light loads and different shooters: 45ACP

[mike_mccue]

I have been trying light loads in a Colt 45ACP Lightweight Officers ACP.

Over the weekend I fired 50 rounds of 4.5gr Bullseye loads under 200gr RN copper plate bullets with proper cycling and good function.

Then my wife tried the pistol and somehow had 2 jams over 10 shots.

I cleared the gun both times and it functioned properly afterwards for me until I ran thru the ammo.

We also have a similar problem with a Colt 22 conversion top. Shoots fine for me... jams for her.


Any thoughts on how a shooters technique could effect this?

mike

 

[renaissance]

Limp Wrist!

No Insult intended..but..............
Very Likely a case of "Limp Wrist"

 

[caz223]

I was doing a load workup and had a CZ75b with such weak springs that I downloaded the ammo so far that it wouldn't work in any other gun I've tried.
Worked for me every time.
But new shooters had jamming problems due to limp wristing.
I have since loaded it hotter and replaced my springs. (And stepped up the bullet weight.)

 

[NoahFN]

I've had a similiar problem with my girlfriend and my full size 1911. I have no problems with the gun running for me whatsoever. I put it in her hands and it inevitably has problems. I attribute it to her limp wristing and not being able to get a good hold on the gun. Despite the slim grip of the 1911, it is still too large for her.

 

[JDGray]

I was expierimenting with some 45NT cases with small primers, and my 8 yr old could get my P345 to stovepipe. I could get it too also, but I was holding it real loose.

 

[mike_mccue]

So it is a common observation? I will do a search on the term. Can someone elaborate on the "limp wrist" effect?

Thanks,
mike

 

[caz223]

Limp wristing has been associated with shooting low-left (Not sure about that, doing this from memory.), stovepipe type malfunctions, straight line stoppages, brass ejecting erratically (Sometimes hitting the shooters' face.), and many other erratic symptoms.
It's also usually an indicator of other problems, like gripping too low, unfamiliar with pistol, and poor trigger control.
Inconsistancy will plague shooter who 'limp wrists'.
Usually, it will show up in novice shooters who have recently changed guns to a gun with a different grip angle or caliber, or going from a big or heavy gun to a small or light gun.
Like from a sig 226 to a sub compact glock .40 caliber.
It's also sometimes accompanied by flinching or closing eyes when pulling trigger.
YMMV.

Your wrist is absorbing the recoil that operates the slide. Or pulling the gun out of its operating range. Sometimes, the gun will actually eject the spent round, but since the gun is going back too far, the slide will close on the empty case that didn't clear the ejection port.
Also responsible for 'stovepipe' malfunctions are magazine problems, dirty gun syndrome (GDS), too little/too much/ wrong type lube, low power ammo (Slide not spending enough time back.), etc.

 

[only1asterisk]

The gun needs something firm to recoil against. It you don't hold it firmly the whole gun moves back instead of just the slide. This is made worse by light loads that give the slide less engergy to work with in the first place.


David