factory. Make a batch of 10 and trial fit. Put the gun back together again, load the clip and action those 10. When I know they all match my gun, I will proceed with the remainder of the batch. As I said the problem I had last week, I did not test those in my gun before going to the range. I assumed they were correct from the last reloads I did and made no adjustments. So, do not assume. In other words take those reloads you have and see if they fit in the barrel. If they stick just a little bit, you will get a jam. As for mine, they will need re-crimping again. No big deal. And check OAL against factory specs. Another thing check to see if those reloads have a roll crimp. Typically, auto pistol loads do not have a roll crimp. If so very slight. If you note the factory loads, they have No Roll Crimp at all.

Prepare yourself for the onslaught of "clip vs magazine" monkeys.

[Craigwood]

Prepare yourself for the onslaught of "clip vs magazine" monkeys.

Dooly Noted. Consider my phrase corrected. Thank You zfields.

[ocspeedracer]

The thing that's weird is I ran them through my XD with no problems. Are 1911s finicky?

is blood red? Okay, truthfully not all are, but some don't like certain factory ammo but will run day and night with a different manufacturer. I'd consider it character for now and try again after about 600 rounds and see if you can run everything.