First hand loads, need help.

[timmyb21]

Okay guys, CalGuns is basically my homepage so I'm gonna ask you. I have reloaded about 100 rounds of .45 acp this last week, and they're the first 100 rounds I've ever made. Nothing too complicated, but I'm having an issue with the new rounds. They seem to be really tight in the chamber of my MC Operator, but work fine in my GI 1911. I have yet to fire any rounds, and the second time around I tried to decrease the flare to the minimum needed to seat the bullet. I figured the lip was just still flared out a bit. No change. Is there anything else I need to check? They will chamber in the MC Op, but only if I slingshot the slide. Thanks guys!

Tim

[xMAC1x]

Have you checked the OAL. And the brass all brass is not created equal. Meaning try diffrent reloads. Because CCI is giving me trouble.

[timmyb21]

Case length is in spec, OAL is in spec as well, brass is all once fired, mostly WWB stuff, all fired by me. Could they have expanded to the size of the GI chamber when I fired them, making them tight in the MC Op match barrel chamber?

[SixPointEight]

match barrel chamber?

Could be the issue. Match barrels tend to have tighter tolerances. Do you have standard or small base dies?

Do you have a dial caliper? If you have any factory ammo, I'd measure the diameter of the factory case, and compare it to the size of the reload's casing. You'll likely find your reloads have a larger diameter.

[timmyb21]

Could be the issue. Match barrels tend to have tighter tolerances. Do you have standard or small base dies?

Do you have a dial caliper? If you have any factory ammo, I'd measure the diameter of the factory case, and compare it to the size of the reload's casing. You'll likely find your reloads have a larger diameter.

I do. I'll do this and check back in the morning, gotta get up at 7 to babysit a 3 year old kid.

[joelogic]

The lip flare is fixed by the crimp die. Decreasing flare only adds to brass life.

Not all chambers are created the same, however. Brass expanding and not fitting your chamber. Some of your questions indicate a lack of fundamental reloading understanding. No offense. It doesnt matter which gun fires the round because the sizing die brings it back to spec. Flaring has nothing to do with it not chambering unless you are not crimping. Reread your manual and try again.

[SixPointEight]

The lip flare is fixed by the crimp die. Decreasing flare only adds to brass life.

Not all chambers are created the same, however. Brass expanding and not fitting your chamber. Some of your questions indicate a lack of fundamental reloading understanding. No offense. It doesnt matter which gun fires the round because the sizing die brings it back to spec. Flaring has nothing to do with it not chambering unless you are not crimping. Reread your manual and try again.

Actually what you said isn't entirely true. If a military m240B fires some ammo, and I get the casings, I may need a small base die for those casings to fire in my civilian AR15. In that case, it did matter what gun fired the round, and the resizing die wouldn't bring it back to spec unless you were using a small base die.

Everybody was new at some point man, instead of pointing him to the book, which may not has had the information he needs, you teach him something so he's better-off having read your post?

I'm fairly new to reloading, I have a manual, and google to reference, but still there were a couple of questions I just couldn't answer without the help of a friend of mine that is also a reloader. Not everybody learns well from a book.

[ejor]

Match chambers are tighter , and you may need a taper crimp die to get the flare back down so they will chamber, some cast bullets won't chamber in my baer unless I taper crimp them, you want adjust the die to just take the flare out, but be sure to leave enough brass exposed around the bullet to head space on in the chamber. Also check bullet seating depth, match chambers may need deeper seated bullets depending on bullet shape. Look for marks on bullets. You can take the barrel off and use it for a chamber gauge when setting your dies up, and checking your finished ammo. They should go all the way in and ideally fall out with gravity.
'JT1989' generally with pistol dies there is no need for under size dies,nor are they often available . as regular dies are designed to size more than enough. [Except for fixing 'Glocked' brass ]
But auto rifles like your 5.56 should usually use small base dies. that's what they where created for. To make sure they chamber

[timmyb21]

Okay, mic'd everything, all in spec. got frustrated. I then had an idea. I busted out the marker and colored the bullet, caselip and case (just where I figured it would have the most chance of hanging up. Chambered said round, ejected it, and saw that the marker was worn off of about 1/4 of the case lip. I need to taper crimp them I think. I need to find a taper crimp die. Hopefully that will fix the problem. Since they chamber correctly in my GI, they should be fine to shoot through it, correct?

And, yes, these are my very first handloads, I read a couple manuals, everything I could find before starting on this endeavor, and it still gave me fits. Not hard, just tedious. So many little things the instructions don't tell you, I had no idea the .45acp needed to be crimped, I thought it was just an option. Looks like I was wrong. Thanks guys.

[joelogic]

Re: small base die, we are talking about pistol brass.

Usually pistol die sets come with a crimp die. So if you dont have one, then yes you need one. Maybe a case gauge would be helpful as well. But chamber checking is still the most effective.

