New rounds not feeding well

R

Roland Thunder

New member
I recently went to the range with some rounds 200gr 45acp SWC's that I loaded on my Dillon 550B. I had a quite a few that wouldn't feed properly. I recently adjusted the bell die to put more bell in the rounds. Could this have caused the problem? If so, is there a way to recover (like run them thru the crimp die again after turning up the crimp) or do I have to break them down and toss the cases out.
 
I would recheck the OAL of these first.
my 1911 don't like pushing lead up the ramp so thats where I'd look also....could use a little polish there.
 
Presuming you have run those loads before without problems, it could be excessive flaring of the case mouth. But I think that would be noticeable upon inspection. If they look OK, run 'em through the crimp die again and try 'em. It could also be a damaged or dirty mag or a dirty chamber. If I were a betting man, I'd bet on the mag.
 
I don't think more bell caused the problem. Are the cases trimmed to the same size? Are you using a taper or roll crimp. I would guess your reloading for a auto. A case gage would make life easier. For the ones that don't chamber, pull the bullet and resize the case.
 
Besides performing the plunk test, there are other things to consider.

Measure the bullet diameter on a bunch of them. Won't take that long and will ensure that they are all the proper diameter.

If so, is there a way to recover (like run them thru the crimp die again after turning up the crimp) or do I have to break them down and toss the cases out.
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I do hope you are taper crimping. The taper crimp really does nothing other than remove the case flare caused by the expander die.

I would think that properly setting the taper crimp die (which is usually integral with the seat die) you could run the cartridges thru to properly remove the case flare.

Also, you could measure the loaded rounds at the mouth and confirm that you have none that are larger than they should be.

Another issue is that some hand loaders do not seat the SWC bullet deep enough so that it will feed and the pistol goes into battery. There should be maybe a nail's width from the case mouth to the rim of the bullet. This has been excellently illustrated by other members in other threads.
 
I don't think more bell caused the problem.
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I don't either. Assuming you crimped them the same.

I also agree with what others have said . . . make sure your feed ramp is slick (both polish and lube). Check your OAL (my 200 SWC's - both lead and plated - run 1.235" to 1.240". And most loaders I know are in that neighborhood too.).

I'd also like to know if this is a lead or plated SWC (lead is more difficult to feed because it likes to "dig in" to the feed ramp - as has already been mentioned). And it'd be good to know what powder you're using and the charge weight. Just good to know info.
 
I was out this week checking for accuracy loads with Bulls Eye and JSWC in my Colt 1911. I hadn't cleaned the pistol from the previous day testing Tite Group.

I had noticed the Tite Group didn't impress me with accuracy or being clean.
The Tite Group rounds were hanging up before fully chambering and I had the same problem with the Bulls Eye.

Cases that hung up had snagged the bottom of the chamber. Leaving a curved scratch on the case about 1/4" below the bullet or mouth.

I suspect the dirty ramp could of been part of the problem but I also suspect the seating depth could be tuned. The ramp was gummed up pretty good.

I cleaned the pistol and took a round polishing stone to the lower edge of the chamber lead to dull the bite.

Greg dose this sound familiar?

Note: I haven't had a problem with seating depth in the past with this bullet.
 
Check your OAL (my 200 SWC's - both lead and plated - run 1.235" to 1.240". And most loaders I know are in that neighborhood too.)
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Most of them are 1.227 to 1.230, which is what i have used in the past without issue.

I'd also like to know if this is a lead or plated SWC (lead is more difficult to feed because it likes to "dig in" to the feed ramp - as has already been mentioned). And it'd be good to know what powder you're using and the charge weight. Just good to know info.
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They are plated. I have been using lead preciously without issue and just recently switched to plated. The powder is Bullseye, 4.0 gr. I know that's kinda light but that is what I was using with the lead. I have a lighter recoil spring so I can use the lighter charge.

Were you shooting a Colt... 1911 ?
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Yes, it's a Colt Government Model

This reinforces the usefulness of the plunk test.
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I have a case gage and I just checked them and, sure enough, almost all of them plunked the plunk. Don't know why I didn't think of this before but I have used this formula successfully for a long time, so I wasn't expecting problems.
 
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Have you changed the manufacturer of the bullets???

I used to shoot the Hornady 200gr. LSWC. #12108
I switched over to the 200gr. LSWC C/T. #12208

The 12208 has a longer more pointed nose. I run these at 1.210"
The more rounded nosed 12108 I run at 1.910"
 
More precisely stated info would be a help.
Failing to feed can mean many things.
I've been using the 200 grain SWC for literally decades, from many sources and with many powders.
Nary a problem.
If you use a standard ole' factory ball round for guidance, and make your reloads to look the same, all will be well.
Hard to explain, but easy to see.
P.S.
Unless you use precision measuring tools and are experienced with them, measurements with ordinary calipers isn't always all that helpful.
Especially with something with as many irregular surfaces as reloaded rounds.
 
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By way of clarification: even if you broke down the rounds why would you throw the cases out? Just take out your decapping pin and reuse those cases.
 
New rounds feeding well

My Kimber won't feed my reloads if they are too short. They will stove pipe. Try to increase your OAL to magazine max. and see how the feed. The plunk test does not work well with SWC rounds as the bearing suface is too far back from the end of the bullet.
All the best,
Bill
 
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