Basic 45acp question

[Blammer]

Ok I got a Kimber ultra compact 45acp.

Loaded up some cast boolits for it.

230gr boolits, sized .454
5.5gr WW231

shot 6 shots, looked like got some leading a few streaks, cleaned up quickly with a brush.

Question is, if the action locks back after every shot, even though there are rounds in the mag, what is my typical problem to look for?

With a quick rearward pull on the slide it runs the next round home easy.

Do I need "more powder"? kick the slide back a bit farther?

All cases were ejected cleanly and tossed 6-8 feet away.

[Randall]

Sounds like the bullet nose is pushing up the slide stop. Cycle by hand and see if it happens, look for a shiny spot on the bullet.

[johniv]

Be sure that you are not touching the slide lock with your thumb and pushing it up.

[Morgan Astorbilt]

Blammer, The slide is generally held back after the last shot by the step in the magazine follower pushing up the slide stop. The detent ball should be strong enough to keep the stop down until this occurs. Could you be hitting the stop with you thumb? Don't know how close it would be on a Kimber Compact.
Morgan

[Morgan Astorbilt]

Wow, We all posted at the same time.
Morgan

[Blammer]

Ok will look for those things! thanks!

[Blammer]

And the winner is....................... Randall!

Yep, the nose of the bullet was wide enough at the meplat that it engaged the lock back stop "JUST" enough to have it hang each time.

so as the next bullet came up it engaged the slide stop just like the empty mag would.

Well bummer!

So much for using that cast bullet! Can't seat it deeper and have it work, rats.

oh well.

[Swamprat1052]

I am shooting the Lee 200 gr. Semi Wadcutters in my Kimber with no problems. Havent tried any other cast boolits in it, but those work and my point of impact is good. Hope this helps.

Swamprat

[BD]

Before you give up on the bullet, remove the slide stop and take a close look at the side which the bullet nose is catching. I've seen kimber MIM stops in the past which had a mold line here which protruded into the boolits path. A little buffing off with some 400 grit wet/or dry paper followed by some polishing ccould help. You don't want to take any depth away from the "hook" on the bottom of the stop, but any dimension sticking into the magwell beyond the hook is just making trouble. If the problem persists with JHPs you can also add a small detent to the back of the slide stop where the tip of the plunger makes contact. Also, the .454 sizing sure isn't helping in this regard.
BD

[Dale53]

I have a Kimber CDP Ultra II. It feeds several different styles of 200 gr SWC without problems: H&G #130, H&G #68, Saeco #68.

NOTE: My cast bullets are all sized .452".

FWIW
Dale53

[JMax]

As a side note you need to drop your load to 5.2 gr WW231. I have been shooting that load since 1980 and it has made IPSC Major ever since with multiple lots of powder.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I'm also wondering about sizing to .454 as that seems more in line with 45 colt. Most 45ACP folks, me included, usually size .452 and even .451. Perhaps a good place to start is... with pulling the barel and slugging it...then mike the slug to see what the actual diameter is, and then go from there. At the very least its all worth a bit of investigation. LLS