Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading

Reloading problems

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Kendahl:
I began reloading .45 ACP cartridges thirty years ago. The components were Unique powder, Winchester large pistol primers and 200 grain LSWC bullets cast by a member of the club to which I then belonged. The reloads worked reliably in my Gold Cup. I lost interest after a few years and put everything away including completed reloads and left over components. I recently regained my interest in shooting and have used up the reloads and components except for some left over powder. Even after thirty years on a shelf, both the old reloads and new ones made with the left over components worked well. I am now having problems with new reloads made with recently purchased bullets and primers.

The new bullets are Hornady 200 grain LSWCs. They often fail to feed with the action closing on a cartridge sitting nose up at a 45 degree angle. I noticed that the new bullets are stubbier than the old ones. Changing the seating depth hasn't helped. Cabela's stocks Berry's Preferred Plated Pistol Bullets, anything from 185 to 230 grains in various shapes. They aren't quite as cheap as the LSWCs but the round nosed ones should feed more reliably. Are there any problems with plated bullets? I have been told by one person that the plating comes off and fouls the barrel. Note that I load to around 800 fps to minimize recoil. I don't know what his velocities were.

My other problem is a frequent failure to ignite with the new Winchester primers. They are not hangfires that go off if I wait a bit. So far I have been able to get all the failures to fire after a second or third strike. Because of these problems I have been using factory 230 grain round nose FMJ ammunition in matches. With that ammunition, every cartridge fires on the first strike. Since the problem appeared when I began using the new primers, I am inclined to blame them rather than the gun especially since it is reliable with factory ammuntion. I wonder if Winchester primers are harder now than they were thirty years ago. Would it help to switch to a different brand of primer? If so, which one?

Very recently, I have begun having problems with the crushed walnut shells in the tumbler I use to clean cartridge cases. The cases used to come out shining brightly. Now they come out coated in red dust that is nearly impossible to wipe off. I tried to get rid of any dust in the tumbling media by pouring it from one container to another outdoors in a stiff breeze. I didn't see any dust blowing away and it hasn't helped. Is the media just worn out? Cabela's stocks Lyman corn cob media. MidwayUSA stocks that and walnut shells. Is one better than the other?

Thanks in advance for advice.

shooter:
 First, your media,   Ive done this for over 40 years, just give it a squirt of barbcue lighter fluid. sounds strange but it really does work, altho,   if the media is real old. you just may need new. its cheap.

  sounds like you got a batch of hard primers, 

   I the Gold Cup the same one you shot 30 years ago? have you ever put new springs in it? maybe they took a set and arnt as strong.

SemperFiGuy:
Some random thoughts in response, for your consideration:

Plated BerrysBullets

I've used them exclusively for some time in .38SPCL, 9mm, .40S&SW, and 357SIG.   I’ve used various shapes:   RN, DEWC, Truncated Cone, etc.  They all are of good quality.   In fact, due to their decent quality and low cost when bought in bulk, BBs are all that I use anymore for pistol bullets.

They are not to be shot faster than 1200FPS, which should not ever be a problem in your .45ACP handgun at 800FPS.   

So far as I can tell, no more copper is deposited in my pistol bores with these BerrysBullets than with any other copper jacketed bullet.   And any copper deposits are readily removed w/Shooter Choice or any other copper remover.   And it’s a heckuva lot easier to remove copper fouling than it is to remove lead fouling deposited by cast boolits.

The only problem ever w/BerrysBullets has been when the UPS Man sez, “Fer cryin’ out loud, what’s in these boxes?????   Feels like a lead weight!!!!”

Primer Problems

Could be any/all of these items:

>Hard primers (as Shooter sez)
>Old primers   (although I’ve used 40+ year-old primers w/no problems)
>Contaminated primers   (oil, moisture, and other stuff will degrade them)
>Deep seated primers

>Weak hammer spring
>Junk in the firing pin channel  (especially if channel was ever oiled)
>Defective firing pin   (rare, but it happens)
>Slide doesn't go completely into battery  (grit, caked powder residue, whatever)


After waiting out a possible hangfire, I always re-shoot misfired rounds.   They almost always go off the second time around.   Go figger.

Tumbling Media

>Corncob media are generally shinier and purtier.
>Walnut media are generally faster.
>Both of the above work just fine.
>So does acid washing.   ‘Cept then you gotta dry the cases.    Summer:  Sun   Winter:   Wife’s hair dryer.   Wait till she’s gone to the store.   Then deny ever using it.   She’ll know.)   Birchwood Casey makes a good acid concentrate.
>Ultrasonic cleaning.    Hornady Magnum U/S device is a good choice.

My suggestion here is same as Shooter’s:    Dump any and all old media; get new stuff.   It’s dirt cheap.   Cheaper in the pet department (kitty litter) at WallyWorld than at the gunstore.


Feed Problems

No EZ solution here.   Just gotta try different bullet combos and OALs until the problem is solved.   Be sure to check your mags for cartridge feeding orientation.


Summary

Welcome back to the wunnerful world of reloading and handgun shooting.   Now…….watch the Forum for IDPA, USPSA, and Rock Your Glock events.


sfg

Kendahl:
Thanks for the suggestions.

The Berry's bullets look like the simplest solution to my feeding problems. The 185 grain HBRN should feed as well as 230 grain round nose FMJ while giving me lighter recoil.

A batch of hard primers seems the most likely answer since the gun is reliable with factory ammunition. (What's funny is that it's Winchester ammunition which one would expect contains Winchester primers.)

I once looked at an S&W .357 magnum that had a very easy double action trigger pull because the spring had been lightened. The seller warned me that I might have problems with primers. I have a faint recollection that he mentioned CCI primers but not whether he thought they were to be used or to be avoided.

Since we are owned by three cats, litter is always available. I just have to steal some before it gets into the litter box.

SemperFiGuy:

--- Quote ---Since we are owned by three cats, litter is always available.
--- End quote ---

OK…………but you may wish to check the cat litter bag to ensure that it’s actually walnut or corncob litter and isn’t clay cat litter.


And...........

Federal primers are generally considered to be more “sensitive”, to the extent that Richard Lee of Lee Precision has always said, in effect, Don’t use Federal primers in Lee hand-priming tools.   That is, if you don't want them to blow up all at once, which I've never seen, but I hear can be exciting.

I did see a blown primer column once.   Winchester WSPs.


Reloading's fun.   However, you can go one posting down and buy those 1700 .45ACPs in Kearney and not have to mess with it.


sfg

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