Crimping question

[nettlle]

Before I started reloading years ago I shot Federal factory 230 ball and never had any problems with them. I still have a few of these and just checked the COAL. It is 1.260". Too short can cause feeding problems. Too long can cause feeding problems.

 

[High Plains Drifter]

.45 ACP Crimp

I also had the problem when I first started reloading .45 ACP for my Sig 1911, and my Dan Wesson. I figured it was something I was doing wrong when both pistols had the same jamming issue.

I called Lee and they suggested a Lee FCD to get the proper .469-.471 diameter. I used the FCD for a while, but have since gotten the seating die to properly crimp to .471 saving me a step and jamming issue is long gone.

As far as short and long goes when seating, check factory ammo that you gun likes and I think you will find a lot of different lengths even with the same manufacturer. I have found factory at 1.25 and some at 1.26, I routinely seat to 1.237 to 1.24 and no problems. Seating too deep will increase pressures.

 

[joneb]

martin,
have you manually racked and ejected the problem rounds to see where the hangup is?
I seat xtreme plated 200gr RN at 1.260-1.265" for a Colt Gov. Marlin Camp and a Remington R-1.
My crimp on say with Winchester brass with Xtreme bullets measures .470", and just below the crimp .4715".
You could try more crimp, say down to .469" chamber permitting.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Sounds like a weak recoil spring to me. If its barely hanging up but passing the plunk test that is .

 

[Hikingman]

My last 230 Gr. FMJ loads were 1.265 with Lee FCD, and next session I'll setup for 1.260 like many have recommended on the forums.

 

[martinb3152]

Sounds like a weak recoil spring to me. If its barely hanging up but passing the plunk test that is .

I don't think it's a weak coil spring. The gun is practically brand new. It has about 600 rounds through it. Unless it was weak from the start.
martinb3152

 

[Walkalong]

A new spring is a very cheap thing to try. Could be just a too tight tolerance somewhere that needs wearing in.

 

[nettlle]

Dirty mags have caused me feeding problems. Also an extractor with too much tension won't allow the rim of the case to feed up under the extractor hook every time.

 

[martinb3152]

Dirty mags have caused me feeding problems. Also an extractor with too much tension won't allow the rim of the case to feed up under the extractor hook every time.

Ahh!, dirty mags. Never thought of that. I have never even cleaned a mag before. I guess it's time to take them apart and clean them.
thanks,
martinb3152

 

[Toprudder]

Another thought, bullet shape (ogive) largely determines OAL. A fat round nose will require a shorter OAL than a truncated cone bullet...

EXACTLY!!!

No one can say with confidence that seating a 230gn bullet to 1.260 is going to work. I would be willing to bet money that a RMR HM 230gn bullet will not chamber/plunk in 95% of 45acp pistols.

 

[wlkjr]

Years ago , I had so many misfeeds / jams [ I was just saving cases and buying factory cartridges . ] with the 45 . The 380 was fine with reloads .
Anyway , I was at gun counter and a guy bought 10 boxes of 100 bullets - his advise was to use all the holes in turret .
Now #1 sizes [ since then I de-prime , clean pocket before tumbling - tumbler and hand prime ] #2 dumps powder , #3 seats bullet , #4 set bullet to right depth , and #5 crimps [ if needed and checks plunks test ]
This has served me well for 8 pistol calibers and 6 rifle .
My biggest problem was when a nephew shows up with dies , cases and bullets for glock 40mm . He asked before he came and I said sure . [ he is about 500 miles away ] I figured the I could use the 41 mag dies -[ worked but APITA ] I have bought another a 4 die set of 40 mm dies since then .

Tony, just for the record, the Glock 40 is the model number, not 40mm. It is a 10mm round, the same diameter as .40 S&W.

 

[Jurist]

Crimp problem

Get yourself a Wilson case gauge and a Lee factory crimp die.You will be very happy with the results.

 

[tonyjr]

wlkjr
sorry , I guessI did not hit the period key hard enough . [ .40 = 10 mm ]
Jurist
I use the Lee hand loader . It is adjustable . Different bullets have different OAL's in same caliber . But with the Lee , you need one for each caliber . You can find ones with broken or missing pieces on ebay - just search and add to watch list .
Wilson and Lyman - neither made a case gauge for the 25 ACP of the 50 AE . At least I have not found any .

 

[vaalpens]

I tried to be as precise as Walkalong with my measurements after crimping, but would always find variations based on the different bullets and thickness of the brass. I am inherently lazy, but needs to see things done correctly, so I try and find other ways to measure enough crimp of an auto load.

What I do now is to put the mouth of my caliper over the brass to measure diameter at about the position of the .472" measurement shown in Walkalong's image in post #4. I then just keep the tension on the caliper with my hand, keeping it closed, and then slide it up and try to slip it over the mouth of the case. When it slips over the mouth without any hesitation, then I am good to go. But if I feel hesitation, then maybe it needs a bit more taper crimp.

You will know the feel when it is enough crimp. Just do the same thing before the crimp and it should get stuck and you won't be able to slip the caliper over the mouth of the brass.

An then once in a while I will validate everything by measuring the diameter and do a plunk test just to make sure.

 

[Walkalong]

I then just keep the tension on the caliper with my hand, keeping it closed, and then slide it up and try to slip it over the mouth of the case. When it slips over the mouth without any hesitation, then I am good to go. But if I feel hesitation, then maybe it needs a bit more taper crimp.

Same thing I do. I measured one some time back only because of a question in a thread. That and I use magnification to look at it.

 

[tonyjr]

My caliper has a lock on it . Actually , all of mine do . Digital , dial and lennier .
Better / easier to check OAL and crimp . I use mixed cases so I even check bases on different head stamps .