Reloading 45acp for a 1911

I havent loaded any 45 acp without it, and I've experienced no FTF's with any of my reloads. It is necessary to straighten the case walls after the flare, and it has a carbide ring to smooth out any bulges.
 
bgcameron said:
I havent loaded any 45 acp without it, and I've experienced no FTF's with any of my reloads. It is necessary to straighten the case walls after the flare, and it has a carbide ring to smooth out any bulges.
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Ditto on my end...its 1 more pull on my turret press and i already have the die so ive been doing it from day 1 and no FTE, FTF nothing...works great in my norc 1911
 
I have loaded several thousand 45 acp with my dillon and no factory crimp....I have notice that the more I reload a case the worse the bulge and FTF is more frequent as well...

Going to order a factory crimp die to see if this resolves the issue...
 
Rcbs dies incorporate a taper crimp die in the seating die of all their autoloader die sets. Once it is set no seperate taper crimp die is needed (this comes straight from the people at rcbs)
 
I don't use a FCD. I load 45 with Hornady die set. But I did separate seat and crimp, one die for each - use the seat/crimp die to only seat, added a crimp die. Easier to setup, gives better control for the crimp, especially useful for lead bullets.

ETA - I use a Dillon case gauge to check every round, any tight are for target practice only, all the good for matches
 
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the fcd is really there to accomodate those that have REVOLVERS where you're fitting brass into a number of different chambers , each being SLIGHTLY different- ie you don't need it on an automatic; there's only one chamber - i can't remember how many THOUSANDS of 45 i've sent downrange without it- and i've been reloading since 1970- my first handgun was a 1911, and i still use a couple, both in 45- lee dies also have a taper crimp built in, and that's all you need- but if it makes you FEEL better or your gun is finicky, then by all means get one; however, with the 1911 the use of the fcd in the reloading process unnessary
 
t-star said:
the fcd is really there to accomodate those that have REVOLVERS where you're fitting brass into a number of different chambers , each being SLIGHTLY different- ie you don't need it on an automatic; there's only one chamber - i can't remember how many THOUSANDS of 45 i've sent downrange without it- and i've been reloading since 1970- my first handgun was a 1911, and i still use a couple, both in 45- lee dies also have a taper crimp built in, and that's all you need- but if it makes you FEEL better or your gun is finicky, then by all means get one; however, with the 1911 the use of the fcd in the reloading process unnessary
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I believe you are right, and would long argue that the details you've stated are accurate....

At my last match i had so many ftf's I felt embarrassed....when I looked at my rounds they all had a bit of a bulge, I borrowed ammo from another shooter and had no problems, he lent me a lee FCD and I ran about 1000 rounds through it those rounds have fired with no issues...

Hocus pocus ? Maybe...voodoo ? Perhaps...

I'm not the best shooter at the match so I need all the mojo I can get...lee FCD and a rabbit skull might just get the mojo hummin !:)
 
I wouldn't consider the sizer ring in the Factory Crimp a must, but separating the seating and crimping operations is nice.
 
I use the FCD and have very few problems with FTFs & FTEs. If you always use the same gun, reload only brass manufactured in the same batch and with the exact same bullets all the time the FCD might not really make much of a difference as there would be dimensional consistency from round to round (just like with factory ammo).

However, at one time or another most of use use a mix of brass (different brands or the same brand from different manufacturing batches), a variety of guns and different bullet designs. When all of these factors are combined they result in loaded rounds that have a fair bit of variation in dimensional consistency. Because the FCD sizes the outside diameter of the loaded round much of this dimensional inconsistency is eliminated, resulting in more consistent feeding and extraction.

In addition, the Lee FCD can be combined with the Lee Bulge Buster (http://www.westernshooter.com/2010/06/lee-bulge-buster.html) which sizes the entire case length on straight walled cases (notably 40 S&W and 45 ACP). I have used the Bulge Buster and it is quite surprising how much variation there is in the outside dimensions of fired cases. Some (thicker walled ones, I suspect) run through the bulge buster with minimal resistance indicating very little case distortion has occurred from firing. Others require substantial pressure to force them through the die, indicating that the cases have gone through considerable expansion.

The key to making accurate ammunition is consistency. The more consistent the powder weight, primer 'hotness', case and bullet dimensions are, the more consistent the ammo and thus the accuracy will be.

If you're just plinking it's probably not a big deal but if you're serious match shooting, especially at longer distances (say up to 50 yards) it will make a difference.
 
t-star said:
the fcd is really there to accomodate those that have REVOLVERS where you're fitting brass into a number of different chambers , each being SLIGHTLY different- ie you don't need it on an automatic; there's only one chamber - i can't remember how many THOUSANDS of 45 i've sent downrange without it- and i've been reloading since 1970- my first handgun was a 1911, and i still use a couple, both in 45- lee dies also have a taper crimp built in, and that's all you need- but if it makes you FEEL better or your gun is finicky, then by all means get one; however, with the 1911 the use of the fcd in the reloading process unnessary
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I would disagree. Years ago had some 9mm commercial reloads that were on the large size and one gun with a chamber on the tight side. Almost wouldn't chamber.

Ran all the loaded rounds through the FCD, and solved the problem. From that moment on, I was sold on it. Now I use it for all calibers.

Where it makes the biggest difference is if you use range pickup brass, especially if has been fired through a gun with an unsupported chamber (Glock). The FCD does a great job of making sure every cartridge will chamber.

However the 45 acp is a low pressure cartridge so it doesn't have the same bulge problems as higher pressure cartridges. So it is probably the one cartridge where the FCD makes the least difference.
 
Newbie reloader: I have the lee three die set. My reloads seem to work just fine in my series 80 colt and HK 45.

My buddies reloads wouldn't even chamber in my Colt. I have no idea what was happening there.
 
evolture said:
Newbie reloader: I have the lee three die set. My reloads seem to work just fine in my series 80 colt and HK 45.

My buddies reloads wouldn't even chamber in my Colt. I have no idea what was happening there.
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different chamber- each is unique= that's why it's so critcal in a revolver
 
AlbertaGunslinger said:
Hi there
I am just in the stage of getting 45ACP dies and I am wondering, for use in a 1911, is a factory crimp die all that advantageous or necessary? I will be using Lee dies if that matters.

Thanks
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The Lee FCD for pistol cartridges provides a solution to a non-existant problem. Use a regular taper crimp to remove the belling on your case mouth and you will good to go.

Take Care

Bob
 
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