I have a Browning 1911-380 that has been giving me problems with failure to go into battery both initially when I release the slide for the first round as well as periodically during shooting.
I am using multiple case brands (RP, MRP, PMC, FC, WIN, Hornady) and they have been fired more than once. The bullet is a jacketed (Non-plated) 95gr HP from Everglades Bullet Co. in Florida. Primers are Remington Small Pistol and the powder is exactly 4.0gr of CFE-Pistol (max 4.2gr).
I reloaded 18 rounds today and 6 malfunctioned. I thought I had it figured out because I bought box of Fiocchi 90gr rounds and took one apart. The case measured 0.673" and the complete cartridge measured 0.954".
The recommended trim-to length of the case is 0.675" to 0.677" depending on the reference text. I loaded 7 with cases that measured 0.674"-0.675"; 6 that measured 0.673" and 5 that measured 0.671." The majority of my fired cases are less than 0.675; some as low as 0.668.”
I previously had seated the bullets to a COL of 0.970." They all passed the plunk test, but some did not function as described. But this time I seated them at 0.945 to 0.952." Again, they all passed the plunk test, and none of the bullets were seated below what I considered the start of the ogive curve. There were NO bulges in the cases either.
The very first round, COL 0.947” failed to completely go into battery and I had to “nudge” it to close. The third round, 0.951” failed as well, as did #11 (0.948”), and #15 (0.945”). Number 16 fired normally but #17 got jammed, held in an upright position in the chamber.
When I returned all of these to the magazine and tried again, they all functioned normally (!!??)
Another strange thing happened for the second time I’ve had this gun to the range. A cartridge failed to fire and when I examined it, I found a primer imprint and the outer edge of the primer (i.,e., 12, 3, 6 or 9 o’clock) When I chambered it again it fired normally.
I thought I might need to change powder for more energy, but a review showed CFE-Pistol at 4.0gr provides the greatest velocity and CUP compared to HP-38, Universal, and Titegroup.
I fired 5 Ficocchi factory rounds without any incident.
I had completely cleaned the gun before this trip to the range.
So I’m stuck for a solution and I would appreciate any thoughts you guys might have.
I am using multiple case brands (RP, MRP, PMC, FC, WIN, Hornady) and they have been fired more than once. The bullet is a jacketed (Non-plated) 95gr HP from Everglades Bullet Co. in Florida. Primers are Remington Small Pistol and the powder is exactly 4.0gr of CFE-Pistol (max 4.2gr).
I reloaded 18 rounds today and 6 malfunctioned. I thought I had it figured out because I bought box of Fiocchi 90gr rounds and took one apart. The case measured 0.673" and the complete cartridge measured 0.954".
The recommended trim-to length of the case is 0.675" to 0.677" depending on the reference text. I loaded 7 with cases that measured 0.674"-0.675"; 6 that measured 0.673" and 5 that measured 0.671." The majority of my fired cases are less than 0.675; some as low as 0.668.”
I previously had seated the bullets to a COL of 0.970." They all passed the plunk test, but some did not function as described. But this time I seated them at 0.945 to 0.952." Again, they all passed the plunk test, and none of the bullets were seated below what I considered the start of the ogive curve. There were NO bulges in the cases either.
The very first round, COL 0.947” failed to completely go into battery and I had to “nudge” it to close. The third round, 0.951” failed as well, as did #11 (0.948”), and #15 (0.945”). Number 16 fired normally but #17 got jammed, held in an upright position in the chamber.
When I returned all of these to the magazine and tried again, they all functioned normally (!!??)
Another strange thing happened for the second time I’ve had this gun to the range. A cartridge failed to fire and when I examined it, I found a primer imprint and the outer edge of the primer (i.,e., 12, 3, 6 or 9 o’clock) When I chambered it again it fired normally.
I thought I might need to change powder for more energy, but a review showed CFE-Pistol at 4.0gr provides the greatest velocity and CUP compared to HP-38, Universal, and Titegroup.
I fired 5 Ficocchi factory rounds without any incident.
I had completely cleaned the gun before this trip to the range.
So I’m stuck for a solution and I would appreciate any thoughts you guys might have.