45 ACP chambering

[runway1]

I've been handloading 45s for my Colt series 80. Latest loads chamber inconsistently; several don't get there. I've loaded them at OAL of 1,260". I figured some were too long. So, I pushed them to 1.240/1.250. Same thing only a bit better. I did notice some of the really short rounds (<1.238) seem to not chamber well.

Are you hand loaders noticing a sweet spot for 45 OAL? What else could be happening? Thanks all!

[pdq_wizzard]

what bullet are you using? FMJ / LRN / LCWC ? grain .......

how many rounds have you shot through the gun? Have you tried other mags? how does factory ammo work?

more info needed.

[Capt.Dunsel]

I've been handloading 45s for my Colt series 80. Latest loads chamber inconsistently; several don't get there. I've loaded them at OAL of 1,260". I figured some were too long. So, I pushed them to 1.240/1.250. Same thing only a bit better. I did notice some of the really short rounds (<1.238) seem to not chamber well.

Are you hand loaders noticing a sweet spot for 45 OAL? What else could be happening? Thanks all!

Is your brass new? once fired? several times fired?
Some people don't think that 45 acp brass needs to be trimmed , have you tried it ?
Are you crimping ? just taking out the bell ?
Using fmj , plated? hard cast?

[Bigedski]

Things to check 1. OAL 2. Taper crimp 3. Magazine 4. Feed ramp is smooth.
Make up some dummy rounds and experiment with OAL and your mag lips and feed ramp.
After building a new 1911 that is what I do.

[Fishslayer]

First thing to do is plunk test. Does a loaded round "plunk" into the chamber and then fall free?

1.26" should be OK unless you are using a .452" cast bullet with a "step" like the 230gr Bear Creek. Much beyond 1.25" & the step starts to engage the lands.

If you are using cast bullets are you shaving lead? Slivers can cause a round not to chamber in a couple of different ways.

If you're loading .451" plated/jacketed I would make sure you're getting all the belling out. OD at the case mouth should be around .470-.471 - ish depending on headstamp. You can use the jaws of your caliper to eyeball whether there is any belling left. It's actually how I set my LFCD.

How old is your recoil spring?

Were your handloads working before? What changed?

[krwada]

Do the following:
1. Make some dummy rounds. These are rounds with NO primer and no powder
2. Seat these dummy rounds at various COAL
3. Check your results against the following graphic.
[IMG][/IMG]
This is what I did.

Also ... check your dummy rounds for proper cycling ....

Let me guess ... Are you trying to load SWC? If so, SWC is not so easy to get correct for COAL. You can be off by as little as 0.01" and your rounds will NOT cycle properly.

Once you get the SWC to cycle ... well let me say that SWC bullets are a real pleasure to shoot!

[runway1]

The shoots box ammo fine. I'm loading Berry's 230 grain, RN-FMJ, no crimp. Plenty f rounds through the gun shot fine before although, brass is at least once- fired, maybe many more times.

Do you folks usually crimp? I don't crimp my pistol rounds but I was thinking that might help as I can feel the edge of the bell ...know what I mean?

[runway1]

Good tips. I'll check these out tomorrow.

[runway1]

If you're loading .451" plated/jacketed I would make sure you're getting all the belling out. OD at the case mouth should be around .470-.471 - ish depending on headstamp. You can use the jaws of your caliper to eyeball whether there is any belling left. It's actually how I set my LFCD.

How old is your recoil spring?

Were your handloads working before? What changed?

Fresh spring. Gun has <1,000 rounds. My handloads worked fine before. Switched to a Dillon 650 from a single stage. I feel like I need to check that bell dim. Thanks for the tip

['ol shooter]

Crimp until they drop in freely, no more. I use case gauges for .45 and 9mm, and do random checks as I run a batch, to make sure they are in spec.

[pdq_wizzard]

The shoots box ammo fine. I'm loading Berry's 230 grain, RN-FMJ, no crimp. Plenty f rounds through the gun shot fine before although, brass is at least once- fired, maybe many more times.

Do you folks usually crimp? I don't crimp my pistol rounds but I was thinking that might help as I can feel the edge of the bell ...know what I mean?

I use the Hornady taper crimp and just enough to make the round drop into my tightest barrel.

but you might just need to run the seating die down just a little more and a little less bell, if you didn't need a taper crimp before I don't see why you would now.

[bruce381]

get a caliper and a tapper crimp and crimp to .470-.472 that should fix it OAL is fine

[dog]

I noticed that my 1911 is very picky with my reloads. Some chamber fine and some don't. The ones that don't will chamber fine in my sig p220. Perhaps my barrel just has tight tolerances and yours does also?

['ol shooter]

I have a Bar-Sto match barrel in my Gold Cup. I have four 1911 type pistols, and I have never had a single failure to feed, because I use a case gauge to check my rounds, and crimp just until they drop into the gauge freely. Can't be any simpler or more clear than that.

[Fishslayer]

Do you folks usually crimp? I don't crimp my pistol rounds but I was thinking that might help as I can feel the edge of the bell ...know what I mean?

If you can "feel" the edge then that's a clue. Run the jaws of your caliper down right on the case mouth. Then eyeball to see where the jaws are hitting. If they contact the edge of the mouth then there is still belling there. I adjust the LFCD till I can juuuuuust see zero or just a little sliver of daylight at the rim. You don't need a whole lot, if any, crimp but the belling does need to be gone.