ppknut

Does anyone have, or know, the compression length(s) for replacement springs for an M&P 40. Some time ago I swapped the captured OEM Spring/rod for a Wolff spring set with their guide rod. I was thinking about purchasing one of the spring testers and while the standard 1911 compression length (1.625") is easy to find, I haven't been able to find the same info on the M&P replacement springs (perhaps I need to call Wolff?). Same question for a BHP recoil spring. Thanks for any input.

I started reloading to try to save $$. Then shortages hit and I was able to shoot as much as I wanted. It was/is nice. That said, I'm now up to 11 calibers and 3 gauges. I will never recoup the cost of all the gear I've acquired. Additional presses and lots of dies start materializing.

I've got a few more calibers to work up. .32 acp , 38 spl. Just waiting to get enough to work up a batch.

I got a little carried away a while back and wanted to know what various limits my FA tumbler had based on their recommended 30 lb limit. So the result was this table:

Actually, it's closer to 1200 with primers and 1300 de-primed by my testing (maintaining the 30 lb. limit). That's still a bunch.

Yes, I would buy it again. I've only had a few issues with it over the last 3 years. Two things: I wish they'd make .32acp and .380 conversions. Occasionally, one shell will drop sideways into the funnel at the top of the feeder tube and jams up the process. If you're not paying attention, all of a sudden the feeder starts throwing brass out of the top and onto the bench/floor. Stop....unclog....continue. If anyone else has had this issue, I'd love to know if they have found a solution.

Excellent! Thanks for the IMR pdf. I have that manual and have only ever used it for shotgun reloading. I completely forgot they have rifle and pistol data listed as well. I once tried the polishing thing for my .308 and didn't get very good results. I'm not well versed in 'dremel' I'll have to get it back out and find some polish and give that another try. Thanks a bunch. Now I've got a starting point.

Thanks for responding. I will check out your link. Specific bullet, yes. I'm currently using 147 gr. RN Copper Plated X-treme bullets (I suppose I could also use some of my 124 gr. 9mm bullets). They're fine for my plinking loads using Win 231, but my supply of 231 is decreasing at an alarming rate and, of course, no one has seen any for sale in any quantities lately. Since I scored some 700X, I've been working up loads with the 700X for my 9mm, .38spl, and .45. and would like to work some up for the Super. I just wish the metering in my 550 wasn't so erratic (at least a 3/10's swing) even with the aquarium pump). Let me know if you get a chance to look up your loading log. Thanks again -ppknut

One at a time works just fine. No hang ups. So, it may be that the stack of brass in the tube is putting enough pressure on the bottom shell to cause it to tip, ever so slightly, and catch on the primer of the next one in line. A few other notes: In careful observation of the ram operation, I noticed that the piece of brass being advanced toward the shellplate always veers off to the side of the ramp (one side more than the other), in effect causing the shell to start the forward progress directly toward the diagonal ramp cuts rather than more centered in the slot. This convinced me to work on the ramp with a small file to smooth it out (round it) a bit. After this judicious filing, I did a little polish work on the now more rounded ramp lips. All in all, I really kind of polished as many surfaces I could reasonably reach. Last step was to lube my .40 brass, which is something I've never needed to do with 9mm and .45, just to make sure that the brass was able to travel as freely as possible into the ramp. The end result was that the hang ups were reduced significantly. Before, I was getting a hang up every 5 to 10 rounds or so. I ran a batch of 50 and only got about 3 hangs ups. Progress made! But not completely solved. I'm still curious if anyone else has experienced this issue. One other factor that may or may not be significant......the brass I'm using is a batch of once fired that I purchased, as is. I noticed that the firing pin strikes on the spent primers were of the 'rectangular' form/shape and that this type of indent appeared to raise the cup metal more so than on circular pin strikes. I did try to isolate those cases and tried to determine if that was contributing, but it remained more or less random in any effect.

I'll try that, one at a time, and see what happens. If that shows that the shell is hanging up on the succeeding shell, then what? This would seem to defeat the purpose of the case feeder.

Youngeyes, Thanks for the cam adjusting information. Now I know what this procedure is for. On the other hand, While lightly filing the angled portion of the feed ramp to smooth it out may be of some benefit, I don't believe any careful filing will help with what I've shown on the sketches I posted. The case is tilting before it even reaches the ramp slot, as if it is catching on the next (upper) piece of brass as the ram moves forward.

I would still like to know how the cam readjusting works. This is not covered in any paperwork I've received from Dillon. That said, I've attached a quick sketch of where the initial hang up occurs. The scale is a little exagerated to illustrate what is happening. 14229508972_438ec1bc06_c.jpg

Please elaborate and explain why that would possibly help. Especially when the shell doesn't even feed (and catches) from the very beginning of the feed ramp as it approaches the wedge cuts in the ramp. And explain the process of readjusting the cam, when that doesn't seem necessary when going from 9mm to .45

Yes, they do. BTW, the ramp is marked W and the adapter tube is purple, which should be the correct ones for .40