45 Reloads Don't Plunk

[rcmodel]

If it works with factory loads, they won't do anything.

They could care less if it works with reloads.

rc

 

[Olympus]

I don't have any factory loads to try.

 

[kcofohio]

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.

Then you will need to test the barrel with factory ammo. Kimber clearly states that shooting any reloads voids all warranties.

 

[walnut1704]

I think Kimber should replace it. There's plenty of people you can send the barrel off too and get it throated if they don't. It seems manufacturers are making things really tight so they can claim "match barrel".

One such service has a facebook page (cylinderhone.net) that I took this from. I don't see a website for them...

"Before throating the gun would not go into battery with a standard 230gr LRN handload. BTW, SAAMI specs for this caliber list the size at .452" for jacketed bullet, and .453" for lead bullet. NO WAY would a .452" bullet feed and fire in this barrel as it shipped from [not Kimber]"

FWIW my new Kimber has no problem chambering the coated LRN from SNS casting seated to 1.275.

 

[MEHavey]

Olympus, have you tried:

- Sized case, not yet loaded -- does it plunk?

 

[Blue68f100]

You do need to determine if resized brass will chamber before being loaded, as previously posted. Then start making dummy rounds to determine what OAL you will need for this gun. Some RN bullets require shorter OAL in order to chamber. I shoot Berry's HBRN and MB LSWC in mine all the time. One thing I noticed right away is if I'm shaving any lead during the LSWC seating this leaves a ring that gets deposited in the end of the chamber. Too many (3/4) and the gun will fail to go into battery. Then I have to clean it out before it will accept any thing else reliably. My custom 1911 BE gun I built has a tighter chamber than the Kimber. But I had it reamed that way on purpose after I fitted the barrel. Some mfg do not have any leads or extremely short. In this case you either need to change bullet profile, load shorter or ream the chamber. You may want to clean yours with a brass brush and drill to make sure you don't have any thing deposited at the end of the chamber. Would not hurt to polish the chamber if it's that's tight to aid in feeding.

If you contact Kimber just tell them that your having problem with ammo going into battery. It's possible that Kimber failed to run the finish reamer into the barrel. Most any gunsmith can do this for you. Or get the reamer and do this your self. Just remember that this rounds head spaces on the mouth and don't get carried away.

 

[Walkalong]

Throating a barrel won't help a reload that is a tad fat near the case mouth.

Kimber may have sent out a barrel with a chamber that is too tight (Under SAMMI minimum). It happened to me with an EMP. SA touched it up with a reamer and now, while it is still at bare minimum, it is no longer undersized and feeds anything that fits a Wilson case gauge. .3915 at the case head will barely fit, .392 won't. I have to gauge all my sized brass and scrap those that fail the gauge because they are slightly too large at the case head. Near the case mouth is never an issue. Too tight still IMHO, but it works.

Just a thought. May be a barrel issue.

Do sized cases fit? Obviously factory rounds fit.

 

[HOWARD J]

Why don't you borrow a factory loaded cartridge from your dad & drop it into your barrel.
let us know what happens

 

[243winxb]

Body Diameter -.006"

The Saami drawing

http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/index.cfm?page=CC Measurements are the maximum. They can be .006" smaller and be OK in the body.

 

[Olympus]

Dad is a 2 hour drive away. Probably won't be going back any time soon. I'll try the resized case next.