45 ACP

bodieBill · February 23, 2013, 01:22 AM

Puzzled.
Reloading some previously fired 45 ACP brass.
Most cases reloaded and chambered OK; several did not.
I checked the following and all within specs
Brass length Ok
full length re-sized
Bullet diam Ok
OAL within specs
Used Lee factory crimp tool with out crimping as afinal gauge which I do with all my semi auto rounds
The cases that would not fully chamber in my 1911 barrel used as a gauge
had some interference when going thru the carbide ring of the Lee crimp die
The full length resized brass went into the barrel chamber ok.
Could it be the wall thicknes of the brass neck??
Advice welcomed

chris in va · February 23, 2013, 01:23 AM

Be more specific... Bullet type/brand, oal etc.

shootniron · February 23, 2013, 02:09 AM

Is this range brass or did you previously fire it in the 1911?

If they are in spec, as you say, they should chamber...something is out of spec somewhere. Are you sure there is not a bulge at the base of the bullet when it is seated?

bluetopper · February 24, 2013, 12:14 AM

Crimp it more with your Lee seating/crimp die before you use your Lee factory crimp die.

If your crimp die is adjusted properly you really don't need the factory crimp die.

TXGunNut · February 24, 2013, 12:52 AM

Specs? The only specs with the 45acp that count are the plunk test. If you'll use the plunk test and a taper crimp die I think your reload problems will evaporate like a politician's promises after election day.

mehavey · February 24, 2013, 08:50 AM

Quote:

...The cases that would not fully chamber in my 1911 barrel used as a gauge

What is the case mouth diameter of the loaded rounds?
It should be 0.471 ± 0.001 (or so)

chiefr · February 24, 2013, 09:44 AM

Have seen this before and what we found was the sizing die was not fully sizing the cases.

The carbide sizing die was not fully sizing the case because it was bulged. The carbide die was part of the problem because of its inside taper. The distance of the inside taper to the base of the seating die was enough that it would not size out all of the bulge.

Some pistols are notorious for bulging cases. Lee makes a bulge buster die which will take care of things.
I thought I might add to watch primer pockets when reloading 45ACP. Seems some manufacturers are making brass with small primer pockets.

maillemaker · February 25, 2013, 11:43 AM

All of my finished .45 ACP cartridges have a slight bulge in the brass where the bullet terminates. My bullets are obviously bulging the brass as they are seated.

I could use a Lee FCD to re-size the brass after seating/crimping, but I have not found this necessary yet. Also it is said that doing so is actually deforming/resizing your bullet.

Steve

chiefr · February 25, 2013, 02:06 PM

I taper crimp all my 45ACP with a Lee taper crimp die (TCD). The TCD is in the final die station on my Dillon. TCD all auto pistol brass. Never used or tried a FCD. Love the TCDs as I have never had a headspace problems.

Budweiser · February 25, 2013, 03:33 PM

Check the rims for nicks that may be causing you problems?

February 23, 2013, 01:22 AM	#1
bodieBill Member Join Date: March 9, 2005 Location: Southern California---no not LA Posts: 24	45 ACP Puzzled. Reloading some previously fired 45 ACP brass. Most cases reloaded and chambered OK; several did not. I checked the following and all within specs Brass length Ok full length re-sized Bullet diam Ok OAL within specs Used Lee factory crimp tool with out crimping as afinal gauge which I do with all my semi auto rounds The cases that would not fully chamber in my 1911 barrel used as a gauge had some interference when going thru the carbide ring of the Lee crimp die The full length resized brass went into the barrel chamber ok. Could it be the wall thicknes of the brass neck?? Advice welcomed

February 23, 2013, 02:09 AM	#3
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	Is this range brass or did you previously fire it in the 1911? If they are in spec, as you say, they should chamber...something is out of spec somewhere. Are you sure there is not a bulge at the base of the bullet when it is seated? Last edited by shootniron; February 23, 2013 at 03:50 AM.

February 24, 2013, 12:14 AM	#4
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	Crimp it more with your Lee seating/crimp die before you use your Lee factory crimp die. If your crimp die is adjusted properly you really don't need the factory crimp die. Last edited by bluetopper; February 24, 2013 at 12:35 AM.

February 24, 2013, 12:52 AM	#5
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Specs? The only specs with the 45acp that count are the plunk test. If you'll use the plunk test and a taper crimp die I think your reload problems will evaporate like a politician's promises after election day. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

February 23, 2013, 01:23 AM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Be more specific... Bullet type/brand, oal etc.

February 24, 2013, 09:44 AM	#7
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	Have seen this before and what we found was the sizing die was not fully sizing the cases. The carbide sizing die was not fully sizing the case because it was bulged. The carbide die was part of the problem because of its inside taper. The distance of the inside taper to the base of the seating die was enough that it would not size out all of the bulge. Some pistols are notorious for bulging cases. Lee makes a bulge buster die which will take care of things. I thought I might add to watch primer pockets when reloading 45ACP. Seems some manufacturers are making brass with small primer pockets.

February 25, 2013, 11:43 AM	#8
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	All of my finished .45 ACP cartridges have a slight bulge in the brass where the bullet terminates. My bullets are obviously bulging the brass as they are seated. I could use a Lee FCD to re-size the brass after seating/crimping, but I have not found this necessary yet. Also it is said that doing so is actually deforming/resizing your bullet. Steve

February 25, 2013, 02:06 PM	#9
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I taper crimp all my 45ACP with a Lee taper crimp die (TCD). The TCD is in the final die station on my Dillon. TCD all auto pistol brass. Never used or tried a FCD. Love the TCDs as I have never had a headspace problems.

February 25, 2013, 03:33 PM	#10
Budweiser Member Join Date: August 1, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 20	Check the rims for nicks that may be causing you problems?