I won't give up on Lee 200gr SWC in 1911 - but I'm sure struggling

[bruce381]

"just barely jumping and falling out" sounds like light charge if you are consistant then up laod a tenth.

[gidaeon]

your load is fine but TAPER CRIMP to .468 to .470 replace the LEE factory crimp die did not work 100% for me in that some cases are thick walled and die would size DOWN in size making bullet set back a little when entering chamber I went to regular TAPPER crimp problem gone try that too.

Bruce, yes I believe the FCD swages my bullet for sure. I was getting lead pushing out of the mouth sometimes. I already bought a Lee taper crimp die and successfully shot some using that today. But it’s not set for enough crimp and I’m getting brass strips all over.

1) My flare/bell is .478 (kinda high but I’m trying to not cut the PC during seating only - no crimp on station 3. Station 4 Crimp die is .472 right now.
2) how does one accurately measure the crimp? Just the very tip edge or is just behind it OK?

Once I have a finalized load, I’ll setup Dillon tool head with better die, but I do all this frequent change work on a Lee equipment.

[gidaeon]

Will do this too. Thanks.

[gidaeon]

good if you are 100% feeding and firing you are on the way. Look up extractor "clocking" this is when the extractor turns on its axis and moves like a clock hand not staying
at 90 Degrees or wherever it is supposed to be. You can tighten it to stay in one place but have to smak it with a chisel hard for me to explan but that will make brass go all over as well as not enough tension.

Yeah, this happened even while re-installing it was clocking on me and hard to keep ‘straight’. Are 1911 extractors not meant to be removed/installed more than a few times before they wear?

[barsik]

great news. the only safety concern I would have now is that the thin wall of the case is unsupported by the chamber after the throating operation. take your caliper and extend it inside an empty brass case until it reaches the bottom. this is the measurement of the case wall that needs to be supported by the chamber. I measured 2 different brands of brass I have and got .735 and .712. now take your caliper and put it on the outside of the case and mark it exactly with a fine felt pen. this is the point where the case must be inside the chamber. put the case inside the barrel where the throating was done and if you can see the felt pen mark the thin wall of the case is unsupported. I don't need to tell you this could result in a case rupture, you know it already.

[Kentucky146]

Now as a .45 I have learned I may have to polish feed ramp, and the chamber itself as well a some minor throating to get desired results.

[bruce381]

throat looks fine 45 is NOT a high pressure 9mm. you can take out firing pin and right where the stop plate goes into the extractor peen that grove, take a chisel and smak the part on the firing pin where the stop plate goes a little and that will tighten the firing pin best to have someone do it or google around how to tighten firing pin that will stop brass going all over and make extraction 100%.

[barsik]

throat looks fine 45 is NOT a high pressure 9mm. you can take out firing pin and right where the stop plate goes into the extractor peen that grove, take a chisel and smak the part on the firing pin where the stop plate goes a little and that will tighten the firing pin best to have someone do it or google around how to tighten firing pin that will stop brass going all over and make extraction 100%.

totally agree the 45 is not as prone to kabooms as other higher pressure calibers but the case itself isn't meant for that. case design is more reminiscent of a 12 gauge hull with very little strength in the head as it doesn't need it. if the throat has been opened up a lot (unknown) the brass will take on a stretched appearance , kind of ballooned out to some degree and will become a problem after only a few reloadings. the other aspect is that not all brass cases have the same strength and it only takes one weak or defective case to ruin your day. I have had a few cases split in my 9mm pistols and 45 pistol for whatever reason but they never blew out the head of the case. I probably missed a slight crack in the case neck when I was reloading them, I don't know but it is a bit of a wake up call when you pick it up and see it. all I am saying is be aware of what the barrel can deal with. a round that has had its' bullet pushed into the case on the feed stroke will have much higher pressure than is considered safe.