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Post by Burnston on Oct 20, 2020 22:28:11 GMT -5
I have very little experience reloading .45 ACP. When I chamber my 180gr HP, I seat my bullet deeper each time. I've adjusted my taper crimp die from one extreme to the other and end up the same result; deep seating my bullet each time I chamber a round. Ignorant, yes. At a loss, also yes. Is there a glaring mistake I am making that I'm not seeing?
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Post by bradshaw on Oct 20, 2020 23:13:16 GMT -5
I have very little experience reloading .45 ACP. When I chamber my 180gr HP, I seat my bullet deeper each time. I've adjusted my taper crimp die from one extreme to the other and end up the same result; deep seating my bullet each time I chamber a round. Ignorant, yes. At a loss, also yes. Is there a glaring mistake I am making that I'm not seeing? ***** Burnston..... a bunch of folk may chime in. I’ll try to wade through your lingo, pitch in a penny's worth of SWAG. “When I chamber.... I seat my bullet deeper each time.” * First, sounds as though the EXPANDER expands case to much for bullet diameter. The .45 ACP case has a thin wall, not made for high pressure. May need to thin and/or shorten expander. If expander reaches deep before flaring case mouth there won’t be sufficient tension to hold bullet. * Flare of case mouth should be bare minimum to start a bullet for seating. * Without case tension, dirt, wax, or grease in die can push bullet deeper into case. David Bradshaw
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Post by taffin on Oct 20, 2020 23:27:29 GMT -5
I DO NOT USE THE .45 EXPANDER. I JUST KISS THE MOUTH ENOUGH TO START THE BULLET USING A LEE UNIVERSAL EXPANDER. THEN I SEAT THE BULLETS AND THEN I USE THE LEE FACTORY CRIMP DIE. THE EXTRA STEP MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE.
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Ramar
.30 Stingray
Posts: 442
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Post by Ramar on Oct 21, 2020 8:55:33 GMT -5
Burnston, Are the issues with a semi-auto or revolver? 45 ACP won't chamber in the 45 ACP cylinder of my OM Blackhawk unless I seat a semi-wadcutter shoulder to the case mouth, or a round nose so it tapers from the case mouth. A Lee Factory Crimp die sizing ring doesn't touch the case. Most bullets used have been Acme, coated and sized to 0.452. Chamber throats are 0.452. Empty sized brass drops right in. Haven't tried 0.451 bullets...yet...and don't expect that will make a difference. So I'm at a loss too. Especially since deep seating isn't necessary to drop rounds into a Lyman case gauge. So when you figure this out , please post.
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Post by paul105 on Oct 21, 2020 9:56:00 GMT -5
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Post by taffin on Oct 21, 2020 10:08:50 GMT -5
YES I USE THAT LEE DIE ALSO
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Post by bushog on Oct 21, 2020 12:12:38 GMT -5
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Post by paul105 on Oct 21, 2020 13:33:28 GMT -5
Should have mentioned Undersized Sizer won't help if expander is too large. JT offers solution in his first post.
Paul
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Post by harold89 on Oct 25, 2020 7:41:38 GMT -5
Let us know what you find to be the cause. When setting up dies for semi autos, I always take the first cartridge, turn it upside down nose against my workbench and apply generous downward pressure against the case head. If the resultant COAL is less than initial there is an issue with die set up or bullet. I did once find the issue to be the bullet from a very reputable company where the bullet’s bearing surface tapered to the nose such that no sizing, expanding or crimping adjustment would address. The bullets were returned, inspected and replaced at no cost to me. Good luck
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gregs
.327 Meteor
Posts: 530
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Post by gregs on Nov 14, 2020 8:18:46 GMT -5
I've had the same problem with .4525 bullets in a factory chambered auto. They are set up for .451 and will not chamber without a throttling reamer ran into the leade. Try sizing to .451. I can only shoot .4525s in my FA 45ACP cylinder and they are snug.
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Post by magpouch on Nov 15, 2020 11:28:42 GMT -5
Sounds like you are saying that the rounds gets pushed shorter as you chamber it into the handgun, yes?
If so the issue could be not enough crimp, too large of an expander, or a different magazine might help. I would start with changing the setting for whatever you use to "bell" the case mouth to accept the bullet prior to seating. This has been suggested previously but it seems like the thread may have drifted somewhat. In the case of autoloaders, less expansion and a good crimp may help.
If I have misunderstood the issue, my apologies...
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Post by dale53 on Nov 23, 2020 11:01:21 GMT -5
I shot IPSC for a number of years "back in the day". I cast my own bullets, and have dealt with most issues. One thing not mentioned is the cases. Cases vary in wall thickness depending on brand. I was shooting IPSC in the late sixties and seventies. Remington brass would NOT work for me. The case wall was too thin. I discovered the military brass of the time was perfect. I had to swage the primer pockets, but that was a one time deal. Once fired military brass was available for a very reasonable price. I bought several thousand cases and I am still using them without issue.
The first thing I would do, is check out what brass is available to you. Try a few cases, when you find a lot of brass that works, stock up.
My current set up for my Dillon 550B is a LEE set up using the Lee Factory Crimp Die. Understand, my custom 1911 is set up for .452" cast bullets (the Mihec version of the #68/69 H&G bullet). My revolvers (that I mostly use these days) are a 625-6 (5"), a 625-8 JM Special (4"), a Ruger SS Bisley .45 ACP/.45 Colt Convertible, and my custom 1911, and a Kimber CDP II. All of them use the same loads without issue. I had to re-throat my .45 ACP/.45 Colt convertible due to undersize throats. It is extremely important to seat the bullet and crimp separately (seat in one die and crimp in the next).
So, my formula is check out your brass before doing anything different about your dies (expanding stems, etc). Once that is settled upon, you can proceed.
As I mentioned, I use the Lee Factory Crimp die, and the whole Lee set up. I taper crimp to .470" (important). I set all of my loads up to fit my 1911's so I don't have to worry about whether a particular load is a 1911 load or a revolver load.
I use the "plunk test" and seat the bullets in the 1911's so they headspace on the bullet (loaded round is flush with the barrel hood when "plunked". Revolvers are not lenghth sensitive.
FWIW Dale53
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Post by highplains on Nov 23, 2020 15:09:43 GMT -5
Good to see you posting Dale 53 ,always informative sir.
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Post by dale53 on Nov 29, 2020 1:33:09 GMT -5
Streaker; Thanks for the kind words, sir!
Dale53
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Post by AxeHandle on Nov 29, 2020 7:45:21 GMT -5
Remember that same issue in the 70s with Remington brass.. Haven't seen the problem with other brands of brass..
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