OAL for 45 ACP

[igot105]

I'm having an occasional FTF, or light primer strikes, with some of my 45 ACP reloads and hoping to get some advice. This happens one out of every 10 or 15 rounds. I'm currently using 800x powder and setting my OAL to 1.250. My rounds feed and chamber without problems.

I've ruled out the primers, or issues with my newer handguns (XDS and Kahr CM45). My reloads all work in my 1911s, M&P 45, and Glock 30. I'm beginning to think it's my OAL for these smaller handguns and wondering if my light primer strikes may be caused by my OAL being is too short, or too long. I'm in the process of preparing test loads (with varying OALs) for my next range trip, but thought I'd ask for comments. Hope someone can help. Thanks

[Ojallday]

I had that problem before but I don't think it's the AOL. I had a glock 17 gen 4 and every now and then the primer strike would be light but when I used that exact ammo (the ones that failed to fire on the g17)on a different handgun it would fire with no issues. I replaced the firing pin and my problem was solved. And this was not reloads it was that tulla ammo. But same issue I believe.

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[stilly]

I had that problem before but I don't think it's the AOL. I had a glock 17 gen 4 and every now and then the primer strike would be light but when I used that exact ammo (the ones that failed to fire on the g17)on a different handgun it would fire with no issues. I replaced the firing pin and my problem was solved. And this was not reloads it was that tulla ammo. But same issue I believe.

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Yes. They do not care about your silly ammo but they WILL certainly prevent you from checking your numbers fast...

[Eljay]

1.25 is pretty classic. Light primer strikes can be caused by a few things, and different guns will behave differently with the same ammo because some guns have more margin of error than others.

1. Make sure all the primers are being set in all the way. Check some factory ammo - the primers are set deeper than you might guess.
2. Some primer brands are harder than others. Federal is easiest to set off. CCI and Winchester in the middle. Tulas and similar are very hard.
3. On the gun side, reduced weight striker/mainsprings, worn firing pins, worn firing pin channels all reduce the power available to pop the primer. Some of your guns may be able to set a high primer and still pop it. Others might just push it in the rest of the way and then nothing will happen until you hit it a second time.

[CalTeacher]

Have you tried firing the light strikes a second time? If they go off the high primers are likely the culprit.

Your oal should have anything to do with your primer strikes unless your ammo is so absurdly long that your gun won't go completely into battery.

[igot105]

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. I went to the range this morning and tested varying OALs and you're right, it doesn't seem to fix or make the light primer strikes any worst. I also rechecked the seating of my primers and they seem to be set OK and the rounds actually fire with my 1911 and Glock 30s. It's probably the striker mechanism and time to send it back to the manufacturers. Thank you very much for your comments.

[JMP]

The base of the cartridge is going to sit in the same spot despite the OAL so this won't make a difference in getting the primers to ignite. Give the guns a cleaning, and make sure you don't have any heavy lube that is obstructing the firing pin.

[GovGeek]

The base of the cartridge is going to sit in the same spot despite the OAL so this won't make a difference in getting the primers to ignite. Give the guns a cleaning, and make sure you don't have any heavy lube that is obstructing the firing pin.

^^^ This. I use Frog Lube and used it on my firing pin for my P938 (never lube this firing pin). That was a bad decision. Since this lube is organic it thickens over time and one day at the range I was getting light primer strikes, some would go bang but others that wouldn't ran through just fine in my 226 and VP9. Lesson learned, I only use this lube on guns I fire and clean on a weekly basis.

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