.45 ACP

[Theoldhag88]

Gents,

I've been reloading .45 for almost 8 months now without a single problem so I find it curious that I've had almost 25 mistakes in a table of 50. It seems that the bullet head is too wide for the casing. I'm using berry's bullets 230g RN .45. Has anyone ever had this problem?

 

[swampy]

Either the bullet isn't sized right or the case mouth isn't getting expanded enough. Berry makes lead and plated bullets. I'm pretty sure they don't make metal jacketed bullets though I could be wrong. They do size their lead and plated bullets so I'd lean towards needing to expand the case mouth more. The die that the case mouth expander is in would need to be turned down to increase the opening. It is the powder charging die on most die brands that expands the case mouth.

 

[Slowdive]

Bullet measurements?

 

[Theoldhag88]

Im flaring the case about a quarter down from the top, should I try flaring more?

 

[Theoldhag88]

Not sure on the bullet measurements, I'm reloading their double struck if that helps.

 

[marvelshooter]

If the bullet measures .452 and you have enough flare to start the bullet something else is wrong. If you mean you are flaring the case one quarter of it's length that sounds like way too much. You only need enough for the full diameter of the bullet to start a little way into the case - maybe 1/16 of an inch. Do you have the correct seating punch for the bullet you are using? The wrong one could be not seating the bullet straight. Are you seating and crimping in the same operation and shaving lead? Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[drgrant]

I've been reloading .45 for almost 8 months now without a single problem so I find it curious that I've had almost 25 mistakes in a table of 50. It seems that the bullet head is too wide for the casing. I'm using berry's bullets 230g RN .45. Has anyone ever had this problem?

I've used thousands of that particular bullet and never had that problem. Maybe you are not belliing the case mouth enough? (maybe your belling die/device slipped out of adjustment? )

-Mike

 

[Theoldhag88]

ill try to readjust my flare die. i had it just barely flaring before when it started. Again it started on this box of .45 heads, ive never had a problem with it before this.

im reloading their double struck so im not shaving any lead off.

im using the original seating punch that came with the die, again until this box ive never had a problem.

is it at all possible that i could have received a box of less than perfect heads?

 

[Bob P]

Measure the bullet and see if it's in spec. If it is you know that's not the issue.

 

[jbize1]

does anyone know of a person or place where I can bring my 45 shell cases and bullets and have someone do this for me? Not sure if that is even legal? I am sure its cheaper than buying new ammo

 

[ntomsw]

QMMO.net sells reloads. He is licensed to sell ammo.

 

[jbize1]

QMMO.net sells reloads. He is licensed to sell ammo.

thanks i have gone on his page and his prices are great, this is awesome thanks again!

 

[DukeInFlorida]

BUYING ammo kind of defeats the idea of saving money by doing your own.

The test for whether the flair expansion is sufficient for bullet insertion is this:

Start with the expander just barely touching the case when the ram is in the full up position.

Adjust the expander a little at a time, deeper and deeper, until you can push the bullet in the case WITH LIGHT FINGER PRESSURE, and shake the case with the bullet pushed in, upside down, and the bullet doesn't fall out.

You don't want to expand any more than that. Over expanding the case will result in issues getting the case into the crimp die. It will also dramatically reduce the life of the brass.
You also don't want to expand any less than that. You'll somewhat crush the brass (which might seem like the bullet is too big). And, you also risk seating the bullet in a tipped (not aligned with the centerline of the case) manner, which produces a bulge on the outside of the case, usually more on one side than the other, which again to the untrained eye, looks like the bullet was too big.

The bullets for the 45 ACP should be .452" in diameter.

Make sure you measure the bullets to assure that you have the right bullets for the 45 ACP.

 

[Theoldhag88]

How do I measure the bullet head?

 

[marvelshooter]

With a micrometer or caliper. A caliper - either dial or digital - will work but a micrometer will give you a more precise reading.

 

[Fixxah]

How do I measure the bullet head?

Not to knock your being into saving $ but you may need to go and do the reading portion of reloading again.

Either that or send an afternoon in a chair with ad of paper and pen at the bench of an experienced reloader and write down how things are done or take a video.

Safety is always paramount in this endeavor as in most of life.

Sent from the Hyundai of the droids, the Samsung Replenish, using Tapatalk.

 

[Theoldhag88]

I have a few books that I learned from, unfortunately I didn't have anyone to learn from.

 

[Fixxah]

Ask anybody to let you sit in and I bet there are many who volunteer. Where are you located?

 

[mac1911]

I am little shocked that yhose books dont cover how to measure a bullet ?
You do have calipers, right
I had a issue with the last 100 rounds I loaded, I did a piss poor job of labeling my brass in that particular bag. led to some crimping problems.
What happened. Al this brass xame under the trim length in the hornady manual so the flare was not removed when seating the bullet. As my die was set to trim to length. I did not see this at first until at the range. OF COURSE I also did not check them in my chamber 1st either......which I have alway done until this time....im guessing you did something different.