what am I doing wrong?

R

retiredsteve

Inactive
I have been reloading for a few years and recently bought an SR1911 Ruger 45acp. I have colt 45's and an S&W 40 that I cast my own bullets for and have reloaded thousands of rounds successfully for them. My problem is that the SR1911 works perfectly for all factory ammo with no mishaps but will not fully close the slide on any reloads so far. Almost every reload regardless of using new brass or manufactured bullets does the same thing. 200gr. LRN bullets, mixed head stamp cases CCI primers(lg. and sm), 5gr. Titegroup powder. I am sure it is me or the Lee dies. My brother in law has a 45 ACP S&W and it does the same thing with my reloads. I use the Lee reload data as well as Lee single stage press and dies. OAL is 1.25-1.3, and every shell is the same dia. and length of factory ammo. Any thoughts?
 
I'd check the width of the reloaded case, in case they are a bit fatter than factory loads.
Perhaps a bulge develops after crimping, if you have a crimp on the load.

Depending where you took the diameter, perhaps you've missed that spot on the case?
Just a thought.
 
Look up the "Plunk Test" and try that on a few of your reloads (I'm on a new computer and don't have any pics to post yet). Your chambering problems can be caused by several things; OAL, bullet profile, bulges/case dimensions, etc.). Measure the diameter of the finished case in a few places (case mouth, mid way down length, at the extraction groove, and jes fer grins, the rim diameter. Bullet diameter is also a factor, mebbe cases are being stretched by a large bullet. You need to check the final dimensions of your ammo and the barrel/plunk test is a very reliable, easy "go-no go" gauge.
 
Have you done the plunk test? If unfamiliar with what that is, just Google "plunk test" and you will get both a description and links to Youtube videos. It goes without saying, something is out of dimensional tolerance. You just have to narrow down what step in your process is causing the issue. Size a piece of brass and do the plunk test with just the brass. If it passes then your sizing die should be fine. Take that same brass and seat a bullet and crimp as you have been doing (no powder or primer). Based on what you posted, I assume it will not pass the plunk test. If so then the problem is either the OAL is too long or you are over crimping and creating a bulge. Your OAL seems reasonable, but every gun is a little different. I load my 230gn plated RN to 1.265. As far as crimp, you only need to remove the bell in the case mouth. More is not better in this case. You are looking for a measurement at the case mouth of .469 -.471. By the way, are you seating and crimping in one step or separately?
 
me

I do not factory crimp but I checked several of my primed cases and they are .475 diameter. The new Remington shells are .470 diameter. Is that enough to cause the problem and if so there is no fix.
 
OAL is 1.25-1.3
Click to expand...
Cartridge OAL should not be longer than 1.272"
If your bullet seating die is giving you a .050" spread then there is an issue there
that you need to resolve.Can you describe a little better how it is that your pistol fails to return to battery?Also what are your finished cartridge diameters
at the mouth and over the web by the groove,you are not roll crimping them are you?
I see you have .475" for case diameter .476" is max,something is not right with your sizing die.In fact your whole die set up is probably bad.
Or your bullets are not properly sized.
 
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It`s probably just in the crimp...which should be a taper crimp, It may take a little adjusting to get it functioning.
 
Make sure the taper crimp is enough. There's is no actual number for a crimp. It's 'enough' to remove the entire flare/bell and no more. You can usually see(depending on your eye sight) a wee shiney slightly tapered bit on the case mouth after seating. About 1/32" or so.
 
me
I do not factory crimp but I checked several of my primed cases and they are .475 diameter. The new Remington shells are .470 diameter. Is that enough to cause the problem and if so there is no fix.
Click to expand...

When you say "primed cases" do you mean before the bullet is seated? Yes, .475 is enough to cause your problem. Try reinstalling your sizing die according to instructions. Here is a link to the SAMMI Specs for 45 acp.

http://http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Pistol/45%20Automatic.pdf
 
It`s probably just in the crimp...which should be a taper crimp, It may take a little adjusting to get it functioning.
Click to expand...

This is what I would suspect^^^^ Trying not to "over crimp" is usually my biggest problem with .45ACP. I "plunk test" religiously.
 
lots of good info

plunk test revealed some cases sized correct but most not. I disassembled cleaned and reassembled the sizing die and expander and they are much more consistent now. I am using bullets made in my Lee 200 gr. bullet mold which I use in my Blackhawks. after doing the plunk test I realize the shells are not able to seat all the way, as the shoulder of the bullet is almost 1/16th" above the cartridge rim. I guess I will need a different bullet profile .
 
Either that or seat the bullet deeper and drop the powder charge and start over at developing the load with the deeper seating depth.

EDIT: Just noticed that bullet was originally intended for a 45LC.......What's the bullet diameter after it's sized?
 
You should be good then, I would think. I would consider seating deeper and lowering the charge, but maybe some one else here will chime in with reasons why that wouldn't/shouldn't be done. How's you're seating depth compared to published data?

EDIT: And 5 grains of TG is about what I'm running for 230's IIRC. My data is at home, but seems to me that 5 SHOULD be a good number for a 200 gr starting point.
 
Most cast lead bullets have a sharp band on them just at the base of the round nose. On some guns, if there is ANY of that band above the case mouth it will hit the lands. If there is any showing, shorten your OAL until the top of
that band is flush with the case mouth and seeif that helps. No experience
with Ruger, but I've seen Springfield 45's with a leade so short that the lands
would grab that little band hard enough to pull the bullet if the shooter tried
to eject a loaded round! Also make sure you have plenty of bell on the
case mouth. I've seen cast bullets shave a little ring of lead when the bullet was seated in a case without enough bell---
 
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