reloading .45 ACP question

[hookr88]

Getting ready to try reloading some .45 auto using 185gr jacketed SWC bullets. My initial attempts resulted in the rounds not fully seating in my Springfield Range Officer. I played around with the taper crimp and it resulted in a little better seating but still too tight. Any thoughts out there on what the issue might be?

[h20hunter]

To much crimp is my guess. Got pics of a few finished rounds?

[hookr88]

Haven't started the run yet. I'll post some pics when I get a few done.

[ELKBURGER]

My experience was running the case expander too deep. I eventually just barely flared the case to set the bullet before seating. Made a big difference for me.

[Wazukie]

Case length?

[fishsticks]

Could be not sized down far enough, not enough crimp or too long overall.  Do you have a case gauge?  If not remove the barrel from your pistol and do the "plunk test".  The round should drop fully into the chamber.  Start with just a freshly sized case (no bullet or powder).  If it drops then try a loaded round.  That should point to where the issue is.  Also, measure the projectile, they could be oversized.

[Biggerhammer]

Could be not sized down far enough, not enough crimp or too long overall.  Do you have a case gauge?  If not remove the barrel from your pistol and do the "plunk test".  The round should drop fully into the chamber.  Start with just a freshly sized case (no bullet or powder).  If it drops then try a loaded round.  That should point to where the issue is.  Also, measure the projectile, they could be oversized.

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[hookr88]

I'll double check the bullets, but I'm pretty sure they are .451. I loaded some samplers of lead SWC, jacketed HP's and some jacketed RN and they all passed the plunk test, that's what's got me. They were all .451 but for some reason the jacketed SWC's don't seem to fit. I'll double check the diameter though. I reduced the flair (bell) thinking that was the problem initially. I'll check case length for consistency and plunk test some cases to rule that out. Thanks for the input so far.

[doubletall]

I had the issue with some 230 grain reloads that were given to me.  It turned that the bullets were seated too long and they were jamming into the riffling.

[syoungs]

fought this before with 9mm when I switched to a different brand coated lead bullet. the O give was further forward, resulting in me jamming the bullet into the rifling before fully seating in the chamber, shortened it up some and it functioned perfect.

I now run every bullet off the press through a case gauge before I box em up. woulda saved me a lot of headache at the steel match I was shooting when I got into the new bullets.

[300rum]

We need a pick of the bullet and a pick of one of your loaded rounds. 

[h20hunter]

Do you have a case guage? If not, pm me...i got an extra.

[boneaddict]

Trying to remember numbers off the top of my head, but loaded is 1.2 isn’t it and case is .898.


Anyways those calipers, or gauges are a must in life. About 50 bucks for an RCBS I think

[hookr88]

Based on all the comments, I decided to start from scratch using all your comments just to double check everything. In addition I took measurements using calipers to make sure everything was within tolerances. I found that the bullets were running from .4515 to just under .452. I'm not sure what I did wrong initially, but given the slight overage on the bullet diameter I imagine just being off slightly at the wrong phase was the problem. So far the new rounds load and cycle fine. Next step is a session at the range. If no problems, thanks for all the tips and offers. If any issues arise, I'll be back for more. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[300rum]

You don't need calipers for a SWC bullet.  You only want about a thumbnail of the bullet sticking above the case mouth.  You also want to crimp so that you can feel no edge on the case mouth when you transition from bullet to case mouth, you want it smooth.  If you do that your SWC will run. 

I suspect you are running Berry's but that's why I suggest you put a pic up.  If your pistol runs SWC at all you will be able to tell just by looking at them, no measurements needed.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!