[powaybob]

Actually most 45 dies sets combine the seater and the crimper. Getting a separate crimp die and disabling the crimp on the seater sounds like it might work for you, but if you are using a single stage press that is another run through the press. You might recheck your crimp settings on the seater/crimper to make sure your crimper is actually doing its job.

I have a progressive and use a separate crimp step, though I do not have a match gun.

[SixPointEight]

Okay, mic'd everything, all in spec. got frustrated. I then had an idea. I busted out the marker and colored the bullet, caselip and case (just where I figured it would have the most chance of hanging up. Chambered said round, ejected it, and saw that the marker was worn off of about 1/4 of the case lip. I need to taper crimp them I think. I need to find a taper crimp die. Hopefully that will fix the problem. Since they chamber correctly in my GI, they should be fine to shoot through it, correct?

"should be" isn't something I like to say about my reloads. What crimp die are you using? I would say re-crimp them until they fit the chamber freely

[timmyb21]

"should be" isn't something I like to say about my reloads. What crimp die are you using? I would say re-crimp them until they fit the chamber freely

I only say should be because I have never fired one of my own handloads through any of my pistols. I don't know what'll happen! I have done my homework, and my loads are very accurately put together. Powder puff loads, just to make sure I don't have any issues.

I'm using the Lee 3 carbide die set (I know, Lee is cheap) and a single stage press. The instructions for the dies say that a crimp die is unnecessary becasue the case is crimped with the bullet seating die. I may just run them through the die again and see if it crimps it a little better. If not I'll pull the die apart and see how it works, and decide if I need a seperate crimp die.

[Milsurp Collector]

I need to taper crimp them I think. I need to find a taper crimp die.

I'm using the Lee 3 carbide die set (I know, Lee is cheap) and a single stage press.

I have the Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-die .45ACP set and it includes the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die. You can also buy the Factory Crimp Die separately http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=716704

Some of the customer reviews at MidwayUSA:

harmon greer of longview, tx
Date posted: 6/22/2004
This is the very best die for reliable 45 acp ammo. I would get on average one or two failures to feed without this die. Now I haven't had a malfunction of any kind in over 6000 rounds...replace that dillon die with one that actually works...makes ammo that works, everything about this die is great. It's cheap, it works wonderfully. A must for a competition shooter, or for loading ammo that MUST work.

Read Rieder of Roanoke, VA
Date posted: 4/20/2004
Having problems with slightly oversized reloads? This is the perfect solution. Resizes the fully loaded case without undersizing the case mouth. 45 ACP reloads chamber like factory ammo. No more misfeeds. Well worth the money. Floating crimper design ensures perfect sizing without sensitivity to cartridge case length. Have bought one for every cartridge I reload.

Scott Klingler of Findlay, oh
Date posted: 9/19/2003
Using this separate crimp die and checking your load with a case gauge takes all of 15 extra seconds if you are new to reloading as I was a few months ago you may not realize you only have to be off a thousands or so, and your load won't chamber. The Lee crimper fixes that and the gauge confirms it before you get to the range. 2 of my best investments.

Allen Renner of Grand prairie, TX
Date posted: 8/20/2005
For years I used to size my 45 cartridges twice, once to initially resize, and then I would send my completed cartridges partially through my sizing die to iron out the bulges. This single die does a much more complete job of crimping and iron outs than I could do with two steps and every round chambers in every barrel. Lee's prices for their entire product line is dirt cheap, too. Do they use elves' labor up in Wisconsin?

Brian W of Woodbridge , va
Date posted: 7/24/2005
I am very pleased with this product. I was having failure to feed with .45 acp swc. This die fixed the issue. 200 rounds fired today, functioned flawlessly with mixed cases. Simply to use and inexpensive. I'll get one for all my auto loaders.

Joe Hill of Fort Peck, MT
Date posted: 12/21/2004
Excellent Die. Greatly improves your reloads function ability in your semiauto. Your loads look better too, no more bullet budges on the case sides. The best $12.49 I have spent in a long time.

Robert Wais of Henderson, NV
Date posted: 4/4/2002
The best thing since the invention of the crumb free bread-soup! Since I use them for all my pistol calibers, the problems vanished. Oversized cast bullets, thick brass, not exactly right angled bullet seatings... all is gone! Even the FTF's with 200 gr LSWC bullets in my .45 are gone. I recommend it very much.

[LGB Loader]

Call me kooky, call me wacky but I honestly believe that if you set your dies correctly, you do not need a factory crimp die, especially for 45 ACP. People have been handloading 40 - 50 years without them and have gotten along just fine. I have them on my Dillons but a barely use them.

Excuse me while I air out my laundry but these crimp dies are one of my pet peaves. People think that they can fix all / cure all with a factory crimp die without going after what the real problem is.

Just my opinion.

LGB