C.O.L. .45acp - The Firearms Forum

todd51 · 12-29-2011, 08:06 PM

I need some help with a reload that is having failure to feed problems. The load is a Berry's 200gr. FP, 5.0gr. Bullseye, .469 crimp, and 1.18 COL. The pistol is the new Ruger 1911 but also had a similar problem with the Gold Cup with wimpy loads. Two or three rounds fail to feed out of each mag full whether using the Wilson mags or some of my junk mags. No pattern as to where the round is in the stack. The failed round seems to me to be coming in shallow and is hitting the bottom edge of the barrel. The gap between frame feed ramp and barrel ramp seems to be normal. The failure is shortening the round to 1.17 COL. I bought 1000 of these rascals a while back and would like to solve this problem so I can shoot them up.

I couldn't find any published data for the Berry's bullet but Sierra has a similar one calling for 1.155 COL and Hornady also has a similar one calling for 1.20 COL. I sort of split the difference but what I am doing isn't working. I never solved the problem with the Gold Cup but was playing with different recoil springs at the time and sort of blamed the problem on that but here it is again with the Ruger.

Hope you can see the indent on the nose of these two that failed to feed.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Todd

woolleyworm · 12-29-2011, 09:38 PM

I would recommend making some dummy rounds and increasing the COAL until you get it to feed reliably. I don't have my load records at hand, but I do know that with this same bullet, I had to lengthen it to get it to feed in my P220.

todd51 · 12-29-2011, 09:58 PM

Thanks worm, that will give me something to do in between football this weekend.

oldgunfan · 12-29-2011, 10:44 PM

I hate to say it but I didn't have good luck with my berry's 200grn 45's either. I didn't have feeding problems though, I had tumbling problems out of my S&W 625jm. my C.O.L was 1.220 so Woollyworm is right (as per normal) just make them a little longer. also I tryed 4.8grns of WST and 5.6grns of W231 same C.O.L and had no feeding problems out of 2 different 1911's or a springer XDM. good luck

LDBennett · 12-30-2011, 06:18 AM

If the feed ramp is done right (??) the top edge of the end of the frame ramp should be above the edge of the chamber ramp and it should not be possible for the nose of the bullet to catch the bottom edge of the chamber.

Another way to look at it is there should be a small gap on the top of the frame between the forward end of the ramp and the rear edge of the barrel's chamber when the slide is locked back for inspection. That gap should be about 1/32 inch. The feeding round should have to jump from the frame ramp down to the ramp that is part of the barrel. With that arrangement there is no way a bullet can catch the bottom edge of the chamber while feeding.

Did Ruger do this right? If so then a different part of the chamber is being hit by the incoming round. Is the round slipping out of the extractor? The round is suppose to feed up and under the extractor during feeding. The round should be able to hold tight against the bolt face. The magazine lips have to guide the bullet into the barrel so they have to have a reasonable grip on the cartridge during feeding. So, if the extractor tension is not right (cartridge loose on the bolt face), the magazine lips are not right (don't hang onto cartridge long enough to allow the cartridge to get started feeding right) then you may get failures like you see.

All that being said, 1911's are know to have problems feeding anything but full round nose bullets (round nose FMJ bullets). Some 1911's are "ramped" to allow conical shaped bullets and even lead wad cutters but often such ramping leads to a large part of the rear of the case being left unsupported with a tendency of the fired case to blow out with hot loads.

There are specs for magazine lip spacing, extractor tension, extractor shaping on the underside to allow the cartridge rim easy access during feeding. A good 1911 gunsmith can fix the feeding problem but I'd try good round nose FMJ ammo first before paying a gunsmith to tune up the gun and magazines.

LDBennett

jdon72 · 12-30-2011, 08:02 AM

Increase your COL to 1.21 and work from there. That should take care of it.

P-1

carver · 12-30-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBennett

If the feed ramp is done right (??) the top edge of the end of the frame ramp should be above the edge of the chamber ramp and it should not be possible for the nose of the bullet to catch the bottom edge of the chamber.

Another way to look at it is there should be a small gap on the top of the frame between the forward end of the ramp and the rear edge of the barrel's chamber when the slide is locked back for inspection. That gap should be about 1/32 inch. The feeding round should have to jump from the frame ramp down to the ramp that is part of the barrel. With that arrangement there is no way a bullet can catch the bottom edge of the chamber while feeding.

Did Ruger do this right? If so then a different part of the chamber is being hit by the incoming round. Is the round slipping out of the extractor? The round is suppose to feed up and under the extractor during feeding. The round should be able to hold tight against the bolt face. The magazine lips have to guide the bullet into the barrel so they have to have a reasonable grip on the cartridge during feeding. So, if the extractor tension is not right (cartridge loose on the bolt face), the magazine lips are not right (don't hang onto cartridge long enough to allow the cartridge to get started feeding right) then you may get failures like you see.

