[rudyj]

Im having major problems , my 45s wont chamber. Im new at this 6months reloaded lead 45s didnt have any problems . went out and bought 230 tmj rns loaded them using speer manual data 6.0 grains of 231 with a complete overall lenth of 1.260 . tried to shoot them and they would not chamber.I tried my springfield 1911 amd my taurus millennium neither would chamber them.It appears cartridge goes about two thirds of the way in. I wondered if I had flared them to much so I took some apart re-sized and re-flared them and it didnt help.I showed them to a experienced reloader at eagle gun who suggested they weren't crimped enough, so I went home re read the rcbs die literature that suggested a .0005 difference between the top of the shell and the middle. I re-crimped some and they did the exact same thing. I called a good buddy who suggested a shorter coal so I tried that to no avail same problem. Im using a rcbs rock crusher press with rcbs 45acp tc set of dies. I know Im missing the boat some place here ! You guys are real good about helping newbies so any advice would be great Thanks rudyJ

 

[Boltgun]

I'm going to guess crimp also. Are you crimping while seating the bullet, or in a second step?

 

[Wahoo95]

Check your crimp......take some calipers and compare your rounds to factory rounds. I prefer to crimp separately and use that Lee Factory Crimp Die.

 

[Astorbilt]

If you are not using a taper crimp die, that might be the solution.
Roll crimping and seating in the same die can swell the case a little.
Like the other guys suggest...get out your calipers and compare.
Good Luck.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Could also be that the sizing die is not adjusted properly. If the case isn't going all way into the size die you could/would leave a bulge near the case rim. I fund this was a problem for me when moon clips wouldn't drop right in. 1/2 turn on the size die fixed it up.

 

[JGrigg86]

They probably aren't seated deep enough would be my guess. 1.260" sounds kinda long to me. Some bullet profiles require them to be seated a little deeper to chamber.

Hodgdon's website states 1.200" for 230gr Hornady HP, FP and 230gr LRN. I would shorten them up till they fit, within reason obviously.

 

[Daisy Duster]

Pictures of the rounds would be great but if not what is the maker of the bullets and the diameter of the bullet at the base. If you know how to break the pistol down you might try turning a round in the chamber to see where the cartridge is rubbing, hopefully the interference will show up. I figure like most on this thread that you're not running the crimp die down enough, jacketed bullets need a little more force than the lead bullets but don't get carried away, good luck.

 

[Bailey Boat]

I'll be happy to either come to you or you can come to me in Kannapolis and we'll find the bug in the pudding..... I'll PM you my phone #.......

 

[woodyolin1]

Could also be that the sizing die is not adjusted properly. If the case isn't going all way into the size die you could/would leave a bulge near the case rim. I fund this was a problem for me when moon clips wouldn't drop right in. 1/2 turn on the size die fixed it up.

This would be my guess also. This was one of my "first lessoned learned" when I started loading. If you don't size your brass all the way you'll have the same problem. Luckly I had only loaded about ten rounds and caught myself.

 

[Rob072770]

I had issues of not feeding till I crimped in another added step and I agree case might not be sized full lenth.

 

[BulletBoy]

Since you're relatively new to reloading, take things one step at a time. For example, size an unprimed case, then try to drop it into your barrel. It should drop in easily, and stop when the case mouth hits the front of the chamber. (This is what is referred to as "headspacing on the case mouth.") The base of the case should be flush with the end of the barrel at this point. If you pass that test, you've learned that the sizing die is properly adjusted and you can eliminate that as the source of your problems.

From there, seat a bullet in the empty case. After crimping, again try to seat the round in your chamber. Make appropriate adjustments to seating depth and crimp until you've got it just right.

When you've got it perfect, use that un-primed and un-charged round as your reference or "dummy" round. You can use it from then on to adjust your dies for that particular bullet.

If you change bullets, make another dummy round.

 

[charlie]

I have one thing to add to BulletBoy's very good suggestions. The sized and unprimed case you drop into the barrel should not have been expanded and flared to accept the bullet. You are checking to see if the initial sizing die is reducing the size of the case enough.


The instructions for carbide dies say not to have the shell holder making heavy contact with the base of the die. This means that the case is not resized for as much of its length as with noncarbide dies. This should not be a problem with .45 ACP. I have run into trouble with .357 Magnum cases that were not sized enough with carbide dies.

I had some troubles with .45 ACP loads not feeding well and determined that the overall length and the amount of taper crimp can be critical, especially with lead bullets. Seating and crimping in separate steps can help considerably.

 

[Daisy Duster]

Another problem that can arise in F/L sizing is the shellholder may not correct for the die and not be pushing the brass far enough into the die.