May 6, 2009, 10:58 PM | #1 |
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1911 Feed Problems
Hello,
1911 style pistol, built by me from an RIA. Ammo is 185gn LSWC, BH of 18, loaded over a charge of 6.3gn W231 using Rem LPP. I am satisfied this load is a bit warm, but safe. Alternate load, however, is the same, using 5.6gn of W231. COL is 1.250-1.256. The bullet is a long nose profile: Out of 100 rounds, I have, on average, two failures to feed all the way. The rear of the case seems to hang on the breech face. Slapping the bottom of the mag will usually allow it to close, as will slapping the back of the slide with the heel of my weak hand. This is my carry weapon, so everything's been stoned, deburred, whatnot, and the chamber has been lightly polished. Feeding problems only happen within the last 25 rounds, when the pistol starts getting dirty. I have the recoil spring at 18.5# for carry and don't want to go heavier. Extractor tension is about perfect. In fact, the case rim isn't even at the extractor when it hangs. The problem is most prevalent with surplus magazines, but also showed itself with a Wilson (though this happened before I polished the chamber...) It's almost as if the nose is catching on something in there when it's feeding, but the chamber is so smooth, there's nothing left for it to catch on. (I used 800 grit wet paper with a slight crosshatch to keep the expanded brass from sticking). I adjust the rounds out to 1.270, problem totally disappears. That leads to unburned powder though, and I don't like that. I don't recall if it did this with AA#7, though I seem to recall a couple malfs of this nature. I've not tried any other brand of powder yet, due to lack of availability. Got the gunshop's last pound of 231 in fact. Any thoughts here? The LSWC is not used for serious purposes, but could cost me an IDPA match if they hold them this summer. Past couple summers I placed 5th, then 3rd, and I want first on the local circuit. FMJ and LRN feed perfectly all the time, any length, any magazine. The only thing I've noticed at all is that some of the brass is a bit rough in the rear from multiple reloadings. I wouldn't think this would affect much though, as long as the breech face is smooth. Seems to stick more in the chamber, anyway, like the nose hits something and stops. Can't reproduce the problem hand feeding. Thoughts? Thanks, Josh <>< |
May 7, 2009, 12:16 AM | #2 |
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Have your tried LSWC bullets heavier than 185gr ? I started out with 200 gr LSWC and had random FTF issues. Since I switched to 225 LTC I haven't had any feed problems in my SW1911.
You have stoned the breech face so that's not an issue, right ? If magazines seem to be a issue you might try a CMC power mag. I've never had a problem with them. |
May 7, 2009, 12:42 AM | #3 |
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Kinda resembles my cast from WW's w/ RCBS 201-SWC mold.
I have no feeding issues with this bullet style. As for your problem, I don't know how you crimp but I like the Lee Fac Crimp Die. Other than that I would suspect a magazine, brass or OAL issue.
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May 7, 2009, 12:46 AM | #4 |
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I do notice that certain brass, esp the stuff from Winchester White Box, tends to be thin.
When I run it through the Factory Crimp Die, it'll do a double thud as I pull the handle. Military brass and other stuff like S&B does not do this. I'm almost wondering if the brass is thin enough that it gets stretched oversize without much effort. Josh <>< |
May 7, 2009, 07:25 AM | #5 |
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One thing I would look at is your magazines. Most 1911 magazines were designe to feed ball rounds. Wadcutters require a different relase point and 185 SWC have a history of being problematic in many 1911s. What kind of magazines are you using?
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May 8, 2009, 12:43 AM | #6 |
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Hello,
Here's what was happening: and what I did to fix it: First, the mag lips were not all equal. The person I inherited the mags from was a Navy bullseye shooter from the '60s and ran SWC loads. He had adjusted the lips somewhat for better feeding, but a bobble now and again was to be expected back then. So, I put up the surplus mags. That left me with four: A Wilson 47, a Triple K, a Novak, and a Kimber. I loaded up 50 rounds and took them out. Everything ran well, then the Kimber failed. I stuck that one in my back pocket to throw in with the surplus mags. The rest ran very nicely, with the Wilson feeding the smoothest of the three remaining mags. I ran out of brass at 75rnds, so testing will conclude tomorrow. But things look promising. I was surprised at the Triple K. Very inexpensive magazine, I figured it would be one of the ones to go. It was not. Josh <>< |
May 9, 2009, 08:30 AM | #7 |
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Try adjusting your OAL down a bit. Try 1.24 to 1.245. I believe you have a slight OAL issue once in a while. I believe by decreasing the OAL just a bit you should fix the problem. Remember that the 1911 is made to feed ball/round nose bullets and I think that the swc having a differant profile requires consistant OAL.
Take a look at your seating die. Mine tends to end up with gunk in it which I know causes trouble. I run a 200 gr LSWC at 1.20" and 200 gr LRNFP at 1.24" and these feed great for me. With that long nose I would load therm at 1.24 to 1.25 and no longer. Thats my 2 cents for the morning. Hope this helps some. |
May 9, 2009, 10:32 AM | #8 |
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IMO, QBall45 has the answer. I had a similar problem with feeding a Laser-Cast 155 gr lead bullet in my CZ 97B. The 97 would feed just about anything flawlessly until I started trying out the 155 gr bullets.
The loading for that bullet isn't in their manual, but they mentioned it in a Quarterly Report several years ago, so I had to give them a try. I started with their suggestion of 1.250 OAL or thereabouts (I don't have the report handy). I got a good percentage of FTF's. I really liked the no-doubt holes the wadcutters made in the targets, so I wanted to make the bullets work. The bullet was hanging up as it tried to go up the ramp. I lowered the OAL to 1.245 and it worked a little better. Then I lowered it to 1.240 and rounds now feed flawlessly. Now, that's 1.240" with my bullets which are not the bullets you are using. However, looking at the photo Bboomer posted and the description by QBall45, I think the trick is to load them so that the case mouth is flush with the upper edge of the SWC base. That is where the case is with my rounds that finally worked well. IOW, ignore the OAL and load them so that the base is inside the case mouth, not below the edge of the mouth, but not much above it either. Adjust the powder load accordingly, of course. Start off at a min load and work up as if you're starting out fresh with a new bullet. |
May 9, 2009, 10:39 AM | #9 |
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Most folks loading swc subscribe to the one thumbnail thickness of shoulder above the rim theory. OAL is not as important usually as there being just a bit of bullet above the rim. That certainly has been my experience. Lee FCD is applied to every bullet I make for autoloaders, pistol and rifle.
I had a local guy casting 155 gr swc and selling them for substantially under the cost of 200 gr. I shot a bunch of them until he raised the price to equal the 200 gr. and had no troubles with any of my 4 1911s. The OAL for them was about 1.21 or .22. They had a short nose. |
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