Reloading for a Para .45

sylvesterRT · March 2, 2006, 10:34 PM

All of my currently reloaded ammo meets saami spec, by my case gauges, oal etc all good. It feeds and functions flawlessly through my single stack 1911s with various brand magizines.

Now my paras, I have 2, p14 .45s, are a whole differant animal. Factory ball will load and feed in my high cap mags, reloads stick and hang up in the mag after 9-10 are loaded.

I have polished the insides, replaced the followers and springs, etc. Its not a gun issue, I can load the mags and thumb the rounds off the top and the spring/follower will not keep feeding the ammo up.

The mags are not crushed or damaged in any way they drop free of the mag wells smoothly.

Any body else experance this or a like problem with para mags? How did you fix it? My mags are the orignals purchased in 88/89 time frame and have never been stored loaded.

kiov · March 3, 2006, 12:01 PM

Hi,
I have a P14 and just got the dies and stuff to reload for .45acp. My Para has cycled all factory hollowpoints I have fed it without any problems, specifically Corbon and Hydroshocks. In fact, the gun is at 1000+ rounds without any malfunctions whatsoever, even when left dirty.

Did you ever run factory hollowpoints thru your gun? I am concerned cause I had thought that the Para would cycle hollowpoints fine. I've only shot a couple mags of that kind of ammo because I don't want to spend lots of cash.

sorry this is no help on your question, but once I get reloading for this one I will let you know.

Kiov
NRA Member

ClarkEMyers · March 3, 2006, 01:28 PM

Find the difference.

Is there a difference between handloads in fresh cases and handloads in reused cases? Measure the crimp diameter and the base diameter and check the rim for dents or dings. The extractor may be pulling a little brass out of position

If fresh cases of the same brand (that is match the factory case and bullet with the factory ammunition) with the same bullets as factory don't feed and the factory of the same brand does I have no useful suggestions.

If fresh cases feed and reused don't then I'd try either roll sizing or buy a die that sizes as far down the case as possible IIRC George at EGW offers such a die, if I'm wrong about the vendor they do exist.

sylvesterRT · March 3, 2006, 09:22 PM

case rim burrs didnt occur to me i will have to check that

zeke · March 4, 2006, 09:35 AM

Had this problem with Win 230 fmj rounds and 4 factory mags bought from non-factory source, during the mag ban.

After much similiar agravation, traced the problem to how far the front of the problem mags were pushed in during manufacturing, combined with the OAL of the Win factory 230 fmj's (1.265-1.275) Believe Sami spec for max COL is 1.275? However have never found any other Factory rounds (especially jhp's) loaded that long.
Am suspecting some slightly out of spec mags were distributed to other retailers.

What specific bullet and COL are ya using? Specific COL for a specific bullet shouldn't be based on a Sami spec, but rather the specific pistol and bullet being used . The P14 limiterd owned has a very short lead to the rifeling and deep rifeling grooves. It likes rounds with just a hair of full bullet dia in front of the case mouth.

HSMITH · March 4, 2006, 10:21 AM

I have quite a few mags from that time frame that have never been a problem at all. In fact, Para mags from that time frame are the second best mags you can get after only the STI for Para mags.

Take the base plate, follower and spring out of the mag. Hold it upside down and fill it from the bottom one round at a time. Do it with factory ball and then with the problem reloads. You will see that they don't stack up flat as you expect, rather they stack and get a little higher in the nose (in relation to the feed ramp) as each round is added. This tipping of the rounds in the magazine is what is causing your problems to be apparent, but there is something about the reloads that is the real cause of the problem.

If you want it figured out and fixed right away you can take it over to Cogan Custom/Accurate Plating in Safety Harbor. Bob Cogan is as good with the Para guns as anyone, decent prices and great service.

JDG · March 4, 2006, 05:20 PM

I load all 230rn bullets at 1.250 oal, 200swc bullets at 1.220. I dont have any hollow points, so I cant help you there. Every thing gets run through a Lee factory crimp die, set to .470. Good luck!

