lazyeiger

Using 200g LSWC bullets 4.1g V310 and Federal magnum match large pistol primers I get lots of soot on the front of the gun and a fair amount of black crap inside after a match (100 or so rounds) I also notice black specs all over my right arm. My son using the exact same load except Federal match large pistol primers ( not magnum) has a super clean gun and none of those black specs on his arm. Today he shot a bunch of my loads in his gun and had the same black specs and a really dirty gun. It seems like these Federal magmum primers are causing this, has anyone else seen this?? Thanks Jon

To answer the question you may have really been asking, a 1.5% weight variance is a pretty good chunk but not horrible; however, if it's +/- 1.5% (ie, 3% or 6 grains top to bottom total in a 200gr SWC) then I'd consider looking for a different supplier. Of course, I had a buddy who was mass producing lead bullets in his garage and selling them to me for basically the price of raw lead and tax free. They were also 200gr LSWC's, and your numbers sound kinda familiar! To put it politely, his bullets left a lot to be desired, but I was getting them so cheap I couldn't walk away from the deal. Basically I visually culled out the worst, weighed enough good ones to set aside for match days, and just shot the rest in practice sessions. It worked out okay because I wasn't exactly tearing up the scene so I didn't have much to lose with the crap groups, however nowadays I miss his prices but not his bullets! I took a better look at the weights with a larger sample and the "problem" seems to be batching i.e. most seem to be in the 202.5g to 203.0g range and a few are 199.7g - 200.5g and one was 196g ( maybe a bubble?) so the spread seems to be about 3g or 1.5% total. These come from Straight Shooters cast Bullets in West Virginia, not super cheap at $115 for 1K (inc shipping) but I can place the order on Sunday and they are on my doorstep Wednesday! Most other well known cast bullet manufacturers can't even be bothered to answer emails or the phone these days! I have had an order in with Penn Bullets for 6 weeks now no response to any comunications so I can't even cancel the order! Shortages do tend to make companies throw customer service by the wayside! I will load up a bunch sorted and unsorted and see what happens! Thanks Jon

I just started reloading for 9mm and 45 ACP. I have a lot of experience in reloading for long range rifle ( F class). I notice that my bullets have quite a large weight spread ( about 1.5%) for both 45 acp 200g SWC and 9mm 147g FP. is this a problem? I am used to sorting bullets better than 0.1% by weight for F class I am sure that this is all OK I just want to get a reallity check. Thanks Jon

TH318, thank you! now if I understood what "squeezing fingertips while appling trigger pull" actually meant I would be home free!

I have a couple of question with regards to shooting. STI 45acp Briley barell 230g LRN 3.5g N310 I am very new to pistol shooting so many of my problems are most likely technique ( or lack thereof!) 1/ Gun is sighted in and shoots well at 10 yards I can keep most in the 10 ring however I get a couple of shots every magazine (16) that are grouped together at a 7 oclock position?? 2/ when I move to 25 yards I am now 4" high? and still get shots that are at 7 oclock compared to the rest of the group (if you can call it that) 3/ what determines the recoil spring size, I have gone from 17.5ls to 11lbs and as far as I can tell there is no difference except the slide is easier to pull back. Is this a shooting, loading or gun problem? Thanks Jon

the brass waggles side to side when in the chamber. I am used to tight match chambers of my rifles and my STI 45, maybe this is normal I will measure it later to see what the clearance is but I am guessing 0.010" on the diameter.

I just got a witness PS for my wife in 9mm and I am suprised at how loose the chamber is. Is this normal?? Thanks Jon

The one on the left is the problematic one. It looks like the good one is at a different angle. Should I just bend it to match??

As far as I can tell the dimensions of all 3 are the same ( kind of difficult to measure due to no 2 surfaces being parallel!) They all have Grams-S2 molded into the bottom. I am completely stumped. is it possible it is something to do with the spring? It looks a bit funky on that one.

Just got 3 new STI 140mm 45 ACP mags. The 2 mags I already have are the same with Grams followers and springs and Dawson + 1 base. The new grams follower and spring that I just recieved from Shooter Connection keeps popping out of the top of the tube? I have tried all 5 tubes I have and it does it with all of them. The other 2 followers are fine, All the followers look identical. Any ideas?? Thanks Jon

When you talk about feed lips do you mean at the rear of the magazine, currently they are .405 at the front and .398 at the very rear. the lips at the very front of the magazine are something like .550 I can waggle the round side to side easily, Should they be closed up also? I shortened the lead rounds to 1.230: OAL and they cycle fine by hand ( without primers and powder) I will see how they work in the real worls at the weekend. Thanks Jon

I just finished building a 2011 in 45 acp. Shot it for the first time at the weekend. It shot 50 330g RN FMJ's 3.5g V310 flawlesly. I then tried 230g lead RN and was having feed problems. On closer inspection the lead rounds were hanging up front tp back in the magazine causing the top feeding round to be nose down. In the process of diagnosing this problem I spent some time looking closly at the feeding cycle and I was suprised to see that the feed ramp in the frame seems to play no role in this? The top round in the magazine is pointed directly to the center of the barrel when it is chambered it doesnt seem to even touch the feed ramp. I was under the impression that the feed ramp is an important part of the cycle what am I missing? Thanks Jon

Thank you Bob! I just placed an order for the 2 140's Jon

Anyone know of anywhere that has 45 ACP 126mm or 140mm STI magazine tubes in stock, I have looked at most of the usual places but no one has them in stock! Thanks Jon

I am just about to begin a 2011 45 ACP build and was wondering which parts are not 1911 compatatble. Specifically I am looking for a stainless pin set but can only find them for 1911's? Thanks Jon