Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

locking up problem wih 45 colt.

old45guy
After i shoot a few rounds the gun which is a 45 colt sometimes makes it hard to turn the cylinder or locks up with cowboy action loads. Is this common and what is a good size 45 long colt load to be using?
0

Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • duckhunter
    What make and model gun??
    0
  • CS8161
    Primers seated all the way down?
    0
  • glabray
    I've seen this happen with black powder loads in modern 45 colts. The tolerances are sometimes too tight to allow for buildup of black powder fouling.
    0
  • old45guy
    Yes the primers are all the way down and its a colt peacemaker.
    0
  • GUNFUNCO
    It can be a problem with primers on low pressure loads.

    Sometimes the primers will back out on firing and are normally reseated as the pressure builds up inside the case and the case backs out slightly, reseating the primer.

    With some low pressure loads, (mostly reloads) the case never backs out far enough to reseat the primer. In these cases, a slightly heavier load will fix the problem.
    0
  • Ambrose
    I discovered that primed cases (no powder or bullet) fired in a revolver will tie it up. The primers back out and bind on the recoil shield. It requires the pressure of the cartridge to reseat the primer as it fires to reinstate clearance. Perhaps the light cowboy loads create the same condition. I generally use 8 grs. of Unique and a 250 cast bullet in my .45's.

    Edit: GUNFUNCO beat me to it!
    0
  • old45guy
    What ammo do you recommend then?
    0
  • CS8161
    If your revolver is locking up with factory Cowboy Action loads, are you using 200 grain or 250 grain bullets? Switching to the heavier bullet may help with the primer backing out issue.
    0
  • v35
    Locking up and binding after firing a few shots are two different animals.
    A cylinder that gets progressively tight from shooting needs to be measured for headspace and barrel to cylinder clearance. Insufficient clearance will cause progressive binding from powder particles and smoke residue from either smokeless or black powder.
    Colt designed the loose cylinder bushing to have an extra sliding surface to better handle black powder residue without jamming. Both cylinder pin and bushing should be greased.
    If you feel capable of making a few measurements it may save a trip to the range and some ammo.
    0
  • old45guy
    So what should the measurements be and what if they are to close? What should I do then?
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity