.45 ACP HELP!!!!!!

[benjamin1031]

I know that this is more of a benchrest forum but we all shoot and most of us reload so I hope this is a good place to get this problem figured out...

I reload for 45 acp. In this "journey" of reloading I have fired my rounds through a 1911 and a Taurus PT145. I recently bought a KAHR CW45 nice gun I like it a lot but my reloads will not chamber?!?!?!?! I use a lee carbide 3-die set and all reloads work fine with the other guns. I thought it might be since I wasn't using a crimping die so I ordered a taper crimp die (lee). Then I thought I ordered the wrong one so I ordered a carbide factory crimp die(lee). Still nothing will get my reloads to chamber. Factory rounds chamber no problem. WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!

 

[Steve Blair]

Is it that they will not enter the chamber or the pistol will not go into battery?

 

[benjamin1031]

They do enter the chamber but not far enough to allow the slide to close.

 

[benjamin1031]

I think I'm about ready to trade it for a compact 1911 with an ambi safety....grrrrrrrr

 

[Steve Blair]

Have you checked the case length? SAAMI case length spec is .898 -.010 and chamber is .898-.920. If the case is within spec, check the chamber.

 

[ridgeway]

Play with the overall length of your loaded round and crimp.

 

[bheadboy]

I have shot many many 1000's of 45 in colt, Kimber, springfield, smith, tarus, GI ww1 1911- used to pleasure and IPsc comp

the only bad experience was the tarus, too much headspace

the only completely 100% functional hand loads of jacket and cast i found to be with RCBS/REDDING dies with taper crimp, not roll as the case headspaces on the case mouth. if the slide wil not lock in then the primary problem is one of two, bullet seated out too long and getting into the rifling, or brass to long for the chamber, either short chamber or long brass

try taking 10 cases and trim to minimum, taper crimp and seat bullets to spec OAL for the bullet, if that does not do it --sell the gun

Bob

 

[fdshuster]

benjamin1031: Try to chamber an empty case. The slide should go fully into battery to enable you to dry fire. if not, then the case is too long, although I find the vast majority of cases to be around .890", and chambers at well over .905". You could also try to chamber a round nose, like the G.I. full metal jacket "hardball". Your problem is either too much case length, bullet seated out too far, or a short chamber.

 

[Cort]

What bullet are you using? .45 ACP autos like 230 gr FMJ round nose. Many guns don't like any other type of bullet unless the feed ramp is polished and the magazine lips are adjusted.

Will your reloads fully seat a round into the chamber of the Kahr if you take the barrel out, hold it vertical and drop a round into the chamber? How does your Kahr do with factory loads?

Have you fired 200 rounds or so through the Kahr to break it in?

Good luck, I think Kahr's are great concealed carry choices.

Cort

 

[spclark]

If your hand-loaded cartridges will drop into the barrel's chamber when the barrel's out of the gun as others have suggested but still won't chamber when you want to shoot them, try shooting a box or two of some factory loaded ammo to "work things in" on that new addition to your family.

Many semis need some use before they'll work reliably.

You might also want to find a 45ACP case gauge to check your hand loads in before you shoot them again, just to see if it's your cartridges even if they fit in the chamber....

 

[Rookie]

Seen this a few times with that mod. pistol. OAL is to long.
Make up a dummy round and shorten OAL a few .005 at a time till the slid locks up and use that for it's OAL.

 

[Forum Boss]

The Lee carbide Factory crimp die with the carbide sizer ring, can have the effect of squeezing the case too much (it may also swage down your bullets if used at the last stage). This causes the case to stretch as it extrudes forward. Had this issue using the Lee die with an HK .45. My fired brass would chamber, but my reloaded brass was too long after coming out of the Lee die. Most factory .45 ACP pistols have very generous chambers, and you do not need the Lee -- it may do more harm than good (i.e. it reduces the diameter of the brass too much, and it swages your bullets).

Trim your brass. That should solve the problem. Don't worry about coming out a little short. Reason: In real life, in a semi-auto, the .45acp headspaces on the extractor, not on the case mouth*. If you don't believe that, look at the burn pattern on the fired cases. You will see it is mostly on one side. If you index your brass before shooting, you will see the burn marks much more prominent on the side opposite the extractor. This is because the extractor is pulling the brass to one side, and, at the same time, controlling how far the case goes into the chamber.

*Yes the .45 ACP doesn't have a rim like a .44 special, but you will find that, when trimmed to normal length, your .45 acp rounds (both factory and reloads) will not reach the forward end of the chamber.

 

[spclark]

Seen this a few times with that mod. pistol. OAL is to long.
Make up a dummy round and shorten OAL a few .005 at a time till the slid locks up and use that for it's OAL.

Why, you mean a factory pistol can have an out-of-spec chamber? Surely you gest!

I have a .460 Rowland conversion for one of my 1911's. No WAY you confuse those cartridges with a 45 ACP! Recoil's kinda snappish but it gets the job done!

 

[Rookie]

Seen this a few times with that mod. pistol. OAL is to long.
Make up a dummy round and shorten OAL a few .005 at a time till the slid locks up and use that for it's OAL.

Why, you mean a factory pistol can have an out-of-spec chamber? Surely you gest!

I have a .460 Rowland conversion for one of my 1911's. No WAY you confuse those cartridges with a 45 ACP! Recoil's kinda snappish but it gets the job done!

I'm a 45 Super man myself

 

[benjamin1031]

Wow guys great info. I knew I came to the right place. I was thinking my OD's were the problem but I made up a couple dummy rounds and as it turns out I needed a shorter OAL. Going to load a batch tonight will keep you guys posted. Again thanks for the knowledge.

 

[benjamin1031]

Yay!!!! Shorter OAL works awesome!! Thanks guys I really do appreciate all the help!!! Ben

 

[bigedp51]

Forum Boss

Very good posting and great illustration, a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[spclark]

...a picture is worth a thousand words.

As long as you have a broadband connection.... ;D