Tell Me Whats Wrong

[cvo]

I've been reloading rifle for a long time, but this is my first attempt at pistol.


This is once fired Federal .45 brass with a Hornady 230 grain XTP bullet. I can see the expansion from the bullet in the case, is this normal?

 

[Lee Roder]

that means you have tension. if it chambers it's good

 

[ScratchnDent]

That's normal.

 

[Randy1911]

The sizing die will normally under size the case to give good neck tension. When you seat the bullet it will expand the case back out to normal. Shoot away.

 

[cvo]

Thanks.

 

[cvo]

BTW, should the necks be crimped?

 

[Black_Talon]

Taper crimped only, as the 45ACP headspaces (sort of) on the mouth. I crimp to .470" diameter.

 

[cvo]

They measure .471 now without a crimp. The ID of the case was .448 before pressing the .451 bullet in.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Crimp to only remove the bell. If you want the tolerences. They are .469" to .472". No more/no less. Use your barrel to insure they will chamber. It is probably the best (and cheapest) chamber gauge around...

Your photo shows a normal round...Randy1911 explained it very well (short and to the point)...

 

[Walkalong]

Measure a little below (say 1/8") the case mouth and then at the case mouth. The case mouth should be at or slightly below (.001 to .002) what it measures 1/8" down from the case mouth.

 

[918v]

I eyball it. If the flare is gone and there a slight curvature to the casemouth, it's good.

 

[jeepmor]

Taper crimped only, as the 45ACP headspaces (sort of) on the mouth.

They absolutely headspace on the casemouth, not sort of. If I'm wrong, please explain where else. I do suppose the ejector controls the position to some degree also.

BTW - that is a very normal looking round. I have lots of them from my Hornady product purchase and all my rounds look like that when they are done.

 

[918v]

Some people think they headspace off the extractor, but they aren't considering the clearance between the extractor hook and the rim far exceeds the clearance between the case mouth and the end of the chamber body. The case mouth will always hit the end of the chamber body before the rim hits the edge of the extractor hook unless the case is too short or the chamber is cut too deep or both. If the gun is correctly assembled, the round will headspace off the case mouth.

 

[joneb]

cvo, what is the OAL of that round ? It looks a bit long it could just be it's a XTP/HP. Does it pass the chamber test?

Use your barrel to insure they will chamber. It is probably the best (and cheapest) chamber gauge around...

I agree,
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=91243&d=1232308690

 

[cvo]

Good eye, yes it is a little long 1.260.

 

[bullseye308]

Nothing I can add here but wow, the speed and quality of the help here is astounding!

 

[The Bushmaster]

jibjab...I still think the managment should make that a "Sticky"....Then I wouldn't have to keep asking Walkalong for a copy of it everytime I lose it...

 

[918v]

Good eye, yes it is a little long 1.260.

Does it fit in your mag? Does it chamber easily?

 

[medalguy]

If the bulge bothers you, try a Lee CARBIDE FCD. The carbide ring will remove the bulge as you run the round through the die. It just resizes the side and base of the round. I use that for my 38 Special ammo, looks a little bit better IMO.

 

[rcmodel]

If it removed the bulge on the .45 ACP round in the picture?
It would also squish the bullet base undersize for the bore.

Not a good idea to do that!

rc

 

[918v]

If it removed the bulge on the .45 ACP round in the picture?
It would also squish the bullet base undersize for the bore.

Not a good idea to do that!

rc

and would also lower case tension on the bullet contributing to setback upon chambering.

 

[cvo]

The 1.260 rounds fit the mag of my SA 911 and chambered, but they were a little shorter after cambering Two times.

 

[LiveLife]

If your OAL length decreased after chambering from magazine two times, you may not have enough neck tension (bullet seated deeper when pushed against the ramp by the slide).

I check neck tension on my loaded rounds by pushing as hard as I can on the bullet against the bench with my thumb/fingers. If the bullet moves, you don't have enough neck tension.

 

[rcmodel]

This is the guy with the bulged bullet base on his case in the first post.
No way he has loose neck tension, and no way he can push the bullet deeper by hand.

Obvously a feed problem with his gun.
A shorter OAL my help as his is seated longer then normal now.

Seating deeper will provide more bullet shank inside the case for increased neck tension.
They may also feed better at a shorter length and not whack into the feed ramp before they get a chance to change angles out of the magazine.

rc

 

[LiveLife]

chambered, but they were a little shorter after cambering Two times.

Was this a typo? "cambering" I read it as chambering two times.

So, I wonder what would cause the the OAL to be shorter after chambering two times then?