First time shooting lead bullets: feeding and extraction problems

[jumpthestack]

I've made and shot jacketed reloads before with no problems, but this was the first time shooting lead reloads.

I was shooting Missouri Bullet company softball 230 grain .45 ACP bullets in my Dan Wesson PM7. I tried a few different powder charges and they all had the issue, so the charge/powder is not the problem. They all had a OAL of 1.27" which came from the recipe I was using from the Lyman reloading guide.

When I go to rack the slide to chamber a round, many times the slide did not go all the way into battery. It was usually about .5 to 1 centimeter from being in battery. From there I had to pull back on the slide to eject it, in which case it always felt like there was some resistance when I tried to pull it back. Sometimes the resistance was very strong and I had to really rack it hard to eject the round. Afterward, the lead bullet had some scratches on it.

Thoughts on what could be causing this?

[cdrxls]

the edge (ogive) of the bullet is hitting the lands/rifling of the barrel.

you need to seat the bullet deeper. try seating it at 1.260 or 1.250

Good Luck !

[jumpthestack]

That's what I was thinking too. Thanks!

[pdq_wizzard]

That and lead bullets in the .45 almost always need to be taper crimped.

[jumpthestack]

Just for the record in case anyone finds this via Google or something: I seated them at 1.250 OAL and the problems went away. I always had put a light taper crimp on them so I don't think that was a problem.