Pistol and plunk test gage

[OleEd]

I recently bought the Lee progressive press for the .45 acp. I have been reloading since the 80s with a RCBS & the Lee Classic for 380, 9mm, 38/357 and the .45..... (Please.., I'm staying with the Lee progressive since the Dillon is out of my price range.). Problem is the NOT being able to properly pass a plunk test with the gage OR using the barrel from my Sig P227 or my 1911. I've checked and rechecking the setup about two million times (a lot). I need help correcting this problem.

For both 45s, they fire best with an OAL of 1.242, , mouth of bullet to .471 and the base of the body or above the "web" to .468. I now have the mouth at .471 1/2 and the base of bullet at .471 1/2. Of note (base) .470 sticks in both the gage and barrel.

Thanks in advance

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

You can also use a dry erase marker and mark the case mouth, and base, drop it in the barrel/ gauge and spin it to see where its making contact.

No need to mark the ogive since the OAL is not the problem.



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[Damon555]

Will the ammo function in your pistols?

 

[OleEd]

Plunk test reply.

The loaded rounds do not insert/load into the chamber. The main problem is the base of the main case that measure to .468. Is there a process with the dies that I can adjust to .468 to function properly?

 

[nettlle]

Will the sized cases (not flared) plunk without a bullet in them?

 

[Walkalong]

Sizer adjusted down far enough, so even when the press flexes it sizes as far as possible?

 

[Walkalong]

I just measured some reloads and the case at the top of the extractor cut is .470 to .473. Fits all my chambers.

Looks like SAMMI spec is .476

Are you sure the base of the reload is the problem?

 

[kcofohio]

According to SAAMI, the area in your chamber above the web, which is .200" above the headstamp, should be min. .4796". And the chamber at the case mouth end min. is .474". Your sizes should fit?! If the barrel is made to their (SAAMI) specs, could you have debris or build up in the chamber? Faulty dies?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think I would make a few rounds on your single stage press and see if they fit...

 

[OleEd]

Thanks all. Will try your suggestions. Appreciate your replies.

 

[jmorris]

Will the sized cases (not flared) plunk without a bullet in them?

Really need to answer this question to narrow your focus. If the answer is yes, your problem is from your seating/crimping most likely and you might try seating with one die then crimp with another.

If the answer is no, then your size die might not be doing its job or you have damage on cases that a normal size die cannot cure. That is why push through and roll sizers exist.



That said if your plunking most barrels wouldn't catch a damaged rim anyway, instead it's the breech face where they hang up (why I use case gauges).

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

If its at the base the sizer die is likely not going down far enough.

Go back and double check that the die is screwed all the way to the shell plate and touching before tightening it down. And make sure that the shell plate is tight. Also that no other dies are screwed down too far and preventing the sizing die from fully touching the shell plate.

Are you using the same dies as before?



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