Help setting up 45 ACP dies, need good info please

[RAGGED]

I’m somewhat new to reloading hand gun ammunition and have been having some troubles with getting good results for my 45 ACP, does anyone know of good books, links for getting a better understanding on how to properly set up the dies for handgun use.

I’m experiencing rounds that are to tight in the chamber and gage, sometimes they are tight at the crimp, other times they are too wide at the base of the bullet, the funny thing is 75% work perfect, chamber perfect shoot perfect, others just don’t go. It may just be the mix of brass but something tells me that’s not it or at least not all of it as I’ve used brass of the same box, even component brass from the same bag and still get mixed results, I can honestly and simply say I don’t know enough about it to be sure I’m setting it up right, but I’d like to learn so please give me some good sources! Thank you!

 

[Walkalong]

Make sure the sizer is screwed all the way down without actually hitting the shell holder. Make sure you bell just enough to start the bullet. Lightly crimp. I have to use magnification to see my crimp on .45 ACP. Make sure your primers are flush or slightly below flush. Check your bullets to make sure they are not over sized.

That should do it. If you think all these items are OK, try to take a pic of some offending rounds to post.

Welcome to THR

 

[Sunray]

Read your manual again. Sounds like you may not be running the case all the way into the sizer die every time. Slow down.
All the dies should just kiss the shell holder with the ram all the way up. Then adjust the depriming pin to pop out the old primer when the ram is up. Adjust the expander to give you just enough flare to be able to sit the bullet in the case mouth. Adjust the seating plug to give you the OAL you want and put on a light taper crimp(getting the crimp right is trial and error. You should be able to see it though. Just a wee bit. 1/16" at most). All of it is easier to do than explain.

 

[Jim Watson]

What bullets?

Bulk cast bullets are the most common cause of gauge failures. Not the only one, though.

 

[BK]

Mind your overall lengths. Your description sounds identical to an issue I recently experienced.
I had the same exact problem and thought that some of the brass was to blame.
Removing the barrel of a 1911 and trying a few shells in the chamber revealed that the brass was all good.
It turned out that the bullets hadn't been seated deep enough and a few rounds, here and there, were engaging the rifling, preventing the slide from closing fully. After remeasuring and reseating several rounds, problem gone.

 

[Texastbird]

Well, I have one Colt, that must have a "tight" spec barrel, because it had the same problem that the OP has. My other 45s had no problems at all with my reloads. I got a Lee FCD and now all my reloads function reliably through the picky Colt. I agree with the above posters about things to check and look for, but my only solution was running them through the Factory crimp die.

 

[jmorris]

anyone know of good books, links for getting a better understanding on how to properly set up the dies for handgun use.

"The ABC's of reloading", everyone should have a copy.