Chamber not closing

[2rott]

I purchased a DW Patriot 1911 about eight years ago & fired several boxes of factory FMJ & HP bullets. It was flawless. It's been in a safe until recently. I shoot 22lr with a Bullseye club. They also shoot their 45's after 22 practice. I decided to join them with my 45 & started reloading.
Many suggested I start with 160G bullet & loaned me some Quality Cast SWC/FP
bullet to try. I loaded a bunch using Fed. lg pistol primers,4.2g of Clays, 1.155 OAL , .468 crimp & Win. range brass. After the first round fired the brass would eject & the slide would not quite close all the way. I had to push the slide forward for most shots.
I changed my factory spring to a 14# Brownell & the same thing happened.
A friend gave me 10 rounds of the QC 160's to try. He loaded them with a OAL 1.66 .471crimp & 3.8g bullseye & he uses a 14 # spring. They functioned perfect. I loaded to his specs. but with 4.3 g of clays & I had the same problem as before.
By the way, neither my friends or my bullets sat flush with the barrel collar but most stuck up a bit. Any ideas.

 

[Archie]

Sounds like...

you need to seat your bullets deeper. Based only on what you write, it sounds as if the forward edge of the main shank of the bullet is butting up against the beginning of the rifling.

 

[2rott]

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you need to seat your bullets deeper. Based only on what you write, it sounds as if the forward edge of the main shank of the bullet is butting up against the beginning of the rifling.

It's strange that my friend's bullets work fine & factory ammo with a much longer AOL functions. When I seated some dummy bullets down to 1.145AOL or maybe less, they did seat flush with the barrel shoulder but only a hairline of the bullet shoulder was exposed.

 

[Red Cent]

Hold on! Here they come!!

Get a Lee Factory Crimp Die. Use it in the final crimp position. It simply sizes the whole shebang to factory specs. I shoot mixed brass and sometimes a brand will not fully chamber. I load 165s, 180s, 200, 230s, lead. Got tired of it and too lazy to sort. Got a FCD and life is ok.

I was told on another forum to learn how to reload. After 50 years, you would think I would learn. Naaa. Instant gratification.

 

[Sunray]

"...1.155 OAL..." Too short. Hodgdon gives 1.230" as the OAL for a 155 LSWC with 4.9 grains of Clays as the starting load. Mind you, a 160 is going to be short anyway. Cast 230's won't give you much grief.
Your pistol has to be set up to shoot SWC's too. Sounds like it is or you'd have feeding issues.
Crimping has to be a taper crimp as well. Doesn't actually get measured though.

 

[2rott]

A lee FCD may be the solution. I just cycled a few rounds through the action. The AOl stayed the same but each bullet had a lead sliver hanging off the shoulder. I don't know how short I can go with the AOL. Not much info on 160 G. I'm using RCBS 3 die carbide with a taper crimp.

 

[2rott]

My Lyman book reads an AOL of 1.135 for 185 g jacketed swc. How does that translate to lead bullets?.That's about what I need for my bullet to drop in flush with the barrel hood. My 160 g lead bullet measures .505 inch top to bottom.

 

[Innovative]

Reliable functioning .45 ACP loads ...

2rott .....

OAL measurements are only meaningful when you are referring to a very specific bullet (not just the weight). Chamber dimensions vary on each barrel, and it's beneficial to make sure your handloads fit YOUR chamber. That is easily done by removing your barrel and testing the fit. Your handloads should drop in the chamber and be level with the barrel hood.

By using this method, I can see (in advance) which loads will be reliable in my guns and which ones might not be. It's best to use a taper crimp that is performed in a separate operation. The case mouth should be reduced no more than .002" tighter than the diameter of the loaded round. None of my .45s ever jam.

I remember the days when jams were common.

 

[murf]

suggest you back off on the crimp and try your friend's 471 crimp. you could be bulging the case.

murf

 

[Innovative]

murf .......

+1 That's good advice

- Larry

 

[rcmodel]

Color one of your rounds with a black magic-marker and chamber it.

Where the black rubs off is your problem.

