I finally got some dies for my .45 and had picked up a box of 200 gr LSWC for it. I did a lot of reading and research, and it seemed that most guys didn't have a problem with those types of bullets chambering in a semi-auto pistol. I loaded some up over the weekend, and the first 10 or so chambered and fired fine, then I started having problems. Does anyone have any experience loading SWC in an automatic pistol?
LSWC in a .45acp
- Thread starter jtuck
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Problem feeding?
Or problem chambering?
If it is chambering (failing to go into battery), the front driving band is getting into the rifling leade before the slide can lock.
Seat so the front shoulder is just barely sticking out of the case.
Feeding issues are often magazine related. Try another mag.
First we have to determine what your actual problem is before we can help much more then that.
rc
Or problem chambering?
If it is chambering (failing to go into battery), the front driving band is getting into the rifling leade before the slide can lock.
Seat so the front shoulder is just barely sticking out of the case.
Feeding issues are often magazine related. Try another mag.
First we have to determine what your actual problem is before we can help much more then that.
rc
The rounds would get stuck ramping up into the chamber at about a 45 degree angle. I actually fudged the OAL a little. My Lyman Cast Bullet handbook gave an OAL for a Lyman bullet (which they are not) at 1.161 and the Hornady book says 1.20. The Lyman OAL actually seated the shoulder of the bullet just a hair below the case mouth. I loaded mine to about 1.20 I believe. I used a combination of OAL's listed in the Lyman and Hornady manuals and load data posted online. This OAL left just a hair of the shoulder showing. I though about stretching the length out a little to see if that helped. I applied minimal crimp.
ReloaderFred
Member
There are many different designs for 200 gr. LSWC bullets, as well as different pistols to shoot them in. I've been able to make them work quite well in my 1911's and Witnesses, but not in my Springfield XD .45 acp.
The trick I use is to take a stock military 230 grain round nose bullet and run it up into the seating die, with the seating stem backed out. I then screw down the seating stem until it touches the RN bullet and lock it in place. This will make the contact point on the feed ramp roughly the same as the RN bullet, and will get you in the ballpark as to over all length for the SWC bullets.
This works particularly well with long nose bullets similar to the H&G #68 design, but not so well with short nose bullets. You'll have to experiment with your particular gun and bullet to find what will feed reliably.
Another thing to watch is the crimp. It should be just enough to remove the bell of the case mouth so the round can make a smooth transition from the magazine to the chamber. If the case flare hasn't been removed, it will catch and not chamber.
Hope this helps.
Fred
The trick I use is to take a stock military 230 grain round nose bullet and run it up into the seating die, with the seating stem backed out. I then screw down the seating stem until it touches the RN bullet and lock it in place. This will make the contact point on the feed ramp roughly the same as the RN bullet, and will get you in the ballpark as to over all length for the SWC bullets.
This works particularly well with long nose bullets similar to the H&G #68 design, but not so well with short nose bullets. You'll have to experiment with your particular gun and bullet to find what will feed reliably.
Another thing to watch is the crimp. It should be just enough to remove the bell of the case mouth so the round can make a smooth transition from the magazine to the chamber. If the case flare hasn't been removed, it will catch and not chamber.
Hope this helps.
Fred
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Another trick I would try is to take the barrel out of the gun and use it as a seating depth guage.
Seat as long as possible and still have the round drop freely into the chamber.
The longer you can go and not have the bullet hit the leade, the less problems you should have with feeding.
If you are loading for a 1911, check the extractor tension.
If it is too heavy, the case rim may bind up as the shorter SWC round tries to cam over out of the mag and into the chamber.
rc
Seat as long as possible and still have the round drop freely into the chamber.
The longer you can go and not have the bullet hit the leade, the less problems you should have with feeding.
If you are loading for a 1911, check the extractor tension.
If it is too heavy, the case rim may bind up as the shorter SWC round tries to cam over out of the mag and into the chamber.
rc
bluetopper
Member
Yes, seat at 1.250" OAL and you should be fine.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The old H&G #68 will feed in anything.
It has a long nose for it's weight, and it's ogive contact points during feeding closely match the GI 230 FMJ-RN.
Unfortunately there are several other shorter 200 SWC's that are not as well designed.
rc
It has a long nose for it's weight, and it's ogive contact points during feeding closely match the GI 230 FMJ-RN.
Unfortunately there are several other shorter 200 SWC's that are not as well designed.
rc
Hoxviii
Member
I was about to comment on this. I went through 2 or 3 brands of 200gn LSWCs for .45 ACP until I found one that would always feed. One day I had a 230FMJ lying on the table and one of the LSWCs rolled over by it and that's when I realized what was going on.
The LSWC had the same feed profile, length, and nose shape as the 230 FMJ- just with material removed to make it a lighter SWC.
As a bonus, they were the cheapest 200 LSWC I could find locally (Suter's Choice).
243winxb
Member
45acp
The head to shoulder length is what i use for lswc. Measures .947"
The head to shoulder length is what i use for lswc. Measures .947"
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