45acp 200gr lswc and failure to feed

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This is how I figure out a 1911.



Once you have a mag that will feed an empty case, other issues seem to just go away.
 
Measured how much of the shoulder is sticking out of the brass....very hard to tell accurately
but think it’s around .040.
Measure bottom of case to case mouth, bottom of case to top of shoulder, subtract, and you’ve got an accurate measure of the shoulder protrusion. .040 is a bit too far, I think.
 
Maximun rim diameter is .480" for 45 acp. Any wider and case head may not slide up the bolt face freely. Cause jams like yours.

Shot hot loads in a S&W 645 with well used brass. Worked fine till i reloaded a target load for my 70s GC, using same brass.
Took a file to the rim on a few brass, removing nicks and correcting diameter. Problem found and solved.
Ordered 500 new starline brass for the GC.

I load the Lyman 200 gr lswc bb . I measure head to shoulder. .947" for seating depth. 45acp947inch_001.jpg
 
Experienced another failure to feed while chambering a round.
If it looked like your pic of the malfunction, this would have been an opportunity to further refine the diagnosis by firmly pushing the muzzle end of the barrel against something solid like a tree or bench.

Marked the brass and it is for sure catching on the bottom.
If this is still happening with other magazines, you'll want to gently round the sharp edge where the barrel ramp and chamber meet.
 
If it looked like your pic of the malfunction, this would have been an opportunity to further refine the diagnosis by firmly pushing the muzzle end of the barrel against something solid like a tree or bench.

If this is still happening with other magazines, you'll want to gently round the sharp edge where the barrel ramp and chamber meet.


I honestly forgot, did take note that you had mentioned it. Got caught up checking which side it was catching on.
 
Just wanted to come back with a couple updates. Ran 1 round through a Lee FCD. It worked the brass over good and squeezed the lead bullet down....

Experienced another failure to feed while chambering a round. Marked the brass and it is for sure catching on the bottom. Racking the slide back doesn’t free it so it hung up fairly well.

Measured how much of the shoulder is sticking out of the brass....very hard to tell accurately
but think it’s around .040.

Will do some testing with different magazines hopefully this weekend.


Make sure the FCD doesn't swage your bullet. Then you'll have new problems.
 
Hard to tell for sure from your pic but, it looks like that round could definitely use more crimp. I had the occasional jam when I started using 200gn SWCs also, and now get 100% reliability with them. Seating depth really didn't change much (I use 1.240") and I'd still get the occasional 3-point jam like yours. I took note of which cases would jam and the only brand that never did was Remington. So, now I only use R-P brass for loading the SWCs and haven't had a jam in several hundred rounds. I believe it's the generous chamfer that helps the case slip under the extractor more easily. I have no issues with all other headstamps as long as I only use them for round nose or JHP. The pic below shows the difference.

case.jpg
 
I load 200 Gr SWCS at 1.260/.1265 OAL and use a very light taper crimp (Just does remove the bell.) Runs in my guns, except for the CZ97 which is finicky with SWCs.
 
Looking at the bullet it appears to me that it may be too long. I have just a thumbnail thickest of the shoulder showing. Your about 2-3 times what I'm using. The shorter oal will help on feeding. And like said adj your crimp to .472" - 0.471" will help too, your a little fat.

And I think we have a winner here. The OAL is to long. Seat it a "tad" deeper. As they said a thumbnail
 
I had all kinds of issues getting my reloads to feed consistently, (200gr lswc Bayou Bullets), tried everything. Once I got the crimp right, no more problems. .469-.468" was the 'trick', .470" and over, jam city.
 
Hard to tell for sure from your pic but, it looks like that round could definitely use more crimp. I had the occasional jam when I started using 200gn SWCs also, and now get 100% reliability with them. Seating depth really didn't change much (I use 1.240") and I'd still get the occasional 3-point jam like yours. I took note of which cases would jam and the only brand that never did was Remington.

That's so funny! If I want to induce 3-point jams in my 1911, all I have to do is use R-P brass! It allows so much setback that the sharp edge of the case gets exposed and snags on the top of the barrel. I can only use the R-P stuff in my wheelgun rounds.

Maybe we should swap brass?
 
Make sure the FCD doesn't swage your bullet. Then you'll have new problems.


I figured that it would and it did. I did try it solely just to see, because I’ve never used one.

