Desert Eagle .50AE Having Trouble Cycling Reloads

I pushed them in an extra 0.01". Just a tad basically.

I have around 150-200 rnds loaded. I'll take apart a few, re-charge them, and see if that fixes thing. It's not a big rush for me. I got lots of other reloading to do, and don't need to get to the range for another few weeks.

FYI, i'm not crimping these bullets. These are berry's plated bullets for the DE. They don't have a cannelure.

And of course, thanks for all the replies and help. It's really appreciated.
 
Re-did the plunk test. Definitely a failure. I'm finding that my cases, after they have a bullet seated on them do not drop into chamber. It almost feels like the the end of the case at the bullet, has a bulge in it that stops the case from reaching the bottom of the chamber. I tried measuring the diameter at the top and bottom of the case, and I measure 0.531" top, and 0.537" just above the bottom groove. I tried seating a bullet deeper, CAOL 1.541" vs 1.580" in the spear manual and it still didn't pass the plunk test.

I also checked the diameter of some of my bullets. They were all very close to 0.50".

Still looking forward to trying a higher powder charge.
 
Big bore dinosaur said:
Your issue sounds like your crimp die isnt set. The plunk test is checks the " seat" into the chamber with properly head space.
Whick is based of the front rim of your 50ae. To much crimp and , round seats into the chamber to far,= light primer strikes and inconstant pressures .
Not enough crimp. Your rim hangs up on the chamber walls. Not seating into battery
Taper crimp dies are perfect.
they provide the front lip you need for rimless pistol cartridges. While tapering the ouside edge to head space off the chamber , and feed reliably
Click to expand...
And BAMMM! There it is.

I adjusted the crimp, and seated a round with a CAOL at 1.58" and plunk test passed. So that's my issue. I'm going to re-test it at the range before I disassemble any assembled rounds. However, next reload batch will have a higher powder charge.

I'll keep you boys posted. Ty again.
 
Plunk test is not so much about c.o.a.l. more about your crimp.
I load my bullets in 2 stages .
Seat to lenght. Then
Back out the seating pin. And turn the die down and crimp.
A good crimp for semiautomatic rimless cartridge , still has enough edge to catch your thumb nail. Remember
Your still head spacing off the front of the rim. Dont crimp it off, and taper the outside edge .
Love my lee crimp die gunnie
 
Last edited:
Gobc said:
Did the plunk test. I found it to be inconclusive. I kind of felt that the bullet might have been touching the rifling. I ending up seating them bullet a few 0.01" farther.

Ordered a RCBS 50cal bullet puller. I plan on pulling the ammo and checking the powder loads.

I use H110, any opinions on this powder? Spear manual says max load is 34.5 gr. I'm going to load to like 34.3gr.
Click to expand...
I'm using H110 in a 44mag and am just loading at the min stated charge without issues and I also swapped all the springs. If it works at 34.3 try working your way down to the min and see if there's a point where the slide starts to stick again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom