!Update! - Xmetal .40 200 grain FTF

nsgallup

nsgallup

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Edit 07/09/2019

To follow up..

I had some time to trouble shoot my issue today and after playing around with the crimp and trying some other bullet types I was able to get the xmetal projectiles to work with a deeper positioning of the crimp die. This worked out well for me as I could easily recrimp the 80 or so cartridges I still had loaded at the previous setting.

It works!
20190907-224641.jpg


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Original post:

I loaded some 200gr xmetal rounds for my 10mm 1911 over 7.3 grains of longshot just under max oal (oal from lyman 50th diagram). When firing i get many failures to feed with the cartridge only partially chambering at an angle. This 1911 has not malfunctioned with 3 brands of factory ammo including a lead bullet type so I feel safe ruling out the gun.

I am new to reloading and looking for any thoughts as to what the problem is and how to fix it. I can manually chamber a round but I do notice it is a tighter fit then factory rounds.

I thought about reducing COAL as a troubleshooting method, or lowering the crimp die. Other thing I might try is a second resize, this is one fired brass so maybe it isn't resizing near the head quite enough.
 
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Plunk test your barrel, that's the OAL you should have used. Also, there should be very little crimp, basically just debell the case mouth.

[youtube]AyS9U90IcUc[/youtube]
 
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I was using a dillon headspace gauge since I did not have my firearms with me at the time, but I am moving back to where I have my reloading bench soon so that will make it easier.

Sounds good on the crimp. When I do the plunk test with my reloads they will go all the way in but it is snug for that last little bit. (Snug enough that the round will not fall out on its own once pushed into the chamber) Could this still be a headspace issue or is it sizing related?

I will try it again when I get off shift and see about posting a picture to compare with the diagram in that video.
 
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It could be that the OAL is too long or the brass isn't sized far enough down the case. What dies are you using? When setting up the sizing die you should raise the ram, lower the die until it touches the shell plate and tighten it down. Don't back off the die, especially if you're using Dillon dies. Also, you can sharpie the case so it will show you where the case is getting hung up.
 
Over the past couple of years I have seen far too many competitors have feeding issue with X-Metal in 9, 40 and 45 and eventually switch back to something else. The one I am most familiar with seemed to believe after a lot of attempts to correct that it mainly resulted from the bullets being oversized.
 
4n2t0 said:
It could be that the OAL is too long or the brass isn't sized far enough down the case. What dies are you using? When setting up the sizing die you should raise the ram, lower the die until it touches the shell plate and tighten it down. Don't back off the die, especially if you're using Dillon dies. Also, you can sharpie the case so it will show you where the case is getting hung up.
Click to expand...

Dillon dies, set up exactly following the included instruction manual (same as you say). Might try the sharpie trick.
 
Chilidip said:
Over the past couple of years I have seen far too many competitors have feeding issue with X-Metal in 9, 40 and 45 and eventually switch back to something else. The one I am most familiar with seemed to believe after a lot of attempts to correct that it mainly resulted from the bullets being oversized.
Click to expand...

I am really hoping the bullet is not the issue, not many other options for a lead 200gr .40 bullet
 
I tried the x metal Bullets once that had the red coating on them. I found them to be almost as smokey as black powder and refuse to use them. If you are using lead, you have to have more taper (a bit, don't go crazy)crimp than with jacketed Bullets, or the soft lead Bullets will push back into the case when getting stripped out of the magazine. You could see if drg makes 40 cal Bullets. They are my go to when running lead in my 45's for cowboy. Try and re size a loaded round and see how it feeds.
 
One other thing I have done using dillon 650. I don't like the dillon bulge on th loaded cases when using lead. I set up a spare tool head with the sizing die and an expander die from my original rcbs set. The expander die I set up so the expander will enter the case and just begin to flare the case mouth. I run all my cases through with that set up, and then a second time with the other tool head to finish them. I feel the powder funnel diameter on the dillon is just a bit small for lead. It's an extra step, but I run thousands of rounds of lead for cowboy and no issues.
 
Crimp on a straight case doesn't prevent setback, that Dillon bulge (sizing) you don't like does.

OP: Rarely is it a bullet problem. I've used Xmetal in 9mm & .38 without any issues whatsoever. Proper setup is key. Start by making a dummy round with a much shorter OAL to see if the round will plunk, spin and drop out freely. Next, see if it's a sizing issue (sharpie the case). Lastly, maybe the gun doesn't like the bullets profile but USUALLY toying with the setup will get it to work. Remember, south of the boarder many competitors are loading coated lead successfully.
 
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To follow up..

I had some time to trouble shoot my issue today and after playing around with the crimp and trying some other bullet types I was able to get the xmetal projectiles to work with a deeper positioning of the crimp die. This worked out well for me as I could easily recrimp the 80 or so cartridges I still had loaded at the previous setting.

It works!
20190907-224641.jpg
 
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