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Posted: 6/24/2008 7:45:59 PM EDT
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I have reload 500 rds of 45 ACP. All of them will chamber, but not all the way in. I bought factory ammo and it chamber fully. What gives? bob |
| You may not have the sizing die screwed in far enough to resize the lower part (or web area) of the case. I've seen this happen before. A Max Cartridge Gage like the L.E. Wilson one sold by Midway has been invaluable in diagnosing problems like these: Midway Max Cartridge Gage |
This is what you want to see with your case gauge. Not this  This is where I got mine. |
What bullet and what overall length did you use? And what type pistol? Lead semi wadcutters will stick in the rifling if not seated short enough. |
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FWIW............ FOR ME, the COAL don't mean much, when I was loading LSWC, .45 ACP. The ammo has to fit the gauge (or barrel). Just like in the pics above, from dryflash3. The .45 ACP cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the round. You'll find that there are differences between the mfns of LSWC bullets. Some will have a long nose and some will be short /stubby nose, both can still weigh the same. Obviously, one will be a longer loaded cartridge (AKA: COAL) as the "wad cutter" part (the ledge) of the bullet will determine where the cartridge will headspace off of. But, both can still be made to function in your barrel. Just ignore the COAL and worry only about IF it fits the gauge (barrel). IF you were to concentrate only on COAL........the shorter bullet, would end up loaded out of the case some, the lip of the "wad cutter" part of the bullet will contact the barrel chamber lip. But, the back end of the cartridge, will be out past the barrel's hood. Bad, bad, bad. Aloha, Mark |
Depends, a case gauge should be machined to SAAMI minimum chamber dia, so if you want to make certain that the round will fit in any firearm of that clambering a case gauge is useful. If it's just to test if it works in your chamber than the barrel is fine. Heck, I have four handguns chambered in .45 ACP, not worth the trouble to find out which has the tightest chamber when a chamber gauge is not that expensive. |
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By that measure I'd have to load undersized bullets for every 45 ACP I have and lead-up my barrels. Some of my 45 ACP's have .453" throats, some .451". I load dedicated handloads for each. BTW, if you size, bell, seat, and crimp correctly, a case gauge is useless. The only time I had a chambering issue is when I tried to cram a .4525" Laser cast SWC into a chamber with a .452" throat. No case gauge would habe been able to help me with that issue. |
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