Lead on fired .45 acp?

[mousegunner]

Some of my fired .45 cases have what looks like lead along with soot near the mouth.

I haven't noticed the leading residue before. The top cases are factory FMJ. I loaded the .45 in one batch with the same load of BE, I need to look at my brass from a previous shoot to see if it's there also.

This Ruger SR1911 has a tendency to get really dirty along the top part of the chamber and the brass shows more soot in one part. Is this normal or maybe somethings off? I'm using up my last rounds of cast lead and going to coated after this.

Seems to me that some lead is being burned off and blows back into the chamber ending up on the brass.

 

[GLShooter]

I think you diagnosed it yourself.

Greg

 

[Zero333]

Vihtavuori N-340 is a good one for cast lead bullets. N-340 is Know for burning clean.

I find light loads are dirtier than full power loads regardless if shooting lead or jacketed or plated.

 

[243winxb]

My 45acp 3.8 gr Bullseye & home cast 200 gr lswc loads are always dirtier then factory..

For lead to blow off, it would need to be near pure lead or possibly shaving of lead when seating bullets. Look for a thin ring of lead build up where the case mouth seats in the chamber.

Chambers come in minimum & maximum. Bigger is not better.

Reloaded brass keeps getting a shorter trim length. Less length to seal. Never needing trimming with target loads.

 

[stork]

What load & crimp are you using?
Also Brass brand and bullet diameter.

 

[Bill K]

Off hand you are shaving some lead, very minute, on seating the bullet and it is remaining on the case mouth when you eject the case.
Try wiping the case around the crimp area, after seating and see if that does not cure the issue.
You may need to bell the case mouth a little more before seating and use a very slight crimp.

 

[troupe]

Normal, keep shooting. Maybe up your charge a little, but depends on the powder you are using.

 

[TIMO]

Some of my fired .45 cases have what looks like lead along with soot near the mouth.

I haven't noticed the leading residue before. The top cases are factory FMJ. I loaded the .45 in one batch with the same load of BE, I need to look at my brass from a previous shoot to see if it's there also.

This Ruger SR1911 has a tendency to get really dirty along the top part of the chamber and the brass shows more soot in one part. Is this normal or maybe somethings off? I'm using up my last rounds of cast lead and going to coated after this.

Seems to me that some lead is being burned off and blows back into the chamber ending up on the brass.
View attachment 1337669

My S&W Shield 2.0 in 45 act does this as well. Never have an issue with any of my other 45's with the same ammo. I think the chamber is a little on the max dimension size possibly. With my next loading session, I will use a little less taper crimp and see if that will eliminate to issue with the S&W Shield.
Tim

 

[Timberyote]

It's normal. I have seen that with factory ammo too.

 

[DGP4]

I'd say your chamber is a tad oversize with that much blow back. Probably not a safety concern, just annoying to have to clean up. Winchester WST powder burns exceptionally clean in .45 ACP, so you might want to try that.

 

[mousegunner]

What load & crimp are you using?
Also Brass brand and bullet diameter.

4.0 Bullseye, crimp .472. Win and Remington brass, Meister 200 gr cast .452.

I do have some shaved lead on the case mouth on some rounds, I'll clean that up. I used a NOE expander and maybe I need another one .001 bigger. I am switching to coated bullets next after I shoot up these cast bullets and I'll see how that goes.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Looks like the blowby from a light load. Usually shows on the topside of the case. Put more powder in an it will either go away or not be so bad. The more oversize the chamber, the worse it will look.

Frank

 

[Rook 6]

My initial thought is also blowby from a light load. I have ZERO knowledge of Bullseye in .45 ACP but I have had the same result using too-light charges with faster burning powders in my .45 ACP loads. Upping the charge while remaining within safe load parameters cleaned things up pretty well. Cases with mulitple firings and no anneal seem to compound the issue.

 

[Webster]

Some of my fired .45 cases have what looks like lead along with soot near the mouth.

