Unburnt Powder? Dillon Sizer?

[ulflyer]

Worked up my first 45 LC loads today starting at 4.5 gr Clays over 200gr RNFP lead. These were very accurate but was about like shooting 38's. Went to 4.8 and accuracy wasn't good. Moved to 5.3 and got super accuracy. Questions are:

1. Fair amount of unburnt powder in all loads...does this suggest crimp not tight enough?

2: Dillon Dies: Sizer doesn't seem to be beveled enough to allow case to slide in without having to jiggle it. Almost like the case is not getting lined up at times. I can feel the shellplate as it seats on the ball. Doesn't do it all time, but enough to be aggravatiing. Have always used RCBS and am thinging about sending these back..or buying an RCBS sizer replacement. Have any of you had this situation with the dillon sizer?

 

[dmftoy1]

I don't have any experience with Clays, but I'd say you don't have enough crimp if you're seeing alot of unburned powder. I've been playing with 7.5 grains of bullseye and I'm not seeing hardly any.

In terms of the sizer die question . .probably a stupid question but have you adjusted the little spring thingy (technical term) that holds the case into the shell holder? I've had the problem you describe when I switch from .50 S&W back to anything else as the spring thingy is out of adjustment and not pressing the case into the shellplate.


Have a good one,
Dave

 

[The Bushmaster]

Unless you are worried about smoke from the lube use W-231...Much better choice in my (not so) humble opinion...Crimp it...Shoot it...

 

[AnyRacoon]

Ulflyer

You did not mention it but are you using a Dillon press? Give Dillon a call.
Thier Tech. support is great. Thier dies are designed to be used on a progessive presses with larger openings at the bottom of the dies.

 

[ulflyer]

Problems fixed

Dave, you nailed the problem...the spring thingie wasn't adjusted right. Fixed that, tightened crimp, changed powder to Bullseye with much less unburnt stuff, and the Dillon 550 cranked them out fine. It does require a much stronger pull on the lever, even with the cases lubed, to size these 45 Colts as opposed to the 45acps that I'm used to loading.

Played with a varied of loads starting with 4.0 and working up to 5.3. The lower end produced the more accurate groups, however, my S&W 25-5 tends to shoot low at my 12 yard range and I have to cover most of the 2'' bull to get them in the bull. The higher loads shot higher but lacked the accuracy. I have some Win 231 that I may try later on....didn't have any readily avail starting loads for it today; thats why I used Bullseye. My past experience with the two in 45acp suggest they perform about the same anyway.

Having recently traded for this gun from a forum member, its my first experience with such a large calibre revolver and boy is it accurate. Makes my 1911 shooting look pretty shabby. Action on it has been smoothed out and its slick as butter.

Thanks guys all for the help.