All that being said, 1911's are know to have problems feeding anything but full round nose bullets (round nose FMJ bullets). Some 1911's are "ramped" to allow conical shaped bullets and even lead wad cutters but often such ramping leads to a large part of the rear of the case being left unsupported with a tendency of the fired case to blow out with hot loads.

There are specs for magazine lip spacing, extractor tension, extractor shaping on the underside to allow the cartridge rim easy access during feeding. A good 1911 gunsmith can fix the feeding problem but I'd try good round nose FMJ ammo first before paying a gunsmith to tune up the gun and magazines.

LDBennett

I'm with LD on this one. Ramp problems are the #1 cause of jams in semi-auto pistols.

garydude · 12-30-2011, 09:03 AM

Todd, your bullet profile is similar to Hornadys' XTP, and they list them at 1.230' OAL. I would definitely run them out a little longer and see if it helps.

todd51 · 12-30-2011, 10:10 AM

Thanks all for the help. I did some checking/comparing last night. LD, the frame ramp/chamber ramp relationship seems proper with the proper gap. Placing those faulty rounds in and trying to watch what happens it appears to me that they are just too short and are not getting "tilted" up properly on the frame ramp because of a combination of their short length and flat point profile. I am going to load some dummy rounds like Woolley suggested and start out long and move back to see if I can't find a working length.
The chamber on the on this barrel looks to have been "relieved" very similar to the barrel on my Gold Cup so hopefully when I get the COL problem solved it will load these flat points reliably.

I really appreciate the help.

todd51 · 12-30-2011, 06:36 PM

I loaded up seven dummy rounds today. Before that I checked max length and any thing longer than 1.210 would not head space on the the case rim. I ran them through the pistol as rapidly as I could and never a failure to feed so hopefully that will solve this little problem. Thanks to all for the help and jdon 72 you were spot on.

JLA · 12-30-2011, 08:14 PM

Id bring em out a tad Todd. Maybe to 1.230 or so. With TC (truncated cone) bullets you are bound by the magazine. too long and the noses wont fit, too wide. so seat em as long as the mag will take them and they should feed fine. This is the ONLY downfall to the TC bullet design.

I did a thread on TC bullets back when i first started casting them and if you will remember I chased the shortstops all over with the OAL and ended up back where I started. They only wanted to feed both thru the gun and out of the magazine at around 1.230"

todd51 · 12-30-2011, 09:45 PM

Thanks Josh, I had looked for that thread but couldn't find it but remembered the chase and even loading some dummy rounds and getting the bullet pushed back by the throat when too long. I thought I remember the lengths involved but never found it so I had to ask the question again. Sorry for the trouble. This Berry bullet is has a short fat nose on it, much shorter than Rainier bullets of the same style. Just want to shoot them up and not go with them any more.

JLA · 12-30-2011, 11:01 PM

I looked for it too todd. It must be buried pretty deep. Im fairly certain your problems will disappear with an OAL somewhere between 1.220 and 1.230

todd51 · 12-31-2011, 12:12 AM

Thanks Josh, I will load some more dummies tomorrow at the 1.23 length and see what happens. When I tried today any thing longer than 1.21 would stick in the barrel throat and not let the case head space on the case mouth leaving the case head sticking proud of the barrel hood. What bullet profile were you working on in that other test? I don't remember but for some reason 1.262 sticks in my mind and I don't know where it is coming from. But I remember what ever longer length was tried it just pushed the bullet back in the case thus giving the max over all length that could be used. That 1.262 may be just a figment of my imagination. Later.

JLA · 12-31-2011, 07:33 AM

Same design. Trucated cone. Mine were just cast lead and 230 gr instead of 200 gr.

1.232" is the figure youre thinkin of. its the longest i tried.

garydude · 12-31-2011, 08:53 AM

Found it. Here's the link http://thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=77538

JLA · 12-31-2011, 09:26 AM

Hey todd check post# 15 in that link gary posted above. You were right. I did test them as long as 1.260"

How far back did you dig for that one GD? I went back a ways but must have skipped over it.

