Is this true?

[dahermit]

In reference to a previous and expired thread:

Is it true that "A modern 1911 will feed properly assembled semi-wadcutters from any magazine."?

The only magazines that I have that have intermittent jams are the type on the right of the picture I posted. The others have wadcutter lips and seem to feed my RCBS 45-201-kt wadcutters just fine.

Note: I have three mags that have been identified here as being "hybrids"... I have order three replacements (with wadcutter lips) for them that should arrive by tomorrow. When they arrive I will take the three offending magazines out of use and save them for if and when I ever need them to shoot hardball. The three are the same as the magazine on the right... the other two I know have "wadcutter" feed lips.

I only shoot this type of bullet:

 

[totaldla]

Need about 1/16" shoulder exposed. Why? Because some magazines will release early causing the cartridge to bounce off the hood as it turns the corner to chamber. A little exposed lead is slippery and helps with the turn. A little extra taper crimp helps as well.

This a trick that allows the use of lswc with every mag type I've fiddled with.

 

[lee n. field]

Need about 1/16" shoulder exposed. Why? Because some magazines will release early causing the cartridge to bounce off the hood as it turns the corner to chamber. A little exposed lead is slippery and helps with the turn. A little extra taper crimp helps as well.

This a trick that allows the use of lswc with every mag type I've fiddled with.

I concur.

I ran into that problem with my handloads, and, working through it, concluded the same. .45 ACP is, in one sense, easy to handload. The case is a big wide cup for powder. But, there are subtleties.

 

[dahermit]

This a trick that allows the use of lswc with every mag type I've fiddled with.

Even wadcutters (as above), with G.I. hardball feed lips?

Then you are saying that there is not need for wadcutter feed lips on 1911 magazines?

 

[totaldla]

Even wadcutters (as above), with G.I. hardball feed lips?

Then you are saying that there is not need for wadcutter feed lips on 1911 magazines?

It hard to buy a magazine that doesn't use wadcutter feed lips - the Wilsons, MCCORMICK, Mecgar that I have lying around use wadcutter feedlips. But they don't use the wadcutter follower. Strangely, I have two Mecgar 10rounders that use the GI hardball lips and follower.

I'm no expert on magazines but I have been happily shooting lswc out of my 1911s for the last 25years.. Maybe one of the forum experts will add to this thread.

 

[dahermit]

Need about 1/16" shoulder exposed. Why? Because some magazines will release early causing the cartridge to bounce off the hood as it turns the corner to chamber. A little exposed lead is slippery and helps with the turn. A little extra taper crimp helps as well.

This a trick that allows the use of lswc with every mag type I've fiddled with.

My cartridges pass the plunk test... they are very close to being flush (visually, but a dial caliper indicates they are flush (.000)) with the hood that seating the bullets any further out (1/16") will make them proud of the barrel hood. The photo of my rounds may be misleading... the bullet shoulder is about 1/32 above the case mouth, where as the photo looks like they are flush.

 

[FITASC]

Need about 1/16" shoulder exposed. Why? Because some magazines will release early causing the cartridge to bounce off the hood as it turns the corner to chamber. A little exposed lead is slippery and helps with the turn. A little extra taper crimp helps as well.

I took that advice and had nothing BUT failure to go into battery without a major push from me or I had to pull the slide back to clear. When seated flush like the OP's, they ran just fine

 

[gwpercle]

On you pictured handload if you seat the bullet out just a little farther , get about 1/16" or 1/32" of the shoulder showing ... it might help feeding in that balky magazine .
My wadcutter magazines are all like the one on the far right ...but ... I load my bullets out to where a " thumbnail thickness" of shoulder is exposed ( instuctions I was given in 1967) .
There is something to having a small amount of shoulder exposed ... they feed much better and balky magazines sometimes ( sometimes !) start feeding correctly .

