FA 97 45 Colt and Starline brass

[paul105]

If the +P Buff Bore ammo was the 325gr LFN, then the OAL is most likely too long (>1.600")and the ogive of the bullet is hanging up on the abrupt leede or tight throats of the M97. I doubt the the recesses for the case heads are too shallow (although never say never). First, measure the cartridge OAL. Then pull the cylinder and place a cartridge upside down in the recess to see if it fits flush with extracter groove.

It been a while, so maybe this isn't true anymore, but the chamber exit work done by Freedom Arms has, in the past been limited to chamfering the leede. They would not open throats. Again it's been a while, so maybe this has changed.

Paul

[sagebrushburns]

Because of the recessed rim, the FA97 has effectively a short cylinder. I found I had to seat Keith style semi wad cutters over the front driving band. If I used the crimp groove, the cartridge stuck out the front of the cylinder preventing it from turning.

[Freedom]

When I loaded my 97 heavy, it stretched the barrel and blew the ejector rod housing off.... Freedom Arms told me that they intentionally made the cylinder too short to shoot + P's in.... so that no one could do what I did.

[squawberryman]

Thanks Freedom. That's a fire baptism for sure

[dhd]

I went back and checked my work order and paul105 is correct, for me anyway. They changed the leade but did not "throat" the cylinder. Regardless, the work done made cast bullets that were a bear to seat into the cylinder able to be dropped in without any trouble.

Again, sorry for the hijack, but I wanted to correct my earlier post.