todd51 · 12-31-2011, 03:33 PM

Well I have milked this for about all it is worth. The unique profile of the Berry's bullet will just not let me extend the COL beyond 1.21 or it sticks in the throat. I tried it in the Gold Cut and could get by with 1.22 before it stuck. I loaded the dummies at 1.27 and ran them through the two pistols. It pushed the bullet in the Ruger back to 1.21 and in the Gold Cup back to 1.217. I got out some Rainier TC FP 200gr and they will easily go 1.23 and feed reliably so just more evidence the profile on the squat stubby Berry's is giving me the problem. You can see the difference in profile in the photo. I will load up some and try them next range trip. If they still are stubborn I will just load them in .45 Colt and fire them off in one of the revolvers. Thanks again for putting up with me and also for all you help.

thomas44 · 12-31-2011, 07:20 PM

Call me lazy, or whatever, but I finally just went with 230 gr. hardball. After pulling a couple hundred bullets (Berry's 200 grain) I took the easier way. I was thinking I had better luck with these bullets feeding through a 1911, but in my full size XD, I'm lucky to get two rounds in a row to feed. I did try a longer overall length, but to no avail. The 230's shoot great in my XD anyway, so all is well.

JLA · 12-31-2011, 08:29 PM

Hey todd. You gonna be able to use them up?

todd51 · 12-31-2011, 08:43 PM

Yea, I suppose so I can use them. I was mistaken and had ordered only 500 not 1000 and have about 300 left. Hopefully this little change will make them usable in the 1911. If not I can shoot them out of one of the revolvers. I just won't get any more of
Berry's 200 gr. FP. I used Rainiers FP without problems but probably will just do as LD suggested and use RP for my range plinking. Thanks again for your help.

PanhandlePop · 01-03-2012, 11:33 AM

I'm not too big on plated bullets in 45, but I'll be the odd man out on your feed issue. Looking at the design of the bullet, and just to see if you could get them to work, I would try loading a few shorter; pushing the bullet back to near the start of the ogive (similar to how you would load a SWC) and reducing your load a bit to account for the increased seating depth. Load up 5-10; nothing ventured, nothing gained.

LDBennett · 01-03-2012, 02:16 PM

While I like plated bullets in general, I too have found feeding problems with them in 9mm and 45ACP. I buy the bulk Winchester or Remington RN FMJ for both those calibers and have zero problems with them.

For my home defense load I use the old Winchester Black Talon commercial 9mm ammo. I don't want any lawyer telling a jury that I hand loaded up "killer" bullets to defend my home, regardless that they might be less "killer" than commercial ammo like Black Talons.

LDBennett

todd51 · 01-03-2012, 02:36 PM

I agree with you LD. All my defense ammo is factory stuff. My reloading is for range use entirely. I think the problems with this one bullet profile are unique and I won't mess with them any more. I sent some off to Josh as he wants to play with them to see what he can come up with. Shopping for some more bullets for plinking I just ordered 2000 Zero bullets, 230gr. fmj, RN for $224.00 shipped. That is cheaper than I could get any of the plated bullets.

JLA · 01-03-2012, 09:45 PM

No kiddn Todd thats a steal for FMJ.

12-29-2011, 09:38 PM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,888	Re: C.O.L. .45acp I would recommend making some dummy rounds and increasing the COAL until you get it to feed reliably. I don't have my load records at hand, but I do know that with this same bullet, I had to lengthen it to get it to feed in my P220. __________________ . 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." .

12-29-2011, 09:58 PM	#3
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Thanks worm, that will give me something to do in between football this weekend. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

12-29-2011, 10:44 PM	#4
oldgunfan V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Contributor Posts: 137	Re: C.O.L. .45acp I hate to say it but I didn't have good luck with my berry's 200grn 45's either. I didn't have feeding problems though, I had tumbling problems out of my S&W 625jm. my C.O.L was 1.220 so Woollyworm is right (as per normal) just make them a little longer. also I tryed 4.8grns of WST and 5.6grns of W231 same C.O.L and had no feeding problems out of 2 different 1911's or a springer XDM. good luck

12-30-2011, 06:18 AM	#5
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,754	Re: C.O.L. .45acp If the feed ramp is done right (??) the top edge of the end of the frame ramp should be above the edge of the chamber ramp and it should not be possible for the nose of the bullet to catch the bottom edge of the chamber. Another way to look at it is there should be a small gap on the top of the frame between the forward end of the ramp and the rear edge of the barrel's chamber when the slide is locked back for inspection. That gap should be about 1/32 inch. The feeding round should have to jump from the frame ramp down to the ramp that is part of the barrel. With that arrangement there is no way a bullet can catch the bottom edge of the chamber while feeding. Did Ruger do this right? If so then a different part of the chamber is being hit by the incoming round. Is the round slipping out of the extractor? The round is suppose to feed up and under the extractor during feeding. The round should be able to hold tight against the bolt face. The magazine lips have to guide the bullet into the barrel so they have to have a reasonable grip on the cartridge during feeding. So, if the extractor tension is not right (cartridge loose on the bolt face), the magazine lips are not right (don't hang onto cartridge long enough to allow the cartridge to get started feeding right) then you may get failures like you see. All that being said, 1911's are know to have problems feeding anything but full round nose bullets (round nose FMJ bullets). Some 1911's are "ramped" to allow conical shaped bullets and even lead wad cutters but often such ramping leads to a large part of the rear of the case being left unsupported with a tendency of the fired case to blow out with hot loads. There are specs for magazine lip spacing, extractor tension, extractor shaping on the underside to allow the cartridge rim easy access during feeding. A good 1911 gunsmith can fix the feeding problem but I'd try good round nose FMJ ammo first before paying a gunsmith to tune up the gun and magazines. LDBennett

