GregJ

That's what I run on my Kimber Gold Match II, S&A Arched MSH, Wilson ETM mags with the Dawson alum base pads. It works quite well for me. I've been thinking about getting the magwell blended to the gun, but may wait until next winter. I tried the Dawson ICE magwell, and the DP basepads with ETM mags, but never got used to the magwell and often wouldnt seat mags completely.

I've run a bunch of these through my Kimbers, IIRC I used an OAL of 1.200 RE the coating on the bearing surface, if you dont have a generous bell and ensure the bullet is straight when seating, you may shave off some of the coating. Look at the shell plate to make sure there are no slivers of the cloating laying around.

Check the tension on the extractor. I use a Lyman digital trigger gauge and Weigand's extractor tension gauge set, and adjust the tension with a Weigand adjusting tool to between 1.3 and 1.5 lbs. You dont have to have the Weigand, but I like it. There are some vids on youtube on how to check it, but I like to know exactly what mine is set for. Also check the top of the chamber, just in front of the barrel hood, for roughness. Polishing here helps feeding as well. Just dont go overboard with it.

I've fitted two of them, one on my son's Kimber Custom Classic Target, and one on my Kimber GM II. I've never done one before, but if you take your time, and go slowly, it isnt difficult.

Hmmm, based on all the feedback, I'm considering revamping my current process. After weeding out the SP brass, run everything through my LNL, and for the cases that have obviously thin walls (can feel it when resizing, barely any resistance), maybe marking the case with a sharpie to be seperated later for only range use. Thoughts?

Also, when testing loads for accuracy, make sure you're shooting from a rest, even at 10 yds. A little longer distance would probably be better to test for accuracy. IIRC, I load my 9mm 115gr at 1.156 OAL and 4.8gr of W231.

I've found it very interesting what some folks here will load for a match, and what some wont. Those that basically reload any headstamp for a match, is having a couple (or the occasional) ammo related jams or misfeeds during a match acceptable? Or have you not had any at all? Just curious.

4.8gr of WST makes about 168-170 PF, IIRC. This load has served me well for the past 2 yrs.

Best wishes for a speedy recover !! I started shooting USPSA last year, and started covering the ejection port (SS) with my left hand as I was ejecting the chambered round when showing clear to be able to keep the round from dropping on the ground. I do know that with my particular Kimber, if the OAL on 200gr SWC is a little long, the nose will hang up on the barrel hood, becoming a prime candidate for a situation like yours. I have since fixed the OAL issue, and have broke myself of that bad habit. I've learned to use and love front slide serations.

I found a pretty good list of brass from this post on glockpost. I've updated it based on my experience. This is pretty much how it gets sorted. Match brass: PMC --- (Precision Made Cartridge) Speer -- (Speer) Blazer -- (CCI) *--* ------- (Starline) Federal ---- (Federal) Hornady --- (Hornady) *I* -------- (Independance) Norma ----- (Norma) Winchester - (Winchester) Range Brass: CBC -------- (Magtech) <may use for matches, need to test> R-P -------- (Remington) ELD -------- (Eldorado) FC --------- (Federal) **No good in .40s&w** TZZ ------- (Israeli Military Industries) UMC ------- (Remington) WIN ------- (Winchester) WCC ------- (Western Cartridge Company, with 2 digit year under WCC) Aguila -- (Aguila) Fiocchi - (Fiocchi) G.F.L. ----(Fiocchi) HY ----- (?) IVI -----(Industrie Valcartier Inc.) **Crimped primer pockets ACP --- (Armscorp) AMERC - (American Ammunition) <Junk> FC ----- (Federal) in .40s&w NNY --- (?) S&B --- (Sellier & Beloit) Mixed reviews, usually the problem is related to primer pocket size.

I also put them into the recycle bucket. I get just enough of them for it to be a PITA. Not worth keeping and messing with.

WST and W231 are the main powders I've used for 45, both meter very well in my LNL. WST will tend to pack in the rotor pocket, sometimes yielding +.2gr, but most always spot on. Power Pistol also meters well. Any ball or small flake powder should meter well.

