lead bullets

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

loaded up some lead bullets for 45 acp, missouri bullets, round nose flat top, had no pressure signs, no punchard primers, no bulged cases, but some fed some hug up on the feed ramp. Had no factory crimp die, had four cartridges with messed up case rims and failure to feed, is it possible that a factory crimp die would solve the issue, when I used factory ammo no problems, was just my reloads

 

[dannyd]

More crimp will help; measure what you have now and move it couple of thousands

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

some did work fine, and all but 4 fired with no pressure signs. would load 7 rounds in a mag, 3 or 4 worked fine, the others hung up. when I reloaded them in either the same mag or a different mag they worked. some would partial feed but not lock into battery. When reloaded would work

 

[rtufixer]

45acp should be taper crimped. What was your overall length.

 

[Mk-211]

How old are your mags and how are they stored?

Was the pistol clean/dirty, lubed?

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

they both were

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

with a dial caliper were the same length as my factory rounds that worked fine in both guns

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

mags are a few years old but recently cleaned and springs and followers replaced with shooting star parts

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

and all mags worked fine in both 1911s with factory ammo, was only my reloads, and this is the first time I loaded for semi autos, all previous reloads were for revolvers, and reloads have always worked fine there.
but I do realize revolvers are different animals than semi autos and magazines

 

[AJC1]

The top 3 were mentioned and making small batch tests will resolve it. With the hg68 profile the mag made a huge difference. The oal would be my first area to check, and crimp would be the least likely. If they plunk I'd be surprised if that was the culprit. Does it cycle clean manually.

 

[Alaskamike]

If the factory ammo worked without failure, I wouldn't think there's any issues with your mags or lube on the gun.

I would measure the oal of the factory loads, as well as the taper crimp diameter, and compare to your handloads.

Keep in mind that if the factory loads have jacketed bullets, the diameter will likely be .451" where your cast bullets are likely .452".

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

when using my dial caliper, my reloads were the same length as factory loads. the crimp was provided by the lee factory seating/crimp die on lee pro 1000. My lead bullets do measure .452 and that may be a problem.
but my barrels are all .452

 

[epags]

The top 3 were mentioned and making small batch tests will resolve it. With the hg68 profile the mag made a huge difference. The oal would be my first area to check, and crimp would be the least likely. If they plunk I'd be surprised if that was the culprit. Does it cycle clean manually.

I think crimps are the most likely especially if the OP is (over) belling the mouth in order to seat the bullet. Just adjust the crimp die a bit more to eliminate the belling and to get a slight crimp. Not sure where the OP is crimping the bullet but should look like this:

This photo is of a coated bullet but plain lead is loaded the same. I have shot 1,000s of rounds and the only time there was a feeding problem it was due to missing to crimp.
Full disclosure, Colt 1911 (OP did not say what kind of 45ACP pistol was having problem)

 

[Shooterbob]

Are the factory rounds the same bullet? If not being the same length may not be the way to go

 

[AJC1]

Still looking for data. Do they plunk, and do they manually cycle.

 

[AJC1]

I think crimps are the most likely especially if the OP is (over) belling the mouth in order to seat the bullet. Just adjust the crimp die a bit more to eliminate the belling and to get a slight crimp. Not sure where the OP is crimping the bullet but should look like this:
View attachment 1090785
This photo is of a coated bullet but plain lead is loaded the same. I have shot 1,000s of rounds and the only time there was a feeding problem it was due to missing to crimp.
Full disclosure, Colt 1911 (OP did not say what kind of 45ACP pistol was having problem)

My Para ordinance did not feed hardly at all. Factory kimber mags feed almost every time. I changed shapes and they just flow like water now.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

loaded up some lead bullets for 45 acp, missouri bullets, round nose flat top, had no pressure signs, no punchard primers, no bulged cases, but some fed some hug up on the feed ramp. Had no factory crimp die, had four cartridges with messed up case rims and failure to feed, is it possible that a factory crimp die would solve the issue, when I used factory ammo no problems, was just my reloads

Missouri Bullet sells a couple of different RNFP .452” bullets. It would help to know which one. There’s lots of 1911-style pistols out there. It would help to know which one. Pictures always help. Even bad pictures are better than a dozen posts describing something that has to be seen to figure out. With all the words posted so far it’s still impossible to tell what the real problem is.
Oh, and try editing posts to add info if you suddenly remember something. A dozen fractured sentences posted within seconds of each other gets hard to follow. Could just be me though.

 

[reddog81]

Are the factory rounds the same bullet? If not being the same length may not be the way to go

That's what I was thinking. Factory OAL is kind of irrelevant unless it's the same bullet. With other bullets you might be able to get into the correct range, but you still need to determine the OAL for your bullets. I'm not familiar with all 45 ACP factory ammo but I don't even recall seeing factory lead flat nose bullets before.