12-30-2011, 08:02 AM	#6
jdon72 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 340	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Increase your COL to 1.21 and work from there. That should take care of it. P-1

12-29-2011, 08:06 PM	#1
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	C.O.L. .45acp I need some help with a reload that is having failure to feed problems. The load is a Berry's 200gr. FP, 5.0gr. Bullseye, .469 crimp, and 1.18 COL. The pistol is the new Ruger 1911 but also had a similar problem with the Gold Cup with wimpy loads. Two or three rounds fail to feed out of each mag full whether using the Wilson mags or some of my junk mags. No pattern as to where the round is in the stack. The failed round seems to me to be coming in shallow and is hitting the bottom edge of the barrel. The gap between frame feed ramp and barrel ramp seems to be normal. The failure is shortening the round to 1.17 COL. I bought 1000 of these rascals a while back and would like to solve this problem so I can shoot them up. I couldn't find any published data for the Berry's bullet but Sierra has a similar one calling for 1.155 COL and Hornady also has a similar one calling for 1.20 COL. I sort of split the difference but what I am doing isn't working. I never solved the problem with the Gold Cup but was playing with different recoil springs at the time and sort of blamed the problem on that but here it is again with the Ruger. Hope you can see the indent on the nose of these two that failed to feed. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Todd __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member --> Last edited by todd51; 04-23-2013 at 08:07 PM..

12-30-2011, 09:03 AM	#8
garydude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Desert Southwest Proper Contributor Posts: 765	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Todd, your bullet profile is similar to Hornadys' XTP, and they list them at 1.230' OAL. I would definitely run them out a little longer and see if it helps.

12-30-2011, 10:10 AM	#9
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Thanks all for the help. I did some checking/comparing last night. LD, the frame ramp/chamber ramp relationship seems proper with the proper gap. Placing those faulty rounds in and trying to watch what happens it appears to me that they are just too short and are not getting "tilted" up properly on the frame ramp because of a combination of their short length and flat point profile. I am going to load some dummy rounds like Woolley suggested and start out long and move back to see if I can't find a working length. The chamber on the on this barrel looks to have been "relieved" very similar to the barrel on my Gold Cup so hopefully when I get the COL problem solved it will load these flat points reliably. I really appreciate the help. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

12-30-2011, 06:36 PM	#10
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: C.O.L. .45acp I loaded up seven dummy rounds today. Before that I checked max length and any thing longer than 1.210 would not head space on the the case rim. I ran them through the pistol as rapidly as I could and never a failure to feed so hopefully that will solve this little problem. Thanks to all for the help and jdon 72 you were spot on. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

12-30-2011, 08:14 PM	#11
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Id bring em out a tad Todd. Maybe to 1.230 or so. With TC (truncated cone) bullets you are bound by the magazine. too long and the noses wont fit, too wide. so seat em as long as the mag will take them and they should feed fine. This is the ONLY downfall to the TC bullet design. I did a thread on TC bullets back when i first started casting them and if you will remember I chased the shortstops all over with the OAL and ended up back where I started. They only wanted to feed both thru the gun and out of the magazine at around 1.230" __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF! Last edited by JLA; 12-30-2011 at 08:18 PM..