Besides S&B and A-MERC? Since I've been sorting my 45ACP brass into "match" and "range" buckets, I've not had any ammo realted issues at a match. My match brass is usually Blazer, Winchester, PMC, Federal, Speer, CCI, Starline, LC, and maybe one or two I'm forgetting. All other go into my range bucket. I do come across a lot of CBC brass, and may load some up of just this to see if it'll be ok for matches. R-P brass definatly goes into the range bucket, as I've had too many setbacks (with a .4695 crimp) using this brass. Any other good brass I may have discounted?

Ditto

Nope, no coating shaved off lately with the Bayous. Last year I was shooting Precisions, and would shave some off occassionally, so I opened up the belling a little bit more. I've just wondered if I might be a little too generous with the belling for the Bayous. Havent had but a very, very few setbacks with Bayous, which I'm expecting was probably due to thinner walled brass and not the belling. I'm belling with the Powder Funnels PTX on my LNL.

For my Bayou 200gr SWC, I had always belled just enough to get the bullet started. Did this with Precision bullets as well. But thought a little more bell might help keep the coating intact more and maybe help to reduce leading more. But would the slight increase in belling reduce neck tension enough to cause the occassional bullet setback?

Arched with S&A magwell. Just fits my hands so much better.

If you shoot lead or especially coated bullets like Precision or Bayou, it's a good idea and recommended by the bulet mfgrs. When I started shooting Precisions, I got one, and it's one of the better things I've done for my reloading. It let me tweak my crimp to fix a feeding problem I had with my 1911s. YEMV, but it works for me.

4.8gr for my 200gr SWC. Gives me a little wiggle room for making PF in summer. It's reported that WST gets slower as temps get hotter. I cant compare it to the other powders you've mentioned, but I did compare it to Unique, W231, and WSF. This will be my second year shooting matches with this load. It has worked quite nicely for me and my son.

Have you checked your crimp? When I started loading lead and coated SWC for my SS, I had a LOT of FTF, they were 3 point jams. At least three things helped me resolve the issue, A: sorting out R-P brass (and other lower quality brass) to be used only for range, B: using a wilson cartridge gage to check ALL my match loads, and C: settling on a crimp of .4695 to .470, this had the most impact on reducing FTF in my 1911s.

Thought I follow back up on this. I finally got a very nice response from Blade-Tech. I called the cust service rep that had emailed me, and she put in a new order for 7 mag pouches, as well as a return shipping label so I can send the old ones back. The production manager was very interested in this, and wanted to make sure they figured the problem out. So far, I'm very pleased with their CS.

I seperate 9mm brass only for crimped primers. Otherwise, they all treated the same. What works best for me is to put a few hundred in a bowl, then set them on the flat surface of a workbench to sort out the 380. I then pick at handful, check for crimped primers, then throw them into the appropriate bucket. My 45ACP brass, is another matter.

When you say they would not load from a magazine, were you getting a 3-pt jam, like this? I would get these on my Kimber if the crimp was more than .472 Now I crimp everything at .4695 - .470 and it eats them all, RNF, SWC, whatever.

Mine would turn on me no matter how tight I got the lock nut/washer. Then I noticed my handle still had quite a bit of milling lube still in the threads. Cleaned it up, put a dab of blue loc-tite on, and hasnt budged since.

SlowShooter, From everything I've read, it is farily normal, mine does this as well. Seems like when the other stations have a working load due to a case in that station, it reduces the flex in the ram base plate. this is why I set my seating die for the desired OAL when the stations are full. The first and last rounds will be a little short, but not enough to make any difference. OP, I also have variations in the OAL on my LNL press. For example, loading 45ACP SWC using the flat stem. Logically, since variations in bullet nose profile should not be an issue using the flat stem, there should be no reason for OAL variations. However, there is enough flex in the ram that depending on how hard you bump the handle at the bottom of the stroke (ram is raised) will affect the OAL. I've read that single stages can vary by .003" and progressives by .009 or more. I know for a fact I can change the OAL on .223 rounds as much as 10 thou depending on how hard I bump the handle. Try this, raise the ram up, then with the handle down and watching the top of the primer tube, see how much it moves as you bump the handle. You'll probably be surprised by the amount of movement. I know I was. EDIT: Another tip for consistent OALs, tighten the seating die bushing in the press. Take a pair of pliers or a wrench, and make sure it is very tight in the press. If it's just hand tight, there will be enough give to cause fluxuations in the OAL.