45 Reloads Don't Plunk

[Bronx kid]

The OAL length in your data is what they used to test that bullet & powder in their pistol or machine. The OAL they use may not work with your pistol & what works in one pistol may not work in an other. You need to find the correct OAL for your particular pistol.

One way is to find a few cases fired from that pistol that you can that you can snugly start a bullet into. Then put it in you barrel & push it in until it is flush with the barrel hood. Now measure the OAL. I do this with a few bullets & take an average. Then deduct .010 -.015 from that OAL.

Make a dummy round at that OAL. No primer & no powder. Check to see if it will plunk. Now with it in the barrel, turn the barrel upside down & it should fall out with it own weight. Put the bullet in the barrel again & see if it will spin freely.

Now you have & OAL for that pistol & bullet combination. Using another bullet or pistol may require a different OAL.

Remember that if your OAL is shorter than what the data you are using then you may have to lighten you powder charge some to avoid over pressure.

You can do the same thing on your press. Make a dummy round at say 1.275 & shorten it a little at a time until it plunks, drops out of your barrel & spins freely.

I hope this helps

 

[Blue68f100]

Your bullet looks like it's shaving lead/coating at the mouth. The 45acp heads space off the mouth of the case, so this is working like a longer case. Expand more to keep from shaving, then TC to the .471". Like I said in my earlier post Kimber require a sorter OAL due to a tight chamber. Seat the bullet to a OAL of 1.240"-1.250" once you correct the shaving problem. Lead/coated bullets are normally sized like lead, 0.001" over size. So things will be tighter and adj for the larger OD. Those bullets your using do have a driving band. Which should be seated like a LSWC which is about a thumb nail thickness showing.

 

[Olympus]

Ok, I tried the recommendations. I loaded 10 fresh rounds seated to 1.250 and the crimp at the case mouth is .472.

Same result. None of the 10 bullets would fit in the chamber and they all got stuck in the same place.

 

[243winxb]

Bullet Diameter? Measured with a micrometer? Brass being used? Wall thickness?

 

[MEHavey]

Looking at the pics again, the case bulge at the base of the bullet is more obvious
(and is exactly where the Sharpie mark is rubbed away)

With your already-loaded bullets:

1. Proceed to screw the taper crimper down further to produce a mouth diameter
of 0.470" (That may/may-not sufficiently size the case further down)

2. Use the sizing die to reduce the bulge in the case itself.
(PITA, but worth a diagnostic try) :banghead:

 

[kcofohio]

Olympus, do you have any factory 230 gr. ball ammo that you can try the test with? Something like Winchester? That way you can at least figure whether it is your loads, or the barrel.

I assume you cleaned the new barrel beforehand.

Calipers, in general, are only so accurate, and cheap ones are only so-so reliable.

 

[david bachelder]

I had a similar problem. Turns out I was over crimping. You might look at that.

 

[RealGun]

243winxb - Bullet Diameter? Measured with a micrometer? Brass being used? Wall thickness?

Yup! Sounds like the bullet is too large in diameter. It also appears that the ledge on the bullet at the case mouth might interfere with head spacing, solved by seating deeper. Less crimp could also eliminate any mushrooming of lead at the case mouth. My lead SWC load is at 1.243 to run in my Kimber, Springfield, and Smith 625, sharing ammo.

 

[HOWARD J]

I loaded 50 of these 2 days ago---processed brass from x-treme
I had to run brass thru a Lee resizing die 2-3 times & then brass plunked.
Using 200 gr. plated round nose set at 1,260 & taper crimped @ .468---they worked good in both of my 45's

 

[The Bushmaster]

I own and carry a Kimber UCC II. One of the things I found out about the Kimber chambers is that they are a bit tighter then a Colt. Had the same problem. Two things ended the problem. Using a cleaner burning powder (WSF) and making sure that the cartridge was exactly to specifications, especially the crimp. Insure that the bullet is not expanding the case beyond .470. Most of the rounds that I use in my Kimber are .468 to .470 at any given point along the length of the cartridge. The rounds that wouldn't chamber in the Kimber chambered in my Colt in both the stock barrel and the Wilson comp barrel.

