Springfield XD .45 Not Cycling Reloads

A

ADClope

New member
Hey all,

I recently picked up some SNS 200 grain SWC's that I wanted to try out. Loaded them with 5.0 grains of HP-38 and seated them to the recommended COL of 1.225". Pulled the barrel out of my XD 45 and applied a taper crimp until they would give an easy/solid "plunk" into the chamber. All seemed well, so I took 5 rounds, loaded a magazine, and tried to hand cycle them through.

That's when I started noticing issues. The slide would hang up while trying to cycle it/failing to eject the round. Sometimes the extractor claw would slip off of the rim and it would attempt to strip another round, obviously failing to do so, as the previous round was still chambered.

I went to the range this afternoon, so I figured I'd take these loads along, just to see how they cycled in a live fire situation, figuring that they'd malfunction there too.... they did. Some (very few) cycled correctly, most got hung up coming out, and a few more failed to extract with the slide closing back down completely on the spent case...

Having a difficult time envisioning what's going on here with this malfunction and looking for some help. I'm sure it's something I did during the reload process, but not sure what.

For reference, I've also loaded up some SNS 115 grain round nose's for my 9 and loaded them nearly the same way (different charge and COL) and they cycle just fine. Put 100 through it today with no issues at all.

Are the SWC's finicky? Am I missing something? I loaded them as SNS suggested to the LSWC's specs.

Thanks!
 
I've found the 45 to be picky about COAL especially with LSWC.

The Hornady's i shoot like a COAL of 1.90" COAL. While the Lightning bullets different shape like a COAL of 1.255".

You have to play with it. Use a dummy round to cycle the gun by hand.
 
It seems like an extractor problem. The reload is just incidental. A smith can easily refit the extractor to make It right.

-TL
 
ADClope said:
Hey all,

I recently picked up some SNS 200 grain SWC's that I wanted to try out. Loaded them with 5.0 grains of HP-38 and seated them to the recommended COL of 1.225". Pulled the barrel out of my XD 45 and applied a taper crimp until they would give an easy/solid "plunk" into the chamber.
Click to expand...

Pass the plunk test. Good. That means they're crimped enough to not hang up, and the bullet is seated deeply enough to not bite the rifling.

All seemed well, so I took 5 rounds, loaded a magazine, and tried to hand cycle them through.

That's when I started noticing issues. The slide would hang up while trying to cycle it/failing to eject the round.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you're not riding the slide, right? Release and let fly.

Feeding problems on hand cycling, I would try to seat the bullet with a bit of the bullet shoulder above the case rim.

Failing to extract on hand cycling, I'm not sure. Is the extractor slipping over the rim, or does it appear that the round is in fact stuck in the chamber? If the latter, running the round through a Lee Factory Crimp Die might be in order.

If the round is slipping off the extractor, inspect the extractor. Extractor problems would probably need Springfield to look at it, as that's the one XD part they will not sell.
 
I recently started using the SNS 200 gr .45 swc's, Hi-Tek red coating, and out of seven 45s and a dozen or so mags, experienced a few failure to ejects and the next round trying to chamber on top of the empty case. However it has only happened a half dozen times between one or two gun/mag combinations and the reason remains unknown. I am seating to 1.262 which is longer than what you are doing. I blame the rather long nose of the swc as a possible problem but that does not explain the failure to eject. I had been using a 195 gr H&G .45 bullet with a shorter and more rounded nose that never failed. My only suggestion is to experiment with seating depth and scrub out the chamber. I'm inclined to seat to a shorter OAL like you are doing.
 
I have loaded more 200gn LSWC's, using 5.0 grains of HP-38 than any other round. This recipe has been in my repertoire since 1985. I load to an OAL of 1.240" however. I have three 1911's - including a Springfield - but not an XD. But my ammo has been used in my buddy's XD with no issues.

It seems like an extractor problem. The reload is just incidental.
Click to expand...

I'm leaning toward this theory too.

lee n. field's post is informative regarding this.
 
You load L-SWCs such that the case head is just below flush with the barrel hood.
Your troubles sound like the problems folks had in '50s-'70s with cheap "GI" magazines.
Look at the lips on the magazines. The round should be released at about 3/4 along the length of the magazine opening.
The attached picture shows what cheap .45 magazine used to look like, what the original wadcutter magazine lips looked like, and more current standard magazine lips.
PS: ALWAYS work out COL and feed/functioning with at least two inert dummy rounds before you even bring primers/powder to the press. I do this along with die set-up or whenever I switch to a new bullet.
 

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For what it's worth, XD pistols have known issues with SWC bullets. I own a .45 Service model that shoots everything well but SWC.

My 1911's eat the same load like candy. I just use the SWC in other guns and all's well.

Some XD's will feed them fine, but most don't from what I understand.
 
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