Jump to content
Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

planenut

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    40

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by planenut

    Zero 230 gn FMJ Loads

    in 44/45 Caliber

    Posted · Edited by planenut

    I see you have Titegroup.

    I made some 230 Zero FMJ with Titegroup and got the following results from a Colt Commander 4.25" barrel, PMC Brass

    4.4 Titegroup, WLP, 1.265 OAL, 734FPS High, 700FPS low, 710fps avg, 24FPS ES, 7FPS SD

    4.66 Titegroup, WLP, 1.265 OAL, 765FPS High, 743FPS LOW, 753FPS avg, 22FPS ES, 6FPS SD

    I only fired about 20 rounds of each and plan on doing more at 4.5 grains of titegroup and shortening up the OAL after reading this thread.

    Hope this helps.

    Huge car keys

    in What I Hate

    Posted

    Be glad you don't rent cars a lot like I do!

    Most companies like Hertz insist on connecting both sets of keys together on a steel cable. You have this huge glob of keys because (I can only surmise) they are afraid of losing the spare set. I wonder what they do when you lose them or lock them in the car? I already know they don't have the spares!

    .45 won't case gauge backwards

    in 44/45 Caliber

    Posted

    I've only loaded a little over 300 but have found a few that don't quite go all the way into the case gage. They stop with about 1/8 inch to go. It seems like there is a rough spot at the rim possibly from the extractor or else it is slightly out of round. I have not tried to fire them. Is this what you are referring to?

    .45 acp crimping when changing bullets

    in 44/45 Caliber

    Posted

    I've only done a little reloading so far but what I am thinking is that I don't have to re adjust the crimp station when changing between a Zero 230 FMJ RN and a Precision Bullet Moly 230 LRN FP.

    I change the seating station to adjust the OAL but I didn't need to change the crimp. I'm assuming this is because the crimp is at the case and it's length did not change.

    Does that sound about right?

    Talk me out of the 650

    in Dillon Precision Reloading Equipment

    Posted

    I got my 650 without the casefeeder from be and enjoy it! I read the manual before it arrived (twice) and once it arrived set it up and loaded about 100 rounds the same day. I had a friend teach me the basics on his Square deal and had loaded several hundred rounds on it in the prior month.

    I'm sure I'll add the casefeeder some day but like being able to only add bullets and keep my hand on the handle.

    45 acp zero FMJ feed issue

    in 44/45 Caliber

    Posted

    I have had Planenut's exact same problem using Zero 230 FMJ loaded at 1.265 in a brand new STI Trojan. The top round nosedived into the bottom of the ramp. This happened all the time with the mags Brazos Custom sold with it. It happened some of the time with Chip McCormick Power Mags. I reduced the OAL to 1.255 and the first round feed problems pretty much disappeared with the Power Mags but remained with the "stock" STI mags.

    Note: The first 150 rounds I shot through it were Magtech 230gr FMJ with 1.265 OAL, all of which fed flawlessly with the stock mags.

    I'm beginning to think there's something about the profile of the 230gr Zeros that doesn't agree with my STI. I'll try loading some at 1.275 and another batch at 1.245 and see which works best.

    Chris

    Thanks Chris,

    Please let me know what you find out. I'm home today but don't think I'll get to try any changes until next week.

    Billy

    45 acp zero FMJ feed issue

    in 44/45 Caliber

    Posted

    I'll try some more and see what happens. I think it was the first three mags and I only had 5 mags worth of that ammo. Then I switched to the Moly and lead.

    I was just thinking it was almost like they were too short and because of that, they were going up on too steep an angle and making contact with the top of the barrel ramp.

    45 acp zero FMJ feed issue

    in 44/45 Caliber

    Posted

    I use 1.25 OAL with perfect reliability. Factory ammunition is loaded to closer to 1.27 OAL.

    Is it always the same magazine or brand of magazine?

    They were 3 different Tripp Research Mags. All only 4 months old and all have worked well up til now.

    Do you ride the slide forward?

    I don't think so.

    Have you checked your extractor tension? If it's to strong and you're riding the slide even slightly the round will hang up and not slide up into the extractor.

