new to reloading...what do you think?

[jerryballs]

I have been practicing with my new press...I shot my first 30 rounds today and had to make some adjustments to the tapering...The rounds fired and about every 5th round they wouldn't chamber right and the trigger wouldn't pull..so I would have to manually eject the round and I set it aside for inspection.

Well I have adjusted the COL (1.235) and the pic below is my finished product....does it look alright? My .45 Baer is not sure that she wants to be the ginny pig...

[djp7558]

What was your load data and how was the grouping?
They look realy good from here...are ya HOOKED yet? ; )

[jerryballs]

the load data was

200 gr swc
5.1 gr Winchester 231

The first set were very off... Meaning the powder measure wasnt set right and I wouldn't always get a full load of powder. So my best group was 2" at 15 yds

This last set ( seen in pic) is all 5.1 gr..I haven't shot any from the latest batch, but I hope these don't jam up like the last set.... Can that type of seizure mess up my gun or rifling?

[TMC]

Check your crimp without a bullet in the case. Flare one and then run it into the crimp die. All you need to do is remove the flare you don't want an aggressive crimp.

[djp7558]

Just enough crimp to eliminate the chance of "setback" that can cause a high pressure problem.
I like WW231 alot!
How was the recoil ?....I haven't loaded .45acp ...yet.

[jerryballs]

So I should crimp just enough so there is no sharp edge right?

[jerryballs]

Just enough crimp to eliminate the chance of "setback" that can cause a high pressure problem.
I like WW231 alot!
How was the recoil ?....I haven't loaded .45acp ...yet.

the recoil wasnt bad... There were a few hot loads that snuck in before I fixed the powder read issue...

[30Cal]

Looks like a little bit too much lead showing above the case mouth. I'd seat the bullets just a wee bit deeper. I set SWC's so that there's just a sliver of lead shoulder showing. I never found that crimp made much of a difference.

[pottymouth310]

what kind of press are you using?
I was having the same problem with my Baer w/200 gr lead SWC. it was having a problem feeding up the ramp. it got caught on the shoulders especially under rapid fire.

I found what cycled best was good old-fashion ball rounds. 230gr hardball.
used Winchester 231 @4.5gr & WLP primer.

If your worried about recoil and wanna reduce the kick there is a 200gr jacketed SWC, I pack it at 5gr because I notice going less on powder your round has a harder time knocking down reactives & metal targets @ 25~50 yds.
try to stay away from the lead, it's dirty, more to clean & tends to jam up because of the soft metal in hot barrels.

[Gwenzilla]

So I should crimp just enough so there is no sharp edge right?

Get one of these and you can check all critical dimensions of straight wall cartridges - mouth diameter, base diameter, rim thickness and diameter, case and overall length and bullet diameter. If your rounds drop in this freely then there should be no problem with your set up. However if your powder charges are too light or too hot that is another story.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=171349&t=11082005

[jerryballs]

what kind of press are you using?
I was having the same problem with my Baer w/200 gr lead SWC. it was having a problem feeding up the ramp. it got caught on the shoulders especially under rapid fire.

I found what cycled best was good old-fashion ball rounds. 230gr hardball.
used Winchester 231 @4.5gr & WLP primer.

If your worried about recoil and wanna reduce the kick there is a 200gr jacketed SWC, I pack it at 5gr because I notice going less on powder your round has a harder time knocking down reactives & metal targets @ 25~50 yds.
try to stay away from the lead, it's dirty, more to clean & tends to jam up because of the soft metal in hot barrels.

awesome thanks for all the tips guys! I will try that.

I just ordered that guage for the .45 and some new brass as well and jacketing bullets

I love loading it so relaxing

[djp7558]

RELAXING...IT'S ALL I THINK ABOUT.
What if I drop the load half a grain...use a 5 grain lighter/heavier bullet...use a different primer...or...did I reload this batch wearing my lucky underwear... er... strike that last part!!!
....COME-ON....YOU ALL DO IT TOO!!! (i hope)

[ar15barrels]

What if I drop the load half a grain...use a 5 grain lighter/heavier bullet...

Find those answers here.

[djp7558]

Find those answers here.

Yaaaa....But that would take all the fun out of it....and...It'll take $150.00
out of my pocket !!!
I'll just dream and think...tinker and tweek.
Thanks anyway.

[mike100]

seating semi wadcutters is a bit of trial and error to see how it fits your chamber (take your bbl out of the pistol and drop finished rounds into it to see if it headspaces on the rim of the case properly).

There are a lot of different shapes and OAL's from one casting to another so I just measure from the wadcutter shoulder to the base of the cartridge. I usually go for around .920" shoulder to base length on those 185 and 200 grain 45 bullets. I have a small database to help me remember whatever final seating dimensions I used for different brands or bullet molds etc.