.45ACP; 2 questions

[Smokey Joe]

My latest pistol is a 1911; have been trying to learn to shoot it well. (Progressing slowly.) Of course I reload for it; I'm an experienced reloader but have done only mebbe 1000 .45's so far.

With .45ACP most of the brass I reload and shoot is range pick-ups, so I have quite an assortment of headstamps. They all work, both shooting and reloading, and @ my skill level with the 1911 I see no difference in accuracy with any of 'em.

Question 1: I've noticed that some of the cases have flash holes mebbe 1/2 again as large as all the rest. These are Speer, Federal, and CCI cases. The standard wisdom @ my ranges is "load 'em up and shoot 'em," and I have not noticed any problems. so:

a. Why the larger holes? Should I expect some change in accuracy?

b. Am I asking for trouble of some sort, down the line, in using these large-flash-hole cases?

Question 2: Found one piece of A-merc brass in the .45's I was sizing today. Have heard that A-merc's quality is poor, and noticed that the flash hole was off center. Since it was just one piece, I crushed its mouth and recycled it to the scrap bucket. But what's the deal with A-merc brass, anyway? Again, should I expect some change in accuracy, and am I asking for trouble if I use A-merc brass?

Thx in advance to all.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Smokey Joe...Winchester, Remington, Federal, etc,etc...All are good cases and if they have smaller or larger flash holes, no problem what so ever. As far as A-merc...TOSS THEM!!!

 

[ReloaderFred]

The larger flash holes were first introduced with the advent of the non-toxic primers, meaning leadfree. Because the new primers are hotter, it was necessary to relieve the pressure, and this was done by enlarging the flash holes, which worked. I've talked to both Winchester and Speer about the flash holes and they both say to load the larger one's normally and there won't be a problem.

As for A-Merc brass, the reason no one loads it is the inconsistant quality control of their product. You'll find that primers will fall out of the primer pockets on the first reloading, since they are oversized. They are as bad as the Norinco 9mm brass is, which also has oversized primer pockets.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Johnny Guest]

A-Merc brass

It's difficult to find an almost universal consenus amongst handloaders. It's possible to accomplish a given chore in so many different ways, there'll usually be a wide difference of opinion about a given topic. One nearly unanimous vote though, is that A-Merc brass is NOT GOOD STUFF.

Click on a few of the following threads. Note the wide range of dates and geographical locales represented. You can draw your own conclusions.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=119531&highlight=A-Merc

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=88855&highlight=A-Merc

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21699&highlight=A-Merc

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90397&highlight=A-Merc

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22098&highlight=A-Merc

Or, run your own search.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Smokey Joe]

IMM-pressive!

Bushmaster, Reloader Fred, Johnny Guest--Firstly, thx for the responses. And, JG, thx for the links!

Nextly--Holy Toledo! I have NEVER seen such unanimity of dislike, flavored with subtle undertones of hatred and overtones of rancor, as in all the responses re: A-merc brass! Makes you wonder how American Ammunition of Miami FL can stay in business, with QC like that.

A-merc brass is very rare in my neck of the woods (have seen only 2 such cases in all my scrounged .45ACP's) and now I know why. I will Do My Part, and crush & recycle any more that come my way.

As to the funny-hole .45ACP cases, guess I'll just continue reloading and shooting them until my skill level rises to the point where they make a difference.

 

[Roadkill]

I found a pile of .45acp winchester that uses small primers. Got rid of it.

 

[g56]

AMerc is junk, toss it, I always do!

 

[xring44]

Roadkill, I have run into the same thing with the small flash holes, I believe the headstamp was Win NT, I know it will upset the buggy if your running them through a dillon 650

 

[another okie]

You also want to watch for .45 GAP brass; I've found a few and though I think I would notice when feeding them, you never know.

 

[kimbernut]

Amerc brass

Being a stubborn sort and old enough that it doesn't bother me to try things just because someone says its not worth it or it can't be done- I sorted +- 2000 - .45acp range brass and ended up with a couple dozen Amerc cases. I decided it can't be as bad as I had heard so I went through the case prep procedures for the 20 odd Amerc cases and loaded a half dozen just to see if they would cause problems. Experience has taught me to run all my reloads through a case gauge. The Amerc reloaded cartridges would not even fit the gauge. All the same procedures were followed but the Amerc brass had not even resized properly. I dismantled the 6 cartridges- reused the components and decapped the remaining Amerc brass- enjoyed crushing the Amerc case mouths closed and tossed them. Now as soon as I catch one they immediately go in the trash.

 

[Bob F.]

I bought a Rock Island Compact a few yrs ago and reloaded some .45's, range brass w/ 230gr lead RN and some jacketed 230RN Hornady's. Started having jams, Fto feeds, etc, Noticed some cases appeared "bulged" where the bullet was. Guess what- they were all A-MERC's. Toss all the A-MERCs I find now.

Bob

 

[Lennyjoe]

Yep, Amerc is throw away.

BTW, I came across my 1st .45 ACP case requiring the small primer.