    The only extractor issues is it flings the spent brass about 25 feet. I can stand next to my wall made from pvc and screen wire that is 7.5 feet tall and some will go over.

    What gun is it? How was it built?

    It is a 10 year old Kimber Ultra Elite 2.75 inch barrel. It has been mostly a safe queen up until the last 4 months and I have used it for 3 USPSA matches. I have had no problems with it with store bought ammo or with reloads on a square deal using lead that was home cast. I have always used 230 grain and have not tried 200 or 185. This was 230 grain as well.

    Bottom line. I doubt seriously that it is the OAL of the round.

    45 acp zero FMJ feed issue

    in 44/45 Caliber

    Posted

    First rounds loaded on a new Dillon XL 650.

    I loaded:

    16 rounds 230 Zero FMJ with 3.8 grains Clays at 1.245 OAL WLP

    24 rounds 230 Zero FMJ with 4.0 grains Clays at 1.245 OAL WLP

    24 rounds 230 Precisionbullet Moly LRN FP with 4.0 grains Clays at 1.240 OAL WLP

    The first round of each mag with the Zero FMJ would not load when releasing the slide. The rest of each mag was fine as was the Precision Moly coated bullets.

    The round looked like it was doing a nose dive into the top of the barrel on the first round. All I did was pull the slice back again and release and it chambered and fired fine.

    I was shooting a Kimber Ultra Elite 2.75 inch barrel which has been feeding reliably with WWB, Federal and some loads with Hornady 230 LRN and some friends Lead home cast bullets all 230 grain LRN at 1.245 OAL. I checked all the rounds with my Dillon case gage before taking them to the range.

    Suggestions on what to change? Also note that I will be using the ammo in a Colt LW Commander once it gets back from the Smith.

    Basic Question

    in Miscellaneous BEginners

    Posted

    So while it is true that you can, with lead bullets, use a bit less powder to achieve similar speeds to jacketed, it is only because once it is moving it takes less effort down the barrel. However, GETTING it moving requires just as much or maybe even more energy and that is where the most pressure is generated.

    I like this answer!

    Reloading Benches

    in The Gallery

    Posted

    This is my current setup..

    I just received the 650 last Saturday and got it set up yesterday and promptly loaded about 100 rounds. The bench was built about 20 years ago right after I moved in. The SDB was borrowed from a friend while mine was on order. It is a good friend who will loan you a Dillon press! It is amazing how fast you can fill up a storage area..

    The next one is where I plan to mount it permanently. It is a 15 x 17 FROG that my son just moved out of. I have to paint and build some cabinets first and was anxious to get the 650 up and running and test out the 42" high workbench in my garage so I could see if that is the height I want.

    post-27056-095900200 1290051275_thumb.jp

    post-27056-089666300 1290051291_thumb.jp

    No More Lead Poisoning (long but important)

    in What I Like

    Posted

    Bookmarked this thread. Thanks to the OP for keeping an important issue like this in the light.

    Planenut-- yes, special soaps like D-Lead and LeadTech wipes use ingredients to chelate the lead and making it more easy to dissolve in water. In addition to all the prevention mentioned above, using these things definitely helps. I shoot mainly in a well-ventilated (OSHA certified) range. I've fired about 2000 FMJ rounds in the last 4 months and my lead level is about 3.

    I bought some of the D-lead wipes and soap last week when this thread started..

    Thanks to the op for bringing it to my attention...

    No More Lead Poisoning (long but important)

    in What I Like

    Posted

    Yes, I plan on wearing the nitrile gloves while loading and the brass will be cleaned outside. Additionally I'm going to get a mask to wear when seperating them from the media.

    This still leaves any dust from the bullets (lead, moly or jacketed) and the lead from primers. I don't know how much you stir up moving the bullets from the box to the loading bin etc.

    I will wash my hands afterwards and not eat or drink while reloading. I will wipe off the loading area when finished as well.

    This area will also have my weight equipment and maybe a tv or laptop on the bench area near the loading area.

    Current idea is a 12 foot bench 42" high. Kind of like a kitche countertop with cabinets below to keep everything out of sight and away from dust etc.

×
×
  • Create New...