.45 match reloading
I am reloading .45 for competition use on a Dillon Square B. Brass is once fired, 200 gr. SWC lead, finish with a pass thru a single stage Lee Carbide crimp die, and checked with a Midway .45 gage.
Although these rounds seem to run thru my other 1911's, I own a Clark (which I assume has a tight chamber)which seems to jam quite often. I have tried running a snake thru after every 20 rounds and chambering each round before the match to assure it cycles, and adding a drop of snail snot on the top of each "first round" of a magazine. None of this has stopped the problem.
My question: What is the next thing to check? Should I check the specs of the chamber? If so, where do I get this information on what the minimum is?
Sorry for the length of the question, but I know there are many of you that know the 1911's quite well. Thanks for reading.
Although these rounds seem to run thru my other 1911's, I own a Clark (which I assume has a tight chamber)which seems to jam quite often. I have tried running a snake thru after every 20 rounds and chambering each round before the match to assure it cycles, and adding a drop of snail snot on the top of each "first round" of a magazine. None of this has stopped the problem.
My question: What is the next thing to check? Should I check the specs of the chamber? If so, where do I get this information on what the minimum is?
Sorry for the length of the question, but I know there are many of you that know the 1911's quite well. Thanks for reading.
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The most common problem in feeding is the magazine. Number them, and when a jamb occours, write down mag # and particulars. That way you can see if mag #6 fails to feed the first round, or whatever.
That is the reason we pay $25 a piece for those great Wilson mags.
Another problem is that some guns have a preference for longer Over All Length bullets. A Colt Race gun in .45ACP doesn't like the "shorter" rounds. I have to use heavier, thus longer, bullets for it.
Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgement. Gen. Omar Bradley0 -
Does the pistol have this problem with factory FMJ rounds.
You didn't say what type of competition but if it is rapid fire and the problem starts after the 1st or second string I've seen that happen before w/ match chambered pistols, but they do it on FMJ as well as otehr loads.
It's a Clark pistol, contact them. Phone number, etc., is on their Web site: www.clarkcustomguns.com
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
What kind of "jam" are you getting? Stovepiping? Failure to feed?
Are you using a light load with a standard recoil spring?0 -
Answers to above questions:
1. Shooting Bullseye. Jams are at all stations including slow fire.
2. Jam is ALWAYS failure to feed, never stove pipe.
3. Magazines are Clark Custom and Wilson Combat (no cheapies here).
I have numbered them and there seems to be no pattern. That's the first thing I tried.
4. I have not yet contacted Clark for several reasons.
A. Their answer to other questions has been to "send in the gun" which is a $70 trip in Frt. (I may have to do this if all else fails).
B. This is an older gun and should have already been broken in.
5. I have not fired FMJ factory since this is a heavy slide wad gun with a 12# spring and I didn't think that would help the gun. I was looking for factory wad loads and may try a local shop that makes Match grade ammo.
I knew this was a tuff question since there can be many answers. I'm trying to eliminate all I can before I make the investment to send the gun back. I do have the tools to measure the chamber if I know what it should be, and I guess I can contact Clark for that information.
Thanks for the above information. I would appreciate any other thoughts anyone may have.0 -
I have had a problem with lead bullets in my match barrels going part way down the barrel and the slide not closing completely. Is this what is happening or is it hanging on the feed ramp. If this is what is happening, you may need to go to a smaller diameter bullet. Most of the cast 200 gr bullets that I have bought are 452". These can be a problem in chambering especially with low strength recoil spring. I have gone to 451" jacketed 200 gr swc bullets to solve this problem on some of my pistols. 0 -
The failures I mentioned in my other post were all related to the round not fully chambering, also on a couple of them there was evidence of light primer hits ... the round went bang but the dimple was light, and those pistols were hanging just short of being in battery. Both were lightly "chased" with a reamer and as far as I know there were no further problems.
I would think that you could ship the barrel back for Clark to check it over.
At this juncture there isn't a lot more advice to give other than maybe up spring pressure a tad and see what happens. Hard to do this when you can't see and handle the pistol.
Lastly, instead of spending $70 or whatever on shipping, check with a couple "smiths" in your area an FFL can ship that pistol via USPS Priority Mail for around $15 and you could give him $20-25 to handle it for you and come out money ahead. One other thought is that I think Clark might pay the return shipping ... it's been a long time, but I seem to remember that when I sent one of Jim Sr.'s pieces back for a tune-up.
Oh yeah, you might want to try the downsized bullet suggestion.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
geeguy, welcome to GB site. Now lets see, your using a 200 gr, SWC lead bullet. How much bullseye in grains are yu loading- if its over 4.0 grains I would suspect that 12lb. spring. Thats a little too light for anything but light match loads. If those mags. work in your other .45's they should work in the one your having trouble with. Wilson stuff is good and rarely gives problems. You don't say what kind of matches you are loading for so it makes it a little tough to recommend loads and spring weights. First of all, the .45's that I have had generally do well with an overall loaded length of 1.260" with a 200 gr. SWC lead bullet.. Don't go over this length unless the pistol has been throated for the extra length. A good load for the light target is 4.0 grains bullseye with a 11 to 12 lb. spring(I prefer Wolf springs). For IPSC I shot 5.0 grains W231 with an 18 lb spring for Minor Power matches and 5.7 grains W231 and the same 18 lb spring for Major. All seated to 1.260". There are many things that can go wrong in any auto but damaged mags/improper loads/mainspring weights/bullet overall length are the more logical culprits. Pinhead 0 -
What kind of a crimp are you using, and is your die adjusted properly? A bad crimp will often cause a failure to feed. 0 -
Answer to above questions:
1. Using 4.0 grains of Clays. Min length setting of 1.16" on overall. Was using max of 1.23" but thought this might be the problem.
2. Have used numerous lead and jacketed bullets, all at .452" dia. (I like trying the .451" approach and will do so)
3. Older Clark so there's no ramp, don't know how the barrel is set up, but my bullets drop in easily when I have the barrel out of the gun. I can also take the jammed round, move it into the same magazine and it will feed and fire.
4. Final crimp is by a Lee Carbide sizing and crimp die, using a 1/2 setting for a light crimp.
5. I have tried a 14# and 16# woolf spring (can't cycle with a 16#).
All this leads me to believe it's not the reloads and I was looking for a little "trick" that everyone seems to know except me. I'll try the bullet dia. and if that doesn't work I guess I'll see the local gunsmith to get his recommendation. I'll also email Clark to hear their recommendation.
I appreciate all the information. Thanks guys.0 -
Forgot to mention one important thing. You should be using a "taper" crimp on you .45ACP in automatics--never a roll crimp. The .45ACP head spaces off of the mouth and cannot space properly on a roll crimp. I for one always crimp in a separate operation --I've had problems in the past with a heavy roll crimp bulging the brass at the crimp just enough to cause problemsin a tight chamber. Pinhead 0 -
That 4 gr. of Clays is a pretty good load. It's very popular at an indoor range near here. I know that your feed ramp is polished, and your barrel's breech is probably throated and polished, so I'm inclined to suspect your crimp. My other thought would be deformity or roughness on the bottom of your magazines' feed lips, but since you have several, and the problem is evenly spread, that falls way down the list. So, I think you need to crimp the case mouths a little more tightly, as it is likely that the case mouths are hanging up on the bottom of the magazine lips when feeding. Also--how's the strength of your recoil spring? [:)] 0
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