Weird .45 ACP loading events

Status
Not open for further replies.
I

Ida Noski

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
99
Location
AZ
Ok.
Got something I think is kinda weird going on here. Kind of a long story.
Sold both my 45 autos ( not at the same time) to by other guns. (revolvers).
Have loaded a bunch of .45 ACP over the years, never had any problems.
I'm the guy that reloads the brass until it comes apart and then I call it "done".
Bought a 625, which I love. Have been loading ammo of several different loads with no problems.
Now recently I have found that some of the cases after loading will not fit in the cylinder. Federal has been the biggest offender but have found onsey, twoseys of other brands that I have disassembled and reloaded with a different case with no problem.
A lot of my brass is range pick-up stuff, which I have been doing for a number of years with no problems.
I use a Dillon Square Deal to reload my pistol stuff.
So what do you guys think? Is the brass old and not holding the size when being resized?
I use enough bell on the case mouth to easily seat the bullet straight for seating.
Just don't know where things are going wacky.
Any ideas?

Thanx

Jim
 
Are you saying you had no problems with the semi-autos, but you DO have problems with the revolver? Do you use a Lee Factory Crimp die? If not, you should. Sounds like the "range pickup brass" might be the source of your problems if you're not using the FC die.

Others with more experience than I will no doubt chime in, but IMHO if it feeds OK in a semi-auto (as you implied), it should also perform well in a revolver. In any event, the Lee FC die should help.

Albert
 
OAL issues? I can't imagine a round expanding all of its own AFTER coming out of a cylinder.

After you deprime and size, check the OAL for go / no go. Adjust your crimp die accordingly after all cases are trimmed to length.
 
Do you use a Lee Factory Crimp die?
Click to expand...
He can't, he is loading on a SDB. I'm with ST on this one. I would take one that won't chamber and seat it a little shorter and see if that fixes the problem. After you seat it a little more drop it in the barrel of your gun and see if it doesn't go in farther. I had a similar problem with some Berry's 124 FP in my 9mm.
Rusty
 
It's been my experience that .45 acp revolvers have tighter chambers than .45 acp pistols. This is because the revolvers don't have to have the slide jamming the round into the chamber while functioning. Pistol chambers are usually more generous to make chambering easier.

With that said, Dillon size dies are belled at the mouth more than other brands of dies. They don't size as far down the case as the others. This is done to facilitate feeding through the progressive press.

You mentioned you've had Federal brass as one of the bigger offenders. This is probably because Federal is the second thickest brass in .45 acp. Winchester is the thickest, by the way.

Take some sized cases and see if they will go into the cylinder before belling and seating a bullet. If they won't, see where they are contacting the walls of the chambers. My guess, without seeing the actual ammunition, is that the cases aren't being sized down far enough and leaving a slight bulge just above the web of the case.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
ReloaderFred,
What you are describing is exactly what I am seeing. The cases are "fat" at the base, which does not allow them to seat deep enough into the cylinder.
Is the Lee Factory Crimp Die a carbide die, or does one have to lube the cases?
Looks like I may need to break down and invest in a new lot of brass:eek:
Unless of course this Lee die will resolve this issue.

Thank you all very much for the information and help!

Jim
 
Ida Noski,

The carbide Lee Factory Crimp Die has a carbide ring that is slightly larger than the regular sizing die, which is meant to bring loaded rounds to SAAMI maximum diameter. It works well on my .38's that I use for Cowboy Action Shooting.

I've found that of all the carbide sizing dies, the Lee has the least amount of bell at the mouth of the die, so it sizes farther down the case. I'm not a big fan of Lee equipment in general, but I do use some of their dies for specific functions. Their .38 Super die is the only one that will size the case down far enough.

It's too bad you don't live nearby, as I've got the Magma Size Master Jr., which runs rimless cases all the way through a carbide die and sizes the entire case, including the rim. I run all my .45's through it and I've got dies for 9mm size cases and 10mm size cases. This eliminates all case swelling and all cases end up the same diameter from mouth to rim.

You'll probably have to invest in either the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die or a different brand of sizing die to eliminate the case swelling problem.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I take care of worries like that by keeping a dedicated batch of WW brass for revolver use only. No head bulges from bigger auto chambers and no rim dings from auto ejectors. No bulges over bullets due to varying brass thickness in range pickup empties, either.

EGW sells a "U" sizing die, made for them by Lee, that sizes smaller and closer to the head that might bandaid your problem.
 
Looks like I'll be investing in the Lee FCD. I've been told that I can run loaded ammo through it to remove the bulge at the bottom of the case. One added step is a lot better than having to take a round apart and put it back together using a different piece of brass.
Thank you all very much for the information and help:)

With enough Milk Bones, even and old dog can learn new tricks:D
 
It was discussed some time back, not sure if it was this forum or another, about having Lee make a special run of their "factory crimp die" FCD to fit the Dillon SDB. They would do it, but you needed a minimum run to make it worth their while....I don't remember the number but think it was around 25 or 50. There weren't that many people interested so the idea died, but it IS possible......at least it was then.
 
My recently made S&W 625-8 works just fine with my RCBS dies and most any brass.
Only Brass that won't work was Ameritec (sp)?
Could your problems be oversize bullets?
When I seated some bullets too deep they would expand the brass enough to bulge or buckle the case making chambering difficult.
I just needed to back off on the seating die.
 
earplug,
Using Bullet Meister .452" lead bullets. they are seated to spec for 1.275" OAL.
As I stated, I did measure some and found those to be .452" with consistancy.
IDriveB5,
I do not have a case gauge. I live very close to Dillon Precision, which can be both a blessing and a curse;)
I suppose I should get one of those as well.
I have them for 30.06 and .223 but have never had problems with pistol cartidges until now.
And as for the Americ brass, yes, it is problematic and I will trash what little of it that I have.
Pretty sure the LEE FCD after loading will resolve the problems.
That and buying some new brass might work!

Thanks,

Jim
 
Ida Noski,
Like said above, your auto probably damaged/changed slightly your brass. A revolver is tighter than a semi-auto by nature. If your brass is very old just get some new brass and be done with it. :uhoh:

I bought a Lee Classic Turret Press along with Lee Deluxe Die Sets for reloading my revolver ammo. The Deluxe sets have the Factory Crimp Die included which works out great since I bought a 4 hole turret setup. I can turn out ~200 rounds of 38/357 per hour and they are good rounds, not just fast made rounds. I got the press for $73 and I'm glad I did. I know a lot of people here don't like Lee products but that press is great for handgun rounds.
 
Ida, I started loading .38SPL/.357MAG and when I bough a 1911, I got a Lee Deluxe die set and a max cartridge gauge to make sure all my rounds would feed. So far, so good (only about 300rnds).
If you do end up getting one, I would be interested to see if your rounds fit the gauge.
 
Just wanted to let you guys know, a buddy of mine picked up a LEE FCD for me. I ran the trouble rounds through it with the crimper backed all the way out.
I don't have a case gauge yet, but the rounds now fit in the cylinder with no problem:D

Thank you all very much!


Jim
 
.45 case expanded

Most of all post on track with the Lee Factory Crimp Die. A good friend of mine on the Sheriffs Dept. gives me once fired Federal Hydra Shock brass, from their range. Most of them fire Glock 21's. The Glock does not support the lower rear of case like most 1911 clones, and the result is oversize cases at the base after ran through my Dillon 550. My "fix" is to run all of these loaded rounds through the Lee Factory Crimp, in my RCBS press, to complete the process. All rounds then are checked in a Dillon overall case guage, and pass the test, and fire fine. I do all 9mm in the same manner. Yes more work,but, yes all good rounds. (I HATE to take them back apart!! HA!!):cuss::cuss::cuss:
 
One of the basic rules in reloading is to not interchange brass from gun to gun. One lot of brass for one gun.
Click to expand...

Stupid question here but, is this true even for simple practice ammo kinds of situations? I have 3 different 9mm autos that I reload for and I've never distinguished between them, I just keep the OAL such that they all load into each pistol's chamber without setback. I should be segregating my cases and keeping the same ones with the same gun? I haven't had any problems that I know of doing it my way, am I missing something?

If it makes any difference, I have all Lee stuff and I use and really like the factory crimp die on all the pistol stuff I load (9mm, 38/357, 45ACP).
 
Ehhhh

I don't know as I'd call it a basic rule of reloading. For precision rifle loads, yes, but for accuracy's sake, not function.

For pistols, not so much. I swap brass around among several .45s (four, actually, a Gold Cup, Para, S&W 1911 Sc, and a "Black Army" 1911) with no problems.

Brass fired in my stock G22 barrel won't feed in my aftermarket barrel, though it might after a trip through a FCD.

If it functions in your gun, no matter whether it came from another.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Dents in .45 ACP cases
Replies
8
Views
1K
dmftoy1
D
T
  • Locked
New 45 ACP Brass
Replies
16
Views
1K
Rule3
Rule3
B
  • Locked
Is reloading safe for .45 acp Glock?
Replies
18
Views
3K
freakshow10mm
F
M
  • Locked
is something wrong with my 45 ACP dies
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
CHEVELLE427
CHEVELLE427
T
  • Locked
Hodgdon Longshot in 45 ACP
Replies
8
Views
3K
ArchAngelCD
ArchAngelCD
Back
Top