45 ACP AR FTF with with full mag

Ike Clanton · July 22, 2022, 12:55 PM

With my CMMG Banshee I loaded some Berrys hybrid hollow points (230gr) to 1.195-1.200 OAL in order to pass the plunk test in a XD-S barrel. However occasionally I get a FTF where the nose gets shoved up into the chamber and doesn’t feed. It only happens when the magazine (SGM) is loaded to max capacity (26 Rounds). After the mag is down to 20 or so it runs flawless. Could the mag spring being to tight be the culprit or the short OAL?

Shadow9mm · July 22, 2022, 02:06 PM

The mag spring is too weak, and or of poor quality imho. Been down that road before. Will never buy pro-mag or smg mags again.

Your col seems fine. Berrys reccomeds 1.210. Imho a touch shorter should not hurt.

On a side note, while looking at berrys site. They state the reccomended velocity is 825 to 975 fps, and exceeding that velocity could creat bullet core separation and accuracy issues. Should not be a problem in the xd, but might be an issue in the banshee.

**44 AMP** · July 22, 2022, 02:59 PM

sounds more like a gun issue than a handloading issue. Moving to Skunkworks..the Smithy..

Scorch · July 22, 2022, 04:03 PM

Quote:

The mag spring is too weak

Maybe, or it could be that the spring is too strong. Or the cartridges could be too loose in the magazine and move around when firing and not presenting properly to the feed lips. Or they could be too tight and not let the follower push them up properly. There is seldom a "one size fits all" answer for FTF. It's best to analyze these issues with the gun in hand.

Do you settle the rounds in the magazine by tapping the back of the mag against your hand before loading it?

Have you tried loading a few less rounds into the magazine to reduce the pressure holding the rounds against the feed lips?

Are there any dents in the magazine body? Specifically towards the bottom of the mag?

Have you tried disassembling the magazine and wiping out the interior with a solvent-soaked patch on a cleaning rod?

Have you tried hardball instead of hollow points? Hollow points are notorious for FTF.

Have you tried real jacketed bullets? Typically, plated bullets do not do well in semiauto rifles IME.

Shadow9mm · July 22, 2022, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorch

Maybe, or it could be that the spring is too strong. Or the cartridges could be too loose in the magazine and move around when firing and not presenting properly to the feed lips. Or they could be too tight and not let the follower push them up properly. There is seldom a "one size fits all" answer for FTF. It's best to analyze these issues with the gun in hand.

Do you settle the rounds in the magazine by tapping the back of the mag against your hand before loading it?

Have you tried loading a few less rounds into the magazine to reduce the pressure holding the rounds against the feed lips?

Are there any dents in the magazine body? Specifically towards the bottom of the mag?

Have you tried disassembling the magazine and wiping out the interior with a solvent-soaked patch on a cleaning rod?

Have you tried hardball instead of hollow points? Hollow points are notorious for FTF.

Have you tried real jacketed bullets? Typically, plated bullets do not do well in semiauto rifles IME.

If its failing to feed from 26 to 20 and then feeding fine to me that rules out ammo and points to a spring thats having trouble pushing the rounds up into a proper feeding position. The smg mags are glock mag copies. In my experience they have not been of the same quality as glock mags and have weaker springs. Granted 1 only have 1 smg 33rnd 9mm mag,. And there are other things it could be. But my money is on the mag, primarily a weak spring.

Ike Clanton · July 22, 2022, 06:07 PM

The gun has fed flawless with a full mag when shooting round ball so perhaps it’s a combination of feed angle with a full mag and hollow points. If Glock made high cap 45 mags I’d have those instead but they these are what’s available and the springs actually seem very stiff. I will try cleaning the problem mag.

**44 AMP** · July 22, 2022, 06:19 PM

While you have that mag disassembled, check the follower for smooth free travel in the mag body and check it for fit, meaning, can it tip???

Also consider use of a "dry lube" in the magazine body as well.

Alternately, consider you may just have to be satisfied with a mag that feeds flawlessly with fewer than its rated capacity.

I had a Ram Line 50rnd mag for my 10/22. Didn't matter what brand/style ammo you put in it, if you loaded 50 rnds, the first two would ALWAYS jam.

If you loaded 48 (or less) it was flawless. So, that's the way I used it.

July 22, 2022, 12:55 PM	#1
Ike Clanton Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2017 Location: Oregon Posts: 120	45 ACP AR FTF with with full mag With my CMMG Banshee I loaded some Berrys hybrid hollow points (230gr) to 1.195-1.200 OAL in order to pass the plunk test in a XD-S barrel. However occasionally I get a FTF where the nose gets shoved up into the chamber and doesn’t feed. It only happens when the magazine (SGM) is loaded to max capacity (26 Rounds). After the mag is down to 20 or so it runs flawless. Could the mag spring being to tight be the culprit or the short OAL?

July 22, 2022, 02:06 PM	#2
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,974	The mag spring is too weak, and or of poor quality imho. Been down that road before. Will never buy pro-mag or smg mags again. Your col seems fine. Berrys reccomeds 1.210. Imho a touch shorter should not hurt. On a side note, while looking at berrys site. They state the reccomended velocity is 825 to 975 fps, and exceeding that velocity could creat bullet core separation and accuracy issues. Should not be a problem in the xd, but might be an issue in the banshee. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload. Last edited by Shadow9mm; July 22, 2022 at 02:13 PM.

July 22, 2022, 02:59 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	sounds more like a gun issue than a handloading issue. Moving to Skunkworks..the Smithy.. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 22, 2022, 06:19 PM	#7
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	While you have that mag disassembled, check the follower for smooth free travel in the mag body and check it for fit, meaning, can it tip??? Also consider use of a "dry lube" in the magazine body as well. Alternately, consider you may just have to be satisfied with a mag that feeds flawlessly with fewer than its rated capacity. I had a Ram Line 50rnd mag for my 10/22. Didn't matter what brand/style ammo you put in it, if you loaded 50 rnds, the first two would ALWAYS jam. If you loaded 48 (or less) it was flawless. So, that's the way I used it. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 22, 2022, 06:07 PM	#6
Ike Clanton Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2017 Location: Oregon Posts: 120	The gun has fed flawless with a full mag when shooting round ball so perhaps it’s a combination of feed angle with a full mag and hollow points. If Glock made high cap 45 mags I’d have those instead but they these are what’s available and the springs actually seem very stiff. I will try cleaning the problem mag.