First batch of [real] reloads

[rman]

well its been about 6 weeks since I made some dummy rounds to set my dies (with exception to powder drop) on my LNL

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=947311

Today I finally got off my butt and set her up.

Through quite a bit of trial and error, I got the powder measure to drop... but my bullet feed wouldn't work. Realized it wasn't putting enough bell, got that fixed.

Using my handy dandy loadbook, I loaded 6.2 gr of unique, 230gr RN, 1.27 OAL.

I made 15 rounds of 45acp, 2 rounds with no primer, and crushed a good 10 cases before I BROKE MY DECAPPING PIN.

Only 1 real issue I need help with - the shellplate does not index properly to seat the primer. I think I saw a youtube vid for that awhile back... Anyone else have this issue? I end up having to wiggle the handle to index it, then seat.




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[5.56Geo]

Not having reloaded .45acp and having only reload 9mm and 10mm pistol cartridges I would say they look like they are over crimped. ...that just my observation. You can over pressure (pressure spike) the cartridge if it is over-crimped that can be very dangerous. The bottom right looks to be fine.

Sorry, not trying to be a party pooper! Good luck, lets us know how they shoot.

[Victor Cachat]

I had to set my pawls first thing to get the shell plate timing right for primers.
It is on page 18 of the manual: http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/...ing/LNL_AP.pdf

And the crimp does look a bit tight (but not on all of them).
Are all case lengths the same?

[rman]

yup, all the same lengths.

how can you tell they are tight? perhaps its the pic angle?

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[5.56Geo]

It could just be the picture. All of the bottom row except the far right look borderline at best. They may be fine, I definitely don't proclaim to be an .45apc ammo expert. The .45apc like the 10mm are pretty much strait walled cases but you can see a significant roll on the top of your reloads. Have you tried the "plop test" yet? Some barrels will not even chamber a round if its roll crimped too much.

...not trying to insult your intelligence just not sure if you know, it best to do the plop test with the barrel apart from the gun (dissembled).

Good luck -George

[Victor Cachat]

yup, all the same lengths.

how can you tell they are tight? perhaps its the pic angle?

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Take your calipers and measure the top of the crimp.
When I made my first .357 mag and .38 Special loads, I learned how important case length uniformity is.
Longer cases over crimp.

Also, I have read that taper crimp is the best way to load ammunition for autos because the case is what stops the cartridge from entering the rifled part of the barrel.

Have you test fitted your loads in the barrel?

[krwada]

Crimp

It could just be the picture. All of the bottom row except the far right look borderline at best. They may be fine, I definitely don't proclaim to be an .45apc ammo expert. The .45apc like the 10mm are pretty much strait walled cases but you can see a significant roll on the top of your reloads. Have you tried the "plop test" yet? Some barrels will not even chamber a round if its roll crimped too much.

...not trying to insult your intelligence just not sure if you know, it best to do the plop test with the barrel apart from the gun (dissembled).

Good luck -George

Yes ... They look over crimped to me too.
...plus ...

.45 ACP is supposed to be taper crimped ... not roll crimped.

[ironhorse1]

While it could just be the angle of the photo I also see signs of overcrimping.

The .45 acp cartridge head spaces on the case mouth. If the case mouth does not stop the forward movement of the cartridge you could have excessive head space and failures to fire.

The case should measure about .473" at the mouth. Also try the plunk test by dropping a round into your barrel to see where the back of the case stops.

The base should be even with the barrel hood. If it goes in further then you definitely have over crimped the case.


irh

[rman]

It could just be the picture. All of the bottom row except the far right look borderline at best. They may be fine, I definitely don't proclaim to be an .45apc ammo expert. The .45apc like the 10mm are pretty much strait walled cases but you can see a significant roll on the top of your reloads. Have you tried the "plop test" yet? Some barrels will not even chamber a round if its roll crimped too much.

...not trying to insult your intelligence just not sure if you know, it best to do the plop test with the barrel apart from the gun (dissembled).

Good luck -George

ok what am i looking for here. threw them in a spare 1911 bbl and they chambered fine, all but 1 came right out (1 had some slight resistance)

Take your calipers and measure the top of the crimp.
When I made my first .357 mag and .38 Special loads, I learned how important case length uniformity is.
Longer cases over crimp.

Also, I have read that taper crimp is the best way to load ammunition for autos because the case is what stops the cartridge from entering the rifled part of the barrel.

Have you test fitted your loads in the barrel?

they all measure same from crimp to base

also, I use a taper crimp die

Yes ... They look over crimped to me too.
...plus ...

.45 ACP is supposed to be taper crimped ... not roll crimped.

here are some pics of how they chamber





here's the one that might have too much crimp, it wedges in the bbl


and here's a straight shot of a handful of them
dont mind the OAL, another bad angle. already took calipers to them


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[ironhorse1]

You can't shoot those! I see seven pictures of Jesus! Praise the Lord!LOL

They do look better standing up but may still be entering your barrel too far.

Nice reflection shot.

irh

[rman]

While it could just be the angle of the photo I also see signs of overcrimping.

The .45 acp cartridge head spaces on the case mouth. If the case mouth does not stop the forward movement of the cartridge you could have excessive head space and failures to fire.

The case should measure about .473" at the mouth. Also try the plunk test by dropping a round into your barrel to see where the back of the case stops.

The base should be even with the barrel hood. If it goes in further then you definitely have over crimped the case.


irh

hmmmm.... i do have some that gp down to .4685 - .4690 at the very mouth, butnthey chamber right at the edge of the hood.

are these unsafe to fire?

Also, im seating and crimping in 1 station. do I just need to raise the die up a bit, then lower the seating portion appropriately, to lessen the crimp and retain OAL?

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[nahpungnome]

Gotta love that Hornady bullet seater ring For the one that's not chambering, it's over crimped. I taper crimp my 45s to .470 with good results. I accidentally roll crimped 100 rounds not too long ago, needless to say, banging out the components with a kinetic puller wasn't fun

The plunk test is one part, I made a batch of rounds that passed the plunk test, but when I got to the range, I had failures to chamber in my CZ 97. They went ok in my 1911s though.

[ironhorse1]

i do have some that gp down to .4685 - .4690 at the very mouth,

Measurements do help and yes that is a good indication that you are crimping to hard.

My reloads with 230 FMJ average .470"-.471" I was thinking about my.45 Colt with cast bullets.

Factory rounds measure about the same. So you are close.

There are other problems with over crimping such as causing the case to bulge or losing case neck tension.

Back off on the crimp die and lower the seating stem to keep your OAL.

As long as the case stops you should be able to fire those rounds.

irh

[rman]

You can't shoot those! I see seven pictures of Jesus! Praise the Lord!LOL

They do look better standing up but may still be entering your barrel too far.

Nice reflection shot.

irh

gotcha, what about them is wrong so i know what to correct?

the mouths measurw a bit small, but i didnt think small enough for them to be visibly noticeable..... some are right at 0.473, some are 0.4685....

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[Victor Cachat]

The picture makes it clearer.
It looks like the two on the left have longer cases.
The second one from the left is the only one that looks like a roll crimp in that photo.

Maybe the taper crimp die just formed the case to the bullet taper on that one?

But, to paraphrase the Post Office: If it Fits, It Shoots.