One thing you can say about magazines ... they are like a box of chocolates ...you don't know what your gonna get . By and Large MecGar Magazines can usually be counted on to work ... and if they don't ...return it .
Avoid cheapo cheapo no name magazines ( like the ones sold by Sarco ) like the covid , usually waste of money and if they work at first ...they never last .
Spend money on MecGar mags.
Gary

 

[Jim Watson]

This may be the first time I have seen 1/16" of SWC shoulder recommended.
Usually .020", .030", "a thumbnail". Some seating recommendations on the head-to-shoulder measurement, 0.936" being on the long side.

But the chamber governs, if it doesn't plunk, if the rim is out past the hood with the round headspace on the shoulder, you are loaded too long.

If the gun and bullet require wadcutter lip magazines, GET wadcutter lips, don't try to force it to go by some internet pronouncement "Any gun..."

Oh, yeah, bullet. The usual commercial .45 semiwadcutter is a copy of the Hensley and Gibbs No. 68, designed by a Mr Crawford.
The OP is not loading that bullet, his RCBS mold is somewhat different, with a thicker nose and broader meplat. That affects feeding.

 

[JustJake]

A good test to see if a 1911 mag is a "true feeder" is to load it up with the old H&G 230gn ball-type bullet - FMJ or hardcast. If it feeds that one consistently, the mag is GTG.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Need about 1/16" shoulder exposed. Why? Because some magazines will release early causing the cartridge to bounce off the hood as it turns the corner to chamber. A little exposed lead is slippery and helps with the turn. A little extra taper crimp helps as well.

I took that advice and had nothing BUT failure to go into battery without a major push from me or I had to pull the slide back to clear. When seated flush like the OP's, they ran just fine

Your barrel has a short chamber.

I once tested a new pistol like that. It absolutely refused to go into battery with factory semi-wadcutters. I returned the gun to the manufacturer, they replaced the barrel, and after that it ran like a top.

Semi-wadcutters should have just about a thumbnail's thickness of shoulder exposed above the mouth of the case.

 

[Jim Watson]

I had one like that. It was brilliantly accurate but a poor feeder.
FLG ran in a sharp reamer to increase radial clearance, headspace, and throat.
Got out an amazing amount of metal and it became functionally reliable. Best accuracy with a different load, though.

 

[HiBC]

The problem COULD be the thickness of the powder coat.

What is the front band diameter over the paint?

 

[gwpercle]

Your barrel has a short chamber.

I once tested a new pistol like that. It absolutely refused to go into battery with factory semi-wadcutters. I returned the gun to the manufacturer, they replaced the barrel, and after that it ran like a top.

Semi-wadcutters should have just about a thumbnail's thickness of shoulder exposed above the mouth of the case.

About a brazillion years ago I was told " about a Thumbnail's Thickness" of shoulder should be exposed ... we only had rulers, yardsticks , zig-zag carpenters measure and a 20'- 50' steel tape measures to measure stuff with . No one owned calipers ... so , just out of curosity ... how thick ...in inches would that be ... I honestly don't have long enough thumbnails to measure ... I do have a dial caliper now ...just no nails ...
I have worked my whole life in house construction and every dimension is feet and inches with a few 1/2 inch . 1/4 inch , 1/8 inch , 1/16 and 1/32 inch dimensions thrown in for the fine work ... but this ain't measuring lumber and building houses .
So how thick is a thumbnail on the dial caliper ?
Gary

 

[jetinteriorguy]

About a brazillion years ago I was told " about a Thumbnail's Thickness" of shoulder should be exposed ... we only had rulers, yardsticks , zig-zag carpenters measure and a 20'- 50' steel tape measures to measure stuff with . No one owned calipers ... so , just out of curosity ... how thick ...in inches would that be ... I honestly don't have long enough thumbnails to measure ... I do have a dial caliper now ...just no nails ...
I have worked my whole life in house construction and every dimension is feet and inches with a few 1/2 inch . 1/4 inch , 1/8 inch , 1/16 and 1/32 inch dimensions thrown in for the fine work ... but this ain't measuring lumber and building houses .
So how thick is a thumbnail on the dial caliper ?
Gary

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