12-30-2011, 09:45 PM	#12
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Thanks Josh, I had looked for that thread but couldn't find it but remembered the chase and even loading some dummy rounds and getting the bullet pushed back by the throat when too long. I thought I remember the lengths involved but never found it so I had to ask the question again. Sorry for the trouble. This Berry bullet is has a short fat nose on it, much shorter than Rainier bullets of the same style. Just want to shoot them up and not go with them any more. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

12-30-2011, 11:01 PM	#13
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: C.O.L. .45acp I looked for it too todd. It must be buried pretty deep. Im fairly certain your problems will disappear with an OAL somewhere between 1.220 and 1.230 __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

12-31-2011, 12:12 AM	#14
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Thanks Josh, I will load some more dummies tomorrow at the 1.23 length and see what happens. When I tried today any thing longer than 1.21 would stick in the barrel throat and not let the case head space on the case mouth leaving the case head sticking proud of the barrel hood. What bullet profile were you working on in that other test? I don't remember but for some reason 1.262 sticks in my mind and I don't know where it is coming from. But I remember what ever longer length was tried it just pushed the bullet back in the case thus giving the max over all length that could be used. That 1.262 may be just a figment of my imagination. Later. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

12-31-2011, 07:33 AM	#15
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Same design. Trucated cone. Mine were just cast lead and 230 gr instead of 200 gr. 1.232" is the figure youre thinkin of. its the longest i tried. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

12-31-2011, 08:53 AM	#16
garydude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Desert Southwest Proper Contributor Posts: 765	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Found it. Here's the link http://thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=77538

12-31-2011, 09:26 AM	#17
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Hey todd check post# 15 in that link gary posted above. You were right. I did test them as long as 1.260" How far back did you dig for that one GD? I went back a ways but must have skipped over it. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

12-31-2011, 03:33 PM	#18
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Well I have milked this for about all it is worth. The unique profile of the Berry's bullet will just not let me extend the COL beyond 1.21 or it sticks in the throat. I tried it in the Gold Cut and could get by with 1.22 before it stuck. I loaded the dummies at 1.27 and ran them through the two pistols. It pushed the bullet in the Ruger back to 1.21 and in the Gold Cup back to 1.217. I got out some Rainier TC FP 200gr and they will easily go 1.23 and feed reliably so just more evidence the profile on the squat stubby Berry's is giving me the problem. You can see the difference in profile in the photo. I will load up some and try them next range trip. If they still are stubborn I will just load them in .45 Colt and fire them off in one of the revolvers. Thanks again for putting up with me and also for all you help. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member Last edited by todd51; 04-23-2013 at 08:07 PM..

12-31-2011, 07:20 PM	#19
thomas44 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 577	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Call me lazy, or whatever, but I finally just went with 230 gr. hardball. After pulling a couple hundred bullets (Berry's 200 grain) I took the easier way. I was thinking I had better luck with these bullets feeding through a 1911, but in my full size XD, I'm lucky to get two rounds in a row to feed. I did try a longer overall length, but to no avail. The 230's shoot great in my XD anyway, so all is well. __________________ Change...it's all you'll have left in your pocket by 2013.

12-31-2011, 08:29 PM	#20
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Hey todd. You gonna be able to use them up? __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

12-31-2011, 08:43 PM	#21
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: C.O.L. .45acp Yea, I suppose so I can use them. I was mistaken and had ordered only 500 not 1000 and have about 300 left. Hopefully this little change will make them usable in the 1911. If not I can shoot them out of one of the revolvers. I just won't get any more of Berry's 200 gr. FP. I used Rainiers FP without problems but probably will just do as LD suggested and use RP for my range plinking. Thanks again for your help. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

01-03-2012, 11:33 AM	#22
PanhandlePop V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 254	Re: C.O.L. .45acp I'm not too big on plated bullets in 45, but I'll be the odd man out on your feed issue. Looking at the design of the bullet, and just to see if you could get them to work, I would try loading a few shorter; pushing the bullet back to near the start of the ogive (similar to how you would load a SWC) and reducing your load a bit to account for the increased seating depth. Load up 5-10; nothing ventured, nothing gained.

01-03-2012, 02:16 PM	#23
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,754	Re: C.O.L. .45acp While I like plated bullets in general, I too have found feeding problems with them in 9mm and 45ACP. I buy the bulk Winchester or Remington RN FMJ for both those calibers and have zero problems with them. For my home defense load I use the old Winchester Black Talon commercial 9mm ammo. I don't want any lawyer telling a jury that I hand loaded up "killer" bullets to defend my home, regardless that they might be less "killer" than commercial ammo like Black Talons. LDBennett

01-03-2012, 02:36 PM	#24
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,595	Re: C.O.L. .45acp I agree with you LD. All my defense ammo is factory stuff. My reloading is for range use entirely. I think the problems with this one bullet profile are unique and I won't mess with them any more. I sent some off to Josh as he wants to play with them to see what he can come up with. Shopping for some more bullets for plinking I just ordered 2000 Zero bullets, 230gr. fmj, RN for $224.00 shipped. That is cheaper than I could get any of the plated bullets. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

01-03-2012, 09:45 PM	#25
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,412	Re: C.O.L. .45acp No kiddn Todd thats a steal for FMJ. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!