Trouble with reloaded .45's

[bfh429]

I'm a new reloader and have been having some trouble with my .45's. I've been shooting them in a Ruger P345, a Taurus PT145, and a Hi-Point .45. I started with 185gr lead SWC and they would not feed at all in either the ruger or turus but worked great in the Hi-point. I tried different seating depths and nothing worked. When I got the rounds into the chamber, almost every round was a misfire in theTaurus. I could put those same bullets in the ruger or hi -point and they worked just fine, besides the feeding. I have since tried 220 gr. lead flat points and had similar results. I loading 100 rounds of jacketed hollow points and all three guns fired and fed those without a hitch. I'm not sure what else to try. Same primers were used in all rounds. Could it be that these guns are just very picky about their ammo? I've also loaded several hundred rounds of .40 S & W for my SW sigma and have not had a single misfire or feeding issue.
If anyone has some suggestions I'd appreciate it.
Thanks, Brian

 

[earplug]

Without knowing what primer your using or what type of feed problem you have its tough to guess.
My guess is the lead bullet is oversize for the application. Most 45 ACP bullets are .452. You might be using bullets meant for 45 Long Colt. .454?
If that is not the case your bullet seating die needs to be readjusted.
If you have a slight bulge in the case,they won't chamber easily. I have had problems due to the die trying to crimp the bullet while its still trying to seat the bullet.
You also seem to have a high primer problem where the primer is not fully seated in the case. You will get missfires due to the primer being unsupported soaking up the energy of the fireing pin instead of crushing the primer pellet and igniteing.
For the record what type of primer are you using?

 

[243winxb]

45acp Lead SWC Seating, Taper Crimping, OAL

When using a carbide sizing die, set the die up by placing a nickle coin between the shell holder and the bottom of the carbide die so you dont over size the brass. Seat the bullet so just a little lead is at the case mouth.The measurement(red lines) from the head to the shoulder of the Lswc is .947" To long and the action will not close. Each gun is different. An adjustment of as little as .005" +/- can make a difference. Seat the bullet in one step. 2nd step taper crimp. The case mouth after crimping should be close to .470" Adjust the taper crimp die by putting a loaded round in the ram/shell holder. Run up to top of travel. Now screw in your taper crimp dies. Turn die with hand as tight as possible. You will be crimping the loaded round as you do this. This way you will not over crimp. Lock dies. The loaded round should look like this. The red lines are the measurement (.947") i take for my Over All Length, NOT the bullet nose.

 

[bfh429]

Im using winchester primers, and 3 different types of powder, unique, HS-6, & acc. #5. I'm using a Lee 3 hole turret press. Do you think it would help to seat and crimp in different steps or maybe get the factory crimp die and add that to the process?
The feed problems I'm having is the bullets get stuck at a 45 degree angle on the feed ramp.

 

[243winxb]

Do you think it would help to seat and crimp in different steps

If your shaving lead on bullet seating, yes. But done correctly one seating die works.

factory crimp die

A standard RCBS type taper crimp dies is a better choice.

The feed problems I'm having is the bullets get stuck at a 45 degree angle on the feed ramp

This could be a magazine problem. The back of the case in not coming up fast enought for the slide to catch it. Oil the magazines or adjust them. The feed ramps may need to be polished if the are rought. Or OAL needs adjustment. Remember each gun is different, what may work in one might not work in the other.

 

[Walkalong]

It fed and fired the JHP's just fine, right? Some guns don't like SWC's at all, and some are just real picky about O.A.L. with SWC's.

If you are not belling quite enough, the lead bullets may not be seating straight enough and/or shaving a bit of lead.

Seating and crimping .45 ACP in seperate steps is easier to set up, but not needed. I crimp most things in a seperate step, including .45 ACP, but not all things.

If the Lee FCD fixes it, there is another problem that needs to be fixed. It should only kiss an occasional round if everything is right.

 

[coldtrail]

As all pistols are a little different, what I do when loading for my 45ACP Colt is take the barrel out. Place a loaded round in the chamber. If the base of the case sits higher than the hood of the barrel then your bullet is seated too far out and will jam the action when the bullet hits the rifling. Adjust your seating die so the cartridge drops is flush with the hood on the barrel. Also your recoil spring, has it been trimmed?

 

[bfh429]

Thanks for your help guys I think I've got it figured out. I didnt have enough crimp on either the SWCs or the flat points. I also wasnt belling the case enough. The lead was building up around the case neck not allowing it to seat properly. Especially with the flat points. Those were sitting too high in the barrel but they are working well now. I was told a while ago to bell the case as little as possible to extend case life but it doesnt matter if the rounds dont work anyway.
Thanks, Brian