New to the forum! - The Firearms Forum

bt1911 · 11-26-2009, 07:50 PM

I have reloaded SWC for many years without much trouble. I now own a USGI M1911 without any frills. I am casting using a Lee mold 6 cavity 230 RN tumble lube bullet. My bullets are varying from fitting the resizing die without touching to major trimming. Is it my temps? Maybe varying? I have a thermometer, what temp range is best? I had alot of failure to go into battery today at the range using 7. grains of Power pistol with CCI LP primers. I did the barrel fit of eache round as they were crimped and seperated the maybe ones from the drop right in ones. I still had alot of failure to go into battery(slide not closing all the way). I have never had this much trouble casting and reloading. Any thoughts? I played with the OAL and found what would chamber when ker-plunked into the barrel chamber. They worked the best, but still had issues. Any experienced input would be great. I'm in Nebraska if someone were to want to stop by and help!

woolleyworm · 11-26-2009, 08:08 PM

Welcome to TFF, glad you could join us! Is there any lead build up in the chamber and barrel? What is your min and max measurements on your boolits that you've cast?

I'm not tooled up to cast my own yet, so I'm sure you'll get some better ideas shortly. I've been buying too much other stuff to find my way to Corbins checkout page so far this year.

bucksnducks · 11-27-2009, 03:54 AM

Another possibility may be the pistol itself. If your 1911 series pistol is pretty much brand new it may require some rounds run through it. Some, not all, 1911's need a "break in" period to really function properly.
If you have already run a couple hundred factory FMJ's through it without any problems it is most likely not the gun.

army mp · 11-27-2009, 06:21 AM

Not seeing your rounds kind of makes it a crap shoot on the problem. It could be the lube is too thick. A lot of guys cut it with Mineral spirits. Another problem could be the alloy you are casting bullets from. Pure lead will cast a larger bullet than Lyno-type. Lee states in the mold instructions may not need sizing. Some do. One other thing you may want to check. A heavy crimp can give you problems, As well as if you are shaving a small amount of lead when seating the bullets. Good luck and wel-come to the form.

PharmrJohn · 11-27-2009, 07:58 AM

Welcome to TFF.....

bt1911 · 11-27-2009, 01:47 PM

Thanks for the replies! Some needed major trimming, some not at all. This must be due to temp variations? I used Lee Tumble lube. My alloy is pretty much pure wheel weights. My barrel is leaded pretty seroiusly, and I can't get it clean even with a Chore Boy. The gun runs flawlessly with factory FMJ and Hornady TAP 230gr. This gun is super tight, no slop in any part of it. I'll try watching my temps and measuring the castings right after they drop to see why I have sunch a difference in diameter. Some go without any trimming, some have the entire lube rings gone after sizing. Same alloy. Unfortunately my Lee bottom pour fell to pieces so now I am using my Lymann dip pot with no temp control, just plug and go.

carver · 11-27-2009, 02:05 PM

First welcome to the forum! Might be that, as you say, you are using wheel weights. Wheel weights might be any combination of lead, and some other alloy. How hard are they? If they are too soft you will get bad leading problems, and feeding problems. Most folks, including myself, use wheel weights, but add lino type to the weights once melted. You also might want to check the hardness of what you are shooting.

army mp · 11-27-2009, 02:46 PM

If you have a lot of leading. It could be one of many problems. Most likely you are shooting an under sized bullet.For your bore. I would highly recommend. You get a copy of either Lyman or RCBS cast bullet manuals. There is a lot of good information in them. Casting can be a lot of fun. But just like reloading, there is a Science to it .The link below is to A Lewis Lead remover. Best way to get a heavily leaded Barrel clean..

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...S_LEAD_REMOVER

11-26-2009, 07:50 PM	#1
bt1911 Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 3	New to the forum! I have reloaded SWC for many years without much trouble. I now own a USGI M1911 without any frills. I am casting using a Lee mold 6 cavity 230 RN tumble lube bullet. My bullets are varying from fitting the resizing die without touching to major trimming. Is it my temps? Maybe varying? I have a thermometer, what temp range is best? I had alot of failure to go into battery today at the range using 7. grains of Power pistol with CCI LP primers. I did the barrel fit of eache round as they were crimped and seperated the maybe ones from the drop right in ones. I still had alot of failure to go into battery(slide not closing all the way). I have never had this much trouble casting and reloading. Any thoughts? I played with the OAL and found what would chamber when ker-plunked into the barrel chamber. They worked the best, but still had issues. Any experienced input would be great. I'm in Nebraska if someone were to want to stop by and help! -->

11-26-2009, 08:08 PM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: New to the forum! Welcome to TFF, glad you could join us! Is there any lead build up in the chamber and barrel? What is your min and max measurements on your boolits that you've cast? I'm not tooled up to cast my own yet, so I'm sure you'll get some better ideas shortly. I've been buying too much other stuff to find my way to Corbins checkout page so far this year. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

11-27-2009, 03:54 AM	#3
bucksnducks Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 23	Re: New to the forum! Another possibility may be the pistol itself. If your 1911 series pistol is pretty much brand new it may require some rounds run through it. Some, not all, 1911's need a "break in" period to really function properly. If you have already run a couple hundred factory FMJ's through it without any problems it is most likely not the gun.

11-27-2009, 06:21 AM	#4
army mp V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: western Pa, Posts: 479	Re: New to the forum! Not seeing your rounds kind of makes it a crap shoot on the problem. It could be the lube is too thick. A lot of guys cut it with Mineral spirits. Another problem could be the alloy you are casting bullets from. Pure lead will cast a larger bullet than Lyno-type. Lee states in the mold instructions may not need sizing. Some do. One other thing you may want to check. A heavy crimp can give you problems, As well as if you are shaving a small amount of lead when seating the bullets. Good luck and wel-come to the form.

11-27-2009, 07:58 AM	#5
PharmrJohn Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Washington Posts: 975	Re: New to the forum! Welcome to TFF..... __________________ Life is a State of Mind.

11-27-2009, 01:47 PM	#6
bt1911 Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 3	Re: New to the forum! Thanks for the replies! Some needed major trimming, some not at all. This must be due to temp variations? I used Lee Tumble lube. My alloy is pretty much pure wheel weights. My barrel is leaded pretty seroiusly, and I can't get it clean even with a Chore Boy. The gun runs flawlessly with factory FMJ and Hornady TAP 230gr. This gun is super tight, no slop in any part of it. I'll try watching my temps and measuring the castings right after they drop to see why I have sunch a difference in diameter. Some go without any trimming, some have the entire lube rings gone after sizing. Same alloy. Unfortunately my Lee bottom pour fell to pieces so now I am using my Lymann dip pot with no temp control, just plug and go.

11-27-2009, 02:05 PM	#7
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,285	Re: New to the forum! First welcome to the forum! Might be that, as you say, you are using wheel weights. Wheel weights might be any combination of lead, and some other alloy. How hard are they? If they are too soft you will get bad leading problems, and feeding problems. Most folks, including myself, use wheel weights, but add lino type to the weights once melted. You also might want to check the hardness of what you are shooting. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

11-27-2009, 02:46 PM	#8
army mp V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: western Pa, Posts: 479	Re: New to the forum! If you have a lot of leading. It could be one of many problems. Most likely you are shooting an under sized bullet.For your bore. I would highly recommend. You get a copy of either Lyman or RCBS cast bullet manuals. There is a lot of good information in them. Casting can be a lot of fun. But just like reloading, there is a Science to it .The link below is to A Lewis Lead remover. Best way to get a heavily leaded Barrel clean.. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...S_LEAD_REMOVER