But it certainly sounds like the front driving band is hitting the rifling leade before it can fully chamber.
The only solution to that is to seat deeper until it doesn't.

Adjust your RCBS seating die to taper crimp for an O.D. case mouth measurement of .469" - .470", to no more then .471".
If you can get that measurement at the case mouth with your RCBS die, you don't need to buy a Lee FCD to do the same thing.

rc

 

[2rott]

Thanks guys. Just returned from a Steel Match. Loads of fun.
I have backed off my crimp to .471 & I have the same problem.

 

[amlevin]

I invested first in a Wilson case gauge. Then in a LEE FCD. For less than $20 I don't need the gauge now as every round chambers flawlessly.

 

[murf]

+1 on the case guage. it will ensure all rounds chamber b4 you get to the match.

murf

 

[Innovative]

2rott .........

If you're still having problems using a .471" dia. taper crimp, make sure your handloads fit your particular chamber. Most semi autos are particular about OAL, and every different bullet type (weight, mfg. and design) has its own "best" OAL.

 

[rcmodel]

The Wilson case guages I have won't tell you diddly squat about a SWC bullet hitting the rifling leade.

Only the barrel out of the actual gun can tell you that.

rc

 

[kingmt]

Can you post a pic of the finished round that won't feed.

You may need more crimp, have to much crimp & bulging, the lead being .001 more then a jacketed bullet might be a little tighter, or you might be shaving the bullet enough that it is bunching up at the end. The Lee FCD sounds like a good idea.

 

[2rott]

Kingmt. I'm not upto posting pictures. I've tried both more & less crimp with the same results. The Lee FCD does sound good. Thanks.

 

[243winxb]

Seat bullet deeper, shorter COL and/or taper crimp more.

 

[Innovative]

243winxb .....

+1

 

[murf]

sounds like rc's got it right. pull the barrel, drop the loaded round into the chamber and see where it's touching. may have to use a sharpie and paint the side of the bullet and case.

murf

 

[kingmt]

I have to agree with the Sharpy to find where it is touching. Then post back.

Pictures are also easy if you can get it to your PC click the paper clip where you write your post. If it is something I can help you through let me know.

 

[2rott]

I did the magic marker thing & all the bullets seem to be catching on edge of the SWC neck. Most didn't fall freely into the chamber. I recrimped these bullets down to .464 inch & they fell freely into the chamber and the magic marker test showed no contact. They are loaded with 4.2 G of clays. I'll load 10 more in the AM with 4.4 G of clays & try to get to the range. Thanks.

 

[rfwobbly]

Mr Rott -
Your Dan Wesson is now made by CZ and the eastern European makers build their guns around a tight chamber designed for Round Nose bullets. When you load anything else.... any bullet with a shoulder or any bullet that doesn't have the graceful slim ogive, then you're going to have issues.



The graphic above shows the 2 most contentious bullet shapes, your SWC would be similar to the conical FP as it brings the full .472 diameter out in front of the case mouth. With the Dan Wesson, as with CZs, you'll need to pick your bullets very carefully or get used to inventing your own OALs. This because all the published OALs are going to be too long.

RC's test proves the point. So Archie hit the nail on the head. This is simply a fact of life with CZ firearms.

Hope this helps!

 

[2rott]

Mr Rott -
Your Dan Wesson is now made by CZ and the eastern European makers build their guns around a tight chamber designed for Round Nose bullets. When you load anything else.... any bullet with a shoulder or any bullet that doesn't have the graceful slim ogive, then you're going to have issues.



The graphic above shows the 2 most contentious bullet shapes, your SWC would be similar to the conical FP as it brings the full .472 diameter out in front of the case mouth. With the Dan Wesson, as with CZs, you'll need to pick your bullets very carefully or get used to inventing your own OALs. This because all the published OALs are going to be too long.

RC's test proves the point. So Archie hit the nail on the head. This is simply a fact of life with CZ firearms.

Hope this helps!

Very helpful. I loaded some rounds down to 1.135-1.140 OAL & they chambered very cleanly too.