Definitely appreciate all the responses and ideas. I’m going to make up a few batches changing the OAL and adjusting the crimp. Just to see what different results I get. Having issues isn’t any fun, but definitely have learned a lot from this.

Currently is a 16lb spring in it.
 
I load 200 Gr SWCS at 1.260/.1265 OAL and use a very light taper crimp (Just does remove the bell.) Runs in my guns, except for the CZ97 which is finicky with SWCs.
My CZ97 loves SWCs! Just a matter of troubleshooting and a bit of polishing. I use the same SWCs in the CZ97 and the DW and find them totally reliable.
 
I had all kinds of issues getting my reloads to feed consistently, (200gr lswc Bayou Bullets), tried everything. Once I got the crimp right, no more problems. .469-.468" was the 'trick', .470" and over, jam city.

What COL did you end up with using the BB LSWC? I too load them and had some three point jams in my P220. The “old” guy at the club laughed and said “get a 1911”, but then gave me the thumbnail thickness recipe and it did help a bit. I am working on a .45 1911 but it isn’t here yet. The reason I ask is there’s considerable discussion about the COL based on the mold and apparently not all SWCs have the same shape. I’m not sure how much that affects the incredible journey a round makes in a .45 action.
 
What COL did you end up with using the BB LSWC? I too load them and had some three point jams in my P220. The “old” guy at the club laughed and said “get a 1911”, but then gave me the thumbnail thickness recipe and it did help a bit. I am working on a .45 1911 but it isn’t here yet. The reason I ask is there’s considerable discussion about the COL based on the mold and apparently not all SWCs have the same shape. I’m not sure how much that affects the incredible journey a round makes in a .45 action.


I've loaded all SWC's based on the thumbnail. Some have long noses and some are small. All run just fine in my 1911's and previously (sold it) a FNX-45T. A seating plug that registers on the shoulder (Hornady is almost this type and works well) makes it simple to change from one profile to the next. Just set it and forget it.
 
COL is not so important with SWCs... as long as the thumbnail shoulder is observed.
 
COL is not so important with SWCs... as long as the thumbnail shoulder is observed.
Yes, but...If you're following published data like the Hodgdon online reloading guide, they have the following for a 200gr Cast LSWC:
Manufacturer PowderBullet Diam.C.O.L. Grs.Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
Winchester WST .451" 1.225" 4.4 830 15,400 PSI 5.1 910 19,900 PSI

So I dutifully set the COL to 1.225" and saw the case mouth was above the shoulder of the lead bullet, so I went to 1.230 so it was at least even. This length didn't do too well, needless to say. Also, @Walkalong says 1.260/.1265 OAL, and I have feed issues with this long of an OAL, so I'm right about 1.245/1.250. I am looking to purchase those seater plugs that register on the shoulder.
 
That's so funny! If I want to induce 3-point jams in my 1911, all I have to do is use R-P brass! It allows so much setback that the sharp edge of the case gets exposed and snags on the top of the barrel. I can only use the R-P stuff in my wheelgun rounds.
Maybe we should swap brass?

Or perhaps our resizing dies? From my experience, setback is very common with any brass and SWCs.
 
I suggest you go both ways on the col. a longer length may solve your problem.

luck,

murf
 
I've loaded all SWC's based on the thumbnail.
It sounded strange when I first heard it also, but enough reliable folks have repeated it to give it some credibility.

I've now loaded a couple of different SWC in .45ACP and they have all fed reliably. Obviously it is important not to crimp into the lead...it is important that the casemouth be sharp/square to headspace correctly
 
These were loaded to 1.260 to 1.265. Run just fine.
1.5 to 4.5 Grs W231 & .45 ACP Test Rounds Pic 1.JPG


The rounds below all feed in my guns. (Sans the CZ & the Precision 200 gr SWC)

The 230 Gr RN is loaded to fall between 1.260 & 1.265.

The TrFP is loaded a little shorter, don't remember what.

The Berrys 200 gr HP is loaded to 1.200 +/-

The Precision 200 Gr SWC is loaded to fall between 1.260 & 1.265.

The Zero 185 Gr JHP is loaded to fall between 1.220 & 1.225.

The Berrys 185 Gr SW is loaded to 1.190 +/-

6 45 Reloads - 2.JPG
6 45 Reloads - 3.JPG
 
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