45 acp reloads

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cw308

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I check the loaded cases in a Lyman case Gage , have some cases where at the rim an some at the lowest point of the case head wouldn't go flush with the Gage . They would pass the plunk test . The reason it made me think is when adjusting extractor tension on the case , those cases could eject differently an bad enough could malfunction . I checked the cases 50 after sizing , 4 cases didn't go in flush with the gage . Will see if these 4 cases eject differently .
Also how often do you check the tension on the extractor . I bought the tool to adjust from Brownells , works well . I set my tension at 25 ounces . Before the cases were going in all different directions , factory setting was 16 ounces . Even though it was light I had no feed problems. That's why I got a 1911 , alot of things to play with.
 
I check the loaded cases in a Lyman case Gage , have some cases where at the rim an some at the lowest point of the case head wouldn't go flush with the Gage . They would pass the plunk test .
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It is difficult to figure out what you are trying to say. The loaded rounds are either passing the "plunk test", or they are not. The plunk test has nothing to do with extractor tension. If they pass the plunk test, they should fire, extract, and eject without any problem.
 
dahermit
They all fire but the ones that the rim diameter is slightly larger , I want to see if they eject differently. It would have more tension on the extractor. It's just a test. Do you check extractor tension ?

Chris
 
They all fire but the ones that the rim diameter is slightly larger , I want to see if they eject differently. It would have more tension on the extractor. It's just a test. Do you check extractor tension ?
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There is no reason to over-think extractor tension. If there is not enough tension there will be intermittent incidents where a fired shell casing will be jammed into the feed lips on the magazine. If that is not happening, the tension is alright.

There is a phenomenon when there are cases that have been fired many, many times the rims will become larger than those who have not. In the "old days" we built a device that would fit into the ram in the place of a shell holder to push the shell casing backward into the sizing die aways to reduce the rim diameter. http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg113/dtominski/100_0036_zpsnlfuafpa.jpg
100_0036_zpsnlfuafpa.jpg
 
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I check the loaded cases in a Lyman case Gage , have some cases where at the rim an some at the lowest point of the case head wouldn't go flush with the Gage . They would pass the plunk test . The reason it made me think is when adjusting extractor tension on the case , those cases could eject differently an bad enough could malfunction . I checked the cases 50 after sizing , 4 cases didn't go in flush with the gage .
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cw308,

You will run into the occasional case that will not seat fully into the case gauge. Just the nature of the beast. Just make sure the bottom of your resizing die is touching the case holder when you set up your resizing die. Yeah, I know there is instruction out there saying not to do it with carbide dies, in fact the NRA Reloading Course I teach says not to do it, but the info is WAY outdated. Many years ago the die manufacturers started recessing the carbide ring into the die to preclude the carbide ring from cracking.

Don
 
If you are saying that the rounds go into the case gage almost all the way, just protruding by the thickness of the rim or less, the reason often enough is a little burr on the rim. You can feel these, or see them (with magnification for my old eyes), and touch them with a file to clean them up.
 
Curious as to what made you consider extractor tension? I have seven or eight 1911s and never heard of such a thing. It could be you are attempting to direct the fired cases to a specific arc for ease in retrieving them. Any success?
 
There are many reasons a round might fail the gauge test. As TailGator mentioned a common cause is a burr on the rim. Often times these are of no consequence because the action of the gun will slam the round into battery without any issue.

The only time I have adjusted the extractor tension is when fitting a new one. Once I got it to work I left it at that. Sometimes over thinking an issue leads to solutions for non-existent problems.
 
"...They would pass the plunk test..." That's good enough. The only gauge that matters is the chamber.
"...check the tension on the extractor..." Never. It doesn't need checking. Nor can you adjust it. There's no factory setting or adjusting extractor tension on the case. The extractor either extracts or it doesn't. However, Brownell's share holders thank you for your money.
 
T. O'Heir said:
Never. It doesn't need checking. Nor can you adjust it. There's no factory setting or adjusting extractor tension on the case. The extractor either extracts or it doesn't. However, Brownell's share holders thank you for your money.
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Perhaps a fancy tool is not needed (especially for the experienced), but tuning the extractor is most definitely part of a well-tuned 1911. Here's a very brief yet easy to follow write-up by Bill Wilson:

https://www.m1911.org/technic2.htm

When someone lacks the experience a person like Bill Wilson has, sometimes a tool/measurement can fill in the gaps. Here's a write-up by Jack Weigand that explains the how/why of the tool (granted, it's a Brownell article):

https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=10261

Maybe you've never had an issue with a 1911 extractor - but that experience does not mean it's not something to be checked when things go wrong.
 