 

[edfardos]

.468 to .470 on the crimp. 1.243 is my typical oal for extreme 230's. Sizing die all the way down? No buldge at the base? Bullet engaging the rifling? Your oal is long, as others have indicated.

 

[.452]

Hi.
Would you please mention the book that suggests 1.27?

Hodgdon's show 1.2 for 230 LRN with all their powders.

My suggestion mirrors an earlier one, which said try the unloaded but sized brass with no projectile in it first. Then at least there is a starting place to troubleshoot the load.

A cartridge gage block is a good idea to have on the loading bench, such as

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/171349/le-wilson-max-cartridge-gage-45-acp

When I started shooting my .45 ACP's through a revolver that headspaced on the front of the cartridge (no moon clip), many of my 1911 loads wouldn't plop until they were resized, even though they worked perfect in the semiautos.

Good luck, looking forward to range reports with that coated bullet.

 

[kcofohio]

Alliant's load data for 230 gr. LRN in 45 Auto list a COAL of 1.270"

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=230&shellid=35&bulletid=63

But that is not to say it is the same profile as MBC 230 gr.

 

[.452]

Thanks for that link. They even call 1.27 the minimum COL.
Interesting.

PS do I see the projectile base bulging the brass a little bit in one of the pictures?

 

[JimGun]

I agree with others that C.O.L. seems long. But I am wondering about the lengths given, which seem long, as well. Hogdon Charts online call for a C.O.L. of 1.200" for 230 gr LRN. What is the effect of the shorter C.O.L. on shooting?

 

[MEHavey]

If you look at the photos, this is not an OAL problem.
There is significant case interference almost a 3/16" out.

 

[ljnowell]

If you look at the photos, this is not an OAL problem.
There is significant case interference almost a 3/16" out.

^^^. Yep. This isn't OAL at all. This is crimp or case diameter.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

Does the case fit in the barrel after it is resized (without the bullet)?

 

[Olympus]

I've determined that the chamber on my Kimber must be incredibly tight. I took my reloads to my dad's, even the ones that 1.272 and 1.273. I tried them in his Colt National Match Gold Cup and they all plunk perfectly and don't stick in any way. Took my dad's Colt outside and ran 100 rounds of the reloads without any malfunctions. Guess I'm going to have to figure out what will work in the Kimber.

 

[243winxb]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/572212/lee-undersized-carbide-sizing-die-45-acp-45-gapLee Undersized Carbide Sizing Die 45 ACP, 45 GAP
Or a Lee FCD . Does factory ammo work? If not, it a gun problem.

 

[.452]

"I tried them in his Colt National Match Gold Cup and they all plunk perfectly and don't stick in any way."

That sounds right. My standard loads I've been making for nearly 50 years all plop into my Gold Cup no problem, but the slightest wrinkle keeps them from doing so in several of my new guns, especially revolvers. Changing die settings and tightening up my practices cured it, and the new LEE FCD didn't hurt either.
Glad to hear the 100 rounds ran just fine.

 

[RealGun]

If you use a max cartridge gauge instead, tailoring the ammo to fit that rather than a specific gun, you will have a basis for fixing the gun rather than the ammo on any gun that won't accept the ammo. When the ammo could be used in more than one gun, you need a standard.

 

[Olympus]

I've been using a Lee FCD all along. I don't think this is an ammo problem. Ammo has worked flawlessly in two different Colts. I'll have to try some other brand guns to test this theory further.

 

[rcmodel]

See this:

http://www.ktgunsmith.com/45chamber.htm

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/830355/ptg-solid-pilot-chamber-finish-reamer-45-acp#ReviewHeader

rc

 

[Olympus]

I think I'll be calling Kimber first and see if they'll address the issue on their dime since this is a new gun.