Author Topic: Finicky barrel in 45ACP (Read 315 times)

Questor · « **on:** September 23, 2005, 06:13:19 AM »

I got a Kart barrel for my 1911 target pistol and it's very finicky about the kind of brass I can use. I have found that Remington brass reliably fits the chamber. Federal, Winchester, and PMC are typically to large in diameter near the base of the case.

John R. · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2005, 06:35:18 AM »

Target bbl chambers are typically very tight. It may need to be polished slightly. It should chamber any quality brass.

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2005, 08:29:48 AM »

This chamber would have to be "polished" to increase its diameter by about two thousandths before it will fit just any brass. It's just slightly larger than the minimum dimension for the cartidge at the case head. Federal and Winchester brass are closer to the maximum dimension. Starline and Remington are about the minumum (so I get a good fit). S&B is in between. I have various cases with "match" or "national match (NM)" stamps and these all fit the chamber well.

The reason for my inquiry into brands and dimensions is that I was getting poor reliability using mixed brass. In my case, that means mostly PMC. After sorting ammo by brand I found the above pattern, which I tought other 45ACP geeks would be interested to learn.

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2005, 11:06:22 AM »

Size does matter! I started using Remington brass exclusively and have not had a single malfunction since. Evidently it's manufactured to a smaller size. My R-P brass varies in age and number of reloads, and I also have a batch of new brass to use. It all works great.

I think Starline is similarly smaller. Can anyone confirm that?

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2005, 09:27:41 PM »

Either take the barrel to a quality gunsmith and have it opened up or send it back to the place you got it from and have them do it. Don't put up with that kind of schlock workmanship.

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2005, 03:14:15 AM »

In this case, I don't mind. It's strictly a target gun and versatility doesn't matter at all. If it were for any other purpose, I'd send it back (again). I put up with the same thing in target .22's where only certain brands of ammo will work reliably in a gun.

I sent it back once and they ran a few hundred rounds through it and had no failures. However, the test was done with jacketed bullets and factory ammo. This is not what a typical bullseye shooter uses. We typically use cast bullets and always use reloads.