I haven't noticed the leading residue before. The top cases are factory FMJ. I loaded the .45 in one batch with the same load of BE, I need to look at my brass from a previous shoot to see if it's there also.

This Ruger SR1911 has a tendency to get really dirty along the top part of the chamber and the brass shows more soot in one part. Is this normal or maybe somethings off? I'm using up my last rounds of cast lead and going to coated after this.

Seems to me that some lead is being burned off and blows back into the chamber ending up on the brass.
View attachment 1337669

Would one of those kits for testing for lead in your water supply tell you if it's lead? They cost about $20. I think each kit can do many test.

 

[Zeke 225]

Take the case and rub the neck on a piece of white paper, if there lead it will leave a mark, grey to sliver color

 

[mousegunner]

I tossed them in the tumbler and now they're nice and clean. Whatever lead there was is now in the media.

I'll look at adjusting my crimp and powder charge when I load my next batch.

Maybe off topic but maybe not, if I used a heavier spring that keeps the barrel locked a tad longer would there be less blow back? I'm assuming the gun will still cycle with my current load.

 

[stork]

4.0 Bullseye, crimp .472. Win and Remington brass, Meister 200 gr cast .452.

I do have some shaved lead on the case mouth on some rounds, I'll clean that up. I used a NOE expander and maybe I need another one .001 bigger. I am switching to coated bullets next after I shoot up these cast bullets and I'll see how that goes.

With the exception of your crimp, the rest is fine. Your load has decades of experience as a very accurate load for shooting Bullseye.
Get your crimp down to .465-.468. Remington, TZZ and IMI brass have a wall thickness .001 less than most, so keep them separate. Federal has the thickest I've tested, so keep them separate also. Your crimp of .472 isn't holding onto the bullet long enough to get the powder really burning before releasing the bullet . The lack of pressure isn't expanding the brass enough to seal the chamber. The excessive blow by & lead splatter on your reloaded brass, but not with the factory loads which are crimped about .004 less than your reloads.

I've Ransom tested thousands of load combinations. A tighter crimp is a very good thing for consistent accurate loads. My personal choice for a 50 yard load is .462 with Remington or TZZ brass-3.8 Clays or Bullseye-and a Zero 200 gr swaged SWC bullet. Short line of 50' or 25 yds is 3.6 Clays with a cast H&G 130 196 gr-Win brass crimped to .465. You'll also find Bullseye burns a lot cleaner when there's a bit more pressure.

Tighten up the crimp on anything you have left and compare the brass with those you've shown here. Without any closer inspection, that's the best advice I can come up with over the internet.
Al

 

[stork]

I tossed them in the tumbler and now they're nice and clean. Whatever lead there was is now in the media.

I'll look at adjusting my crimp and powder charge when I load my next batch.

Maybe off topic but maybe not, if I used a heavier spring that keeps the barrel locked a tad longer would there be less blow back? I'm assuming the gun will still cycle with my current load.

Depends on your setup.
The 4 gr load will cycle my hardball guns with 100% reliability, but my crimp is tighter as I noted above. If you're shooting a standard 16# spring on an open sighted 1911 you should be just fine. It also runs 100% with my 1911's with slide mounted Ultra Dots and 12# recoil springs.
Al

 

[243winxb]

I do have some shaved lead on the case mouth on some rounds

A taper crimp seating die, that starts removing the case mouth bell to soon, will always shave lead. The dies ID needs opened in front of the crimper.
TEST- Bell the case mouth a little more then normal. Must still fit seat die mouth. Run empty case into die 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 of the way. Measure each time. Should show if bell is being removed to soon.

Or seat & crimp in separate operations. But die may still need modified.

NOTE- A Lee seat die will taper crimp first, then roll crimp, the deeper the case goes into the die. NOT GOOD. Taper only for 45acp in an auto loader.

 

[Timberyote]

I use Dillon dies and when I loaded lead I didn't get any shaving at the mouth. I may start to cast my own.