"...They would pass the plunk test..." That's good enough. The only gauge that matters is the chamber.
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True enough.

"...check the tension on the extractor..." Never. It doesn't need checking.
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It needs adjusting if it is dropping cases before they can be ejected.

Nor can you adjust it.
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Not true. The extractor can be bent to give it more purchase on the case.

There's no factory setting or adjusting extractor tension on the case. The extractor either extracts or it doesn't.
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No, my experience with too little tension on the extractor was that the malfunction it caused was intermittent, not 100% failure. A maddingly intermittent occurrence until I figured it out and added a little more bend, resulting in 100% reliable functioning.

The standard adjustment accepted by most 1911 .45 shooters is that the extractor must hold a loaded round against the breech face without dropping it when giving it a slight shake. That has been the standard for years and I am sure the 1911 experts over at the 1911 site will corroborate that procedure.
 
If you are saying that the rounds go into the case gage almost all the way, just protruding by the thickness of the rim or less, the reason often enough is a little burr on the rim. You can feel these, or see them (with magnification for my old eyes), and touch them with a file to clean them up.
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When a .45 ACP case has been fired many, many times, the diameter of the rim can grow to the point where the cases will no longer fit in the shell holder. When that happens, one can put the empty case on top of the home-made punch I posted a picture of, and press the rim into the bevel of the sizing die to reduce its diameter back to the point where the case will enter the shell holder again. Note that when I made that punch and used it, I was still using steel sizing dies, not carbide. In my instance with those well-used cases, the rims had grown, there were no nicks or burrs. Curiously, while the rims had grown, the primer pockets remained tight.
 
USSR
I do use carbide dies and I always lower the die to the shell holder to remove an slack . Works well , I setup the seating die first for OAL then taper crimp in one step when set up . Some cases may not be perfect but still work fine . When checking extractor tension , wanted all the cases tested be the same or the tension would be all over the place . Thanks for answering.

Chris
 
Condor bravo
The reason I wanted to check the tension , my cases were ejecting all over the place . They all ejected but kind of sloppy. Read some articles on 1911 extractor tuning , ordered a tool from Brownells . Instead of bending the extractor in the tunnel an not knowing how much tension , just trial & error , didn't like that way of adjusting . The weight should be between 25 - 28 ounces.

I carry a 3" 1911 Colt New Agent so I set it at 25 to start , it ejects in the same location now . You can see a difference in how the case ejects with a change in extractor tension. There is so much that you can do with a 1911. Great firearm. Hope All is Well.

Chris
 
Thanks Guys for answering , all my rounds chambered fine but when checking extractor tension all case rims have to be the same to get a accurate tension. I guess there's a tool for everything. Am I the only one that adjusted extractor tension.

Thanks again
Chris
 
cw308
It strikes me that you may be overly concerned with where those cases are going when ejected. I think that just maybe you are overthinking the issue. I think if you would visit the 1911 forum they would tell you that unless the cases are striking you in the head or not going right-rear or some other issue, it does not matter exactly where they go. I think they would tell you that "If it isn't broke, don't fix it."
 
dahermit
They did hit me in the head , not all the time but two out of fifty. I did belong the the 1911 forum but they said I had to pay my dues , didn't know there was a due to pay or how to pay it . Used it like every other forum. I thought it was kind of ballsy of a forum to charge .

Chris
 
dahermit
They did hit me in the head , not all the time but two out of fifty. I did belong the the 1911 forum but they said I had to pay my dues , didn't know there was a due to pay or how to pay it . Used it like every other forum. I thought it was kind of ballsy of a forum to charge .
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I stand corrected...you do have an issue with ejection then. However, unless there is that intermittent jamming of an empty case into the feed lips, it is more likely that your ejector needs tuning and there are charts available to illustrate that process. Good luck.
https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=913609
 
tuning the extractor is most definitely part of a well-tuned 1911.
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I have never touched the extractor on my Colt 'Series 80' 1911 I purchased new in 1984. I've put about 20,000 rounds or so (maybe more) through it. I wonder if it's "well-tuned?" I wonder how I'd know if it wasn't?

Come to think of it, I've never touched any internal parts inside the slide. It has even gone through an entire wash cycle in my clothes washing machine - yes, it really has. Long story - don't ask.

Is there a solution in search of a problem here?
 
"...check the tension on the extractor..." Never. It doesn't need checking. Nor can you adjust it. There's no factory setting or adjusting extractor tension on the case. The extractor either extracts or it doesn't. However, Brownell's share holders thank you for your money.
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Rollin' my eyes over here, Boss....... That's about all the derp I can handle for today. Have a nice day, fellas.
 
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