March 2, 2006, 10:34 PM	#1
sylvesterRT Member Join Date: November 24, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 18	Reloading for a Para .45 All of my currently reloaded ammo meets saami spec, by my case gauges, oal etc all good. It feeds and functions flawlessly through my single stack 1911s with various brand magizines. Now my paras, I have 2, p14 .45s, are a whole differant animal. Factory ball will load and feed in my high cap mags, reloads stick and hang up in the mag after 9-10 are loaded. I have polished the insides, replaced the followers and springs, etc. Its not a gun issue, I can load the mags and thumb the rounds off the top and the spring/follower will not keep feeding the ammo up. The mags are not crushed or damaged in any way they drop free of the mag wells smoothly. Any body else experance this or a like problem with para mags? How did you fix it? My mags are the orignals purchased in 88/89 time frame and have never been stored loaded.

March 3, 2006, 12:01 PM	#2
kiov Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2004 Posts: 283	no help, but curious Hi, I have a P14 and just got the dies and stuff to reload for .45acp. My Para has cycled all factory hollowpoints I have fed it without any problems, specifically Corbon and Hydroshocks. In fact, the gun is at 1000+ rounds without any malfunctions whatsoever, even when left dirty. Did you ever run factory hollowpoints thru your gun? I am concerned cause I had thought that the Para would cycle hollowpoints fine. I've only shot a couple mags of that kind of ammo because I don't want to spend lots of cash. sorry this is no help on your question, but once I get reloading for this one I will let you know. Kiov NRA Member

March 3, 2006, 01:28 PM	#3
ClarkEMyers Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2004 Location: PacWest Posts: 455	Find the difference. Find the difference. Is there a difference between handloads in fresh cases and handloads in reused cases? Measure the crimp diameter and the base diameter and check the rim for dents or dings. The extractor may be pulling a little brass out of position If fresh cases of the same brand (that is match the factory case and bullet with the factory ammunition) with the same bullets as factory don't feed and the factory of the same brand does I have no useful suggestions. If fresh cases feed and reused don't then I'd try either roll sizing or buy a die that sizes as far down the case as possible IIRC George at EGW offers such a die, if I'm wrong about the vendor they do exist.

March 3, 2006, 09:22 PM	#4
sylvesterRT Member Join Date: November 24, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 18	case rim burrs didnt occur to me i will have to check that

March 4, 2006, 09:35 AM	#5
zeke Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 1999 Location: NW Wi Posts: 1,759	Had this problem with Win 230 fmj rounds and 4 factory mags bought from non-factory source, during the mag ban. After much similiar agravation, traced the problem to how far the front of the problem mags were pushed in during manufacturing, combined with the OAL of the Win factory 230 fmj's (1.265-1.275) Believe Sami spec for max COL is 1.275? However have never found any other Factory rounds (especially jhp's) loaded that long. Am suspecting some slightly out of spec mags were distributed to other retailers. What specific bullet and COL are ya using? Specific COL for a specific bullet shouldn't be based on a Sami spec, but rather the specific pistol and bullet being used . The P14 limiterd owned has a very short lead to the rifeling and deep rifeling grooves. It likes rounds with just a hair of full bullet dia in front of the case mouth.

March 4, 2006, 10:21 AM	#6
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2002 Posts: 2,019	I have quite a few mags from that time frame that have never been a problem at all. In fact, Para mags from that time frame are the second best mags you can get after only the STI for Para mags. Take the base plate, follower and spring out of the mag. Hold it upside down and fill it from the bottom one round at a time. Do it with factory ball and then with the problem reloads. You will see that they don't stack up flat as you expect, rather they stack and get a little higher in the nose (in relation to the feed ramp) as each round is added. This tipping of the rounds in the magazine is what is causing your problems to be apparent, but there is something about the reloads that is the real cause of the problem. If you want it figured out and fixed right away you can take it over to Cogan Custom/Accurate Plating in Safety Harbor. Bob Cogan is as good with the Para guns as anyone, decent prices and great service.

March 4, 2006, 05:20 PM	#7
JDG Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: West Michigan Posts: 673	I load all 230rn bullets at 1.250 oal, 200swc bullets at 1.220. I dont have any hollow points, so I cant help you there. Every thing gets run through a Lee factory crimp die, set to .470. Good luck!