Are we talking about 4 failure to feeds per magazine or 4 FTF over the whole session? And what damaged the case rims?

 

[Soonerpesek]

I'm not familiar with all 45 ACP factory ammo but I don't even recall seeing factory lead flat nose bullets before.

There's a reason that the original was a round nose......

 

[rperyam]

Are these lead or coated bullets? During summer with lead bullets I have to wipe some lube off some of the cases when done. It will happen and the cases won't go into my barrel during the plunk test. Just another thought.

 

[gwpercle]

loaded up some lead bullets for 45 acp, missouri bullets, round nose flat top, had no pressure signs, no punchard primers, no bulged cases, but some fed some hug up on the feed ramp. Had no factory crimp die, had four cartridges with messed up case rims and failure to feed, is it possible that a factory crimp die would solve the issue, when I used factory ammo no problems, was just my reloads

Let's see ... " factory ammo no problems , was it just my reloads "

Sounds a lot like you reloads just need some fine tuning . 45 acp is one of the easier rounds to work with . you may have to try one or two different bullets to see what you gun likes ... 45's are like ladies , they have dislikes ... My first attempt was with a cast RN and cast RF and my girl didn't like them at all .
What she did like was Lyman 452460 a 200 gr. SWC and she also likes Truncated Cone bullets like that cast by the Lee 452-230-TC , or Lyman #452630 .
Keep trying a couple different bullets and pay close attention to all the reloading details .
The more precise and careful you are assembling loads the better you ammo will be and shooting will be both pleasurable and rewarding ... you will be making ammo ... so try to make the very best ammo you can .
Gary

 

[AJC1]

Let's see ... " factory ammo no problems , was it just my reloads "

Sounds a lot like you reloads just need some fine tuning . 45 acp is one of the easier rounds to work with . you may have to try one or two different bullets to see what you gun likes ... 45's are like ladies , they have dislikes ... My first attempt was with a cast RN and cast RF and my girl didn't like them at all .
What she did like was Lyman 452460 a 200 gr. SWC and she also likes Truncated Cone bullets like that cast by the Lee 452-230-TC , or Lyman #452630 .
Keep trying a couple different bullets and pay close attention to all the reloading details .
The more precise and careful you are assembling loads the better you ammo will be and shooting will be both pleasurable and rewarding ... you will be making ammo ... so try to make the very best ammo you can .
Gary

Never had a single issue with either version of the 230-tc from Lee, classic or TL. I powdercoated both, and bother were great.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Let's see ... " factory ammo no problems , was it just my reloads "

Sounds a lot like you reloads just need some fine tuning . 45 acp is one of the easier rounds to work with . you may have to try one or two different bullets to see what you gun likes ... 45's are like ladies , they have dislikes ... My first attempt was with a cast RN and cast RF and my girl didn't like them at all .
What she did like was Lyman 452460 a 200 gr. SWC and she also likes Truncated Cone bullets like that cast by the Lee 452-230-TC , or Lyman #452630 .
Keep trying a couple different bullets and pay close attention to all the reloading details .
The more precise and careful you are assembling loads the better you ammo will be and shooting will be both pleasurable and rewarding ... you will be making ammo ... so try to make the very best ammo you can .
Gary

Which is why you don’t buy 500 (or more) first time out with a new bullet.

 

[mdi]

Any time there is fit/feed problem, measure. Measure each failure and see where it is out of spec. Some bullet profiles can be problematic feeding, and many guns are picky. Experimenting with different shape bullets is easy, but can be costly or time consuming. Many times starting with a tried and true load/bullet shortcuts troubleshooting. After getting experience with a cartridge different loads/bullets can be tried. I started reloading 45ACP I used 230 gr RN FMJ bullets with Bulleye. After a couple hundred rounds I tried a different bullet and determined what was necessary for 100% feeding and which guns had preferences.

"Just add some crimp" or "use a Lee FCD" are not much more than WAG. Find out why the rounds don't feed, when during the reloading process it happens and fix it. I have been reloading for nearly 40 years and 45 ACP 30+ years and never needed a post crimping sizing die...

 

[ms6852]

I know there is controversy when it comes to magazines and bullet designs and some have 1911's that feed anything and than you have those that don't and you have situations where it is an intermediate flaw or problem. You should consider using hybrid magazines that will feed flat nose or semi wadcutter into your 1911. The magazine and the follower are designed differently that allows the flat nose rounds to feed reliably.

Another thing that you could do when you have a failure to feed with that round, pull it aside and measure its diameter to one that feeds and measure it too. Could be that the coating is thicker on the one that does not feed.