Vexing problem with 45ACP.

[Questor]

I got a new Kart barrel for my 1911 and there is a problem after shooting about 50 light target loads:  The chamber gets fouled with soot or lube and the gun will not go into battery. If I clean the chamber with solvent and a bronze brush, all of my cartridges drop into the chamber properly if I test them by chambering the cartridges in the barrel separate from the gun.

When I shoot another 50 rounds, the problem occurs again.  

I am using what would be considered standard methods: mixed brass, case vibrator with corn cob media, 200 grain commercially cast SWC, 5.1 grains Win 231, WLP primer.  

This problem has not occurred before using the same load. It only occurs with this barrel.

Do you have any ideas or similar experiences?

[jhalcott]

It is probably a "tight"chamber and maybe the lubrisizer needs adjusting.
Factory chambers are reamed to take almost any make of the ammo you will find.Custom chambers are cut to a more exacting tolerance.Wipe some of the lube off the bullets before you load them into the clip and see if this helps.  jh

[Mikey]

Mornin' Questor:  I agree with jhalcott about the tight chamber on a custom barrel - they often gum up a lot more quickly than 'normal' barrels.

I would also look at your fired brass - if you are seeing a 'half-moon' shaped soot mark on your brass, your 'light load' may be too light and you are getting powder fouling.

Have you fired any factory ball through your new barrel or any hotter loads that may burn the powder more completely???  I would hate to think that your chamber is so tight that you can't go more than 50 rounds of anything without fouling to the point of jamming.  

I would try some hotter factory loads first, or some hotter reloads.  Also, please make certain the brass is free of grease or sizing lube so as to eliminate this possible source/cause of the problem.

If it continues, I would e-mail Kart for their recommendations and/or return it for repair or replacement.  They might want to polish the chamber a bit more.

Hope this helps.   Mikey.