First time loading 45 ACP. What am I doing wrong?

[sfl_gunner]

First time loading .45 ACP. What am I doing wrong? What is causing the case to crush?

 

[nettlle]

Are you crimping your loads?

 

[Atavar]

You have the seating die set to crimp too soon.
it is binding the bullet to the case before the bullet is fully seated and is crushing the case.
If you are just starting I suggest seating and crimping in separate passes.

 

[Atavar]

Start by backing the seating stem way out so it doesn’t touch anything. Now back the die way out.
Put an empty sized case in the case holder and raise the ram.
Screw the die in to the press until it just touches the case. Back the die out 1/8-1/4 turn. Lightly seat the locking nut so the die won’t move.
Lower the ram and put a primed case with powder in the case holder. Set a bullet on the case and raise the ram.
Screw the seating stem in to the die until it touches the bullet.
Lower the ram and screw the seating step in another 1/8-1/4 turn.
Raise the ram to seat the bullet.
Lower the ram and measure your cartridge overall length.
Repeat the last three steps until you have the desired COAL.
Now is the time to set the crimp.
Hold the die so it does not move and loosen the locknut.
While holding the seating stem so it does not move screw the die in to the press another 1/8-1/4 turn.
Hold the die so it does not move and lightly tighten the locknut.
Raise and lower the ram to crimp the case.
Repeat the last four steps until you have the desired crimp. Just enough to remove the bell at the case mouth is plenty.
Plunk test your loaded cartridge.
Hold the die so it doesn’t move and securely tighten the locknut.
You are now set and ready to process.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, the crimp ledge in the body of the die is too low and engaging the case before bullet seating is finished.

What OAL? Looks long.

 

[Steven_Seagull]

Yes.

 

[sfl_gunner]

Thanks. Trying that. Next question. Are the cases the buckled trash or can they be salvaged somehow?

 

[Atavar]

Yep, the crimp ledge in the body of the die is too low and engaging the case before bullet seating is finished.

What OAL? Looks long.

From the crimp marks it appears he is using a taper crimp die, which is great.
You can tell that the crimp is locking the bullet to the case before seating is finished.
I see a lot of people have this problem when they try to adjust COAL after adjusting crimp.
COAL must be adjusted before crimp is set. Then crimp only enough to remove flare belling.

 

[Tall]

So on your crimping / seating die the outside needs to be backed off maybe one turn so it crimps higher. Meanwhile the center needs to be adjusted so the OAL is correct. An easier way is to back the outside off so it does not crimp at all. Adjust the center so it gets the OAL right. Then use a Lee FCD in the fourth hole of your press.

 

[MEHavey]

crimp only enough to remove flare belling

^ ^ ^ ^ THIS ^ ^ ^ ^
(my emphasis added)

...and just enough to have a 0.470" mouth as a nice number.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/45-acp-headspace-on-shell-or-bullet.759572/#post-9586264

.

 

[Atavar]

The seating stem and the die body have the same pitch threads. This lets you hold the seating stem so it doesn’t get adjusted while you adjust the die body for crimp.

 

[Atavar]

Seating and crimping in separate operations is strongly suggested for new reloaders.
Don’t forget to plunk.

 

[Slamfire]

Thanks. Trying that. Next question. Are the cases the buckled trash or can they be salvaged somehow?

Got a 45 ACP Revolver? If you can get the cases to chamber, they will go bang. Might smooth out the bends and creases, or not. Do carry a brass rod to knock the cases out if they are difficult to extract. No need to bend the crane beating them out by hand.

I would not shoot them in an autopistol. If you wedge the case feeding it, and you cannot get the slide into battery, then getting a live case out of the chamber can be dangerous. I am reminded of the experience of a Vietnam Veteran buddy. He saw Soldiers trying to extract an unfired case from a BAR. They were using a cleaning rod, and they got that round out alright. But, it took a good whack and the case ejected fast and hit something hard in the port. That caused the round to go off, and guess what, someone got hurt. He did not tell me, but I wonder if someone got a cleaning rod through the mid section.

 

[Atavar]

Thanks. Trying that. Next question. Are the cases the buckled trash or can they be salvaged somehow?

Buckled cases are trash. Pull the bullets and primers.
Bullets will only be Plinkers, you can reuse the primers.

 

[NMexJim]

What dies are you using? Do you have the die setting instructions?

 

[Tall]

[QUOTE="sfl_gunner,

First time loading .45 ACP. What am I doing wrong? What is causing the case to crush?[/QUOTE]

Those would get the bullet pulled, powder dumped and go in the trash here.

 

[n2omike]

Pistol calibers can be a challenge. Make sure you're using the neck expanding die.
Takes a while to get the dies set up just right. I usually seat the bullet, then if I crimp, it's done in a second step. Use your feel to just barely crimp. If all the cases aren't the exact same length, you'll need to be careful to not over crimp the longer ones.

I don't load much 45, but stopped crimping 9mm. Zero issue for thousands of rounds of mixed brass shot multiple times. Canik METE and 9mm AR.

 

[sfl_gunner]

I have the wrong seating stem. That's the only logical explanation at this point. I have read the instructions on the RCBS manual. And tried the tips recommended here. Nothing worked. I realized I only have the Round nose and SWC seating stems.

 

[Walkalong]

That's not the issue, you're crimping too soon, and too much.

Without adjusting the die run a case up into the seater with no bullet, show us the results.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That's not the issue, you're crimping too soon, and too much.

Without adjusting the die run a case up into the seater with no bullet, show us the results.

Do this first. Just like said, the seating stem has nothing to do with crushing the case.

 

[Steve in PA]

1) You are using the wrong seater stem for that bullet. Looks like you are using the stem designed for round or full metal jacket bullets on a bullet with a flat tip or hollow point. That takes care of the bullet deformation.

2) Your die is not set up correctly. Need to set the correct COL, then adjust for crimp.

 

[NMexJim]

It’s a bit hard to see, but I think your seating stem is closing the petals of your hollow points down. That makes me think you’ve got the right stem. A number of us have told you that your crimp and seat depth are out of time. If you read their contributions, you’ll get this right.

If you are using Lee dies:
https://www.leeprecision.com/files/instruct/Pistol3.pdf

If other like RCBS, use:
https://www.rcbs.com/on/demandware....fFiles/rcbsPdf/Reloading_Die_Instructions.pdf

I personally crimp and seat at the same time. It’s all a matter of getting the timing right.

If you need to know a bit more on taper crimps this from one of our own, Mr Wobbly:
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=78873.0

 

[Atavar]

I have the wrong seating stem. That's the only logical explanation at this point. I have read the instructions on the RCBS manual. And tried the tips recommended here. Nothing worked. I realized I only have the Round nose and SWC seating stems.

The round nose seating stem should work fine with those bullets.
The problem is that because you are crimping too early the seating stem is exerting too much force on the bullet.
When you get the crimp adjusted correctly, or crimp in a separate operation, the seating stem should put much less force on the bullet nose.

 

[sfl_gunner]

After trying everything. I figured out the seating stems I have aren't long enough for the bullets I'm using to get the col needed.

 

[higgite]

After trying everything. I figured out the seating stems I have aren't long enough for the bullets I'm using to get the col needed.

That doesn't sound right at all. What COL are you shooting for? I've used my RCBS 45ACP combo seating/taper crimp die to seat down to 1.20" COL with both the round nose and flat nose seating stems and had room to spare. You don't need separate seating and crimp dies to get it right. You just have to properly adjust the combo die.