Still Chuggin' Along

[schmeky]

I noticed the 97 thread has kinda died down lately.  Just wanted other 97 owners to know my particular 97 is close to 5,500 rounds and it's running like a freight train.  I estimate by the end of 2009, I'll have over 7,000 rounds through mine.

I plan on running this thing until something breaks or wears out.  I did a full disassembly last weekend (after going about 600 rounds w/o a cleaning) and inspected everything; nothing out of the ordinary.  Even the plastic recoil spring guide rod looks very good.

When the Sig-o-philes, Glock'ers, and others are crowing about their guns, we can throw my 97 at them.  It's been run hard and hung up wet.  Incidentally, I haven't officially counted, but I know I have not had a single malfunction of ANY KIND in roughly 3-4,000 rounds.  Nothing.  The only problems I've ever had were from rounds loaded to light for plinking, which is self-inflicted, and few wide cavity hollow-points I no longer use.

I'll pop in occassionally to provide an update and especially when this thing finally breaks something.  Oh yea, the accuracy is still just phenomenal.  Put 5 shots in 3/4" last weekend from 25 yards using a sandbag rest.

[bang bang]

congrats on your freight train.

im curious as to what type of ammo you are using?  HPs/FMJs/mix handloads or?

this is jmo, but having a "pefect" or even near perfect semi auto i think doent do us any good since we will expect it from one if not all of them as i see on some other boards.  also in the long run, people will forget or not train on how to clear malfunctions.  dont forget the ammo could also cause a malfuction too. 

[schmeky]

bangbang,

My standard load for all my .45's (CZ, 1911's, Sig, Witness) is a #68 H&G, 185 or 200 grain LSWC, 12 Brinell hardness, 4.6 grains of WW231, 1.240" OAL, Wolf LPP.  I use a factory Crimp Die as a final quality control device on my Dillon 550's 4th stage. 

My other loads are identical to the above, the only difference being powder charge.  I have to say that since I added the Factory Crimp Die, I have not had my malfunctions in any of my .45's. 

[phrozenlikwid]

Glad to hear Schmeky.  That was a cool project, and it seems like it turned out nice. 

Any updates on the '75B stuff?

[schmeky]

My first attempt at a SS match bushing for a CZ-75/.40 did not work for a variety of reasons.  I contacted EGW and they have a "raw" bushing rough finished with a .500" I.D.  I may order a couple of these this week and start experimenting.  

[Jack Straw]

schmeky,

I noticed you're using a factory crimp die.   Is it the Lee item?   

I've been using a Lee FCD on my .40 and 9mm 550 tool heads and find they really make the press run rough.  It seems every third or fourth round is really "worked" in the die.   Now that may mean the die is doing it's job but it's really noticeable and just feels wrong.   Do you think it's an adjustment problem?  Have you noticed any similar symptoms?

My .45ACP tool head just uses a standard taper crimp die and the difference in smoothness is amazing. 

[schmeky]

Bill,

I had to abandon the Lee FCD die when loading the .40.  I to encountered the "rough" final sizing from time to time.  The main reason I use the FCD for my .45's is because I use range brass I pick up.  I have found one brand in particular, "A-Merc", is problematic and even with careful reloading practices, will not reliably feed in any of my .45's.  The FCD detects these rounds during the loading process and I discard them.

I load very little 9mm, but use the FCD when I do.  Using the FCD with the .40 caused me the most grief.  I can't tell the FCD is there for .45 except as mentioned.

[Jack Straw]

Thanks for the info.

Speaking of problematic brass for the .45ACP I've found that anything headstamped "TZZ" seems to have slightly undersized primer pockets and is a real pain.  This stuff has been torturing me for years.  I recently went through my main stash of 1000 rounds of empties and tossed out about 125 of the darned things.

I wonder what's up with the .40 FCD?

[bang bang]

bangbang,

My standard load for all my .45's (CZ, 1911's, Sig, Witness) is a #68 H&G, 185 or 200 grain LSWC, 12 Brinell hardness, 4.6 grains of WW231, 1.240" OAL, Wolf LPP.  I use a factory Crimp Die as a final quality control device on my Dillon 550's 4th stage. 

My other loads are identical to the above, the only difference being powder charge.  I have to say that since I added the Factory Crimp Die, I have not had my malfunctions in any of my .45's. 

thank you for the info. i was curious as to what type of ammo you were having such good luck with.  iac,  im really surprised you found a load(s) to work on your various platforms too.

the next time im at the reloading bench, i will have to brew some up and see how the work on my various 45s.

[thumper]

I load very little 9mm, but use the FCD when I do.  Using the FCD with the .40 caused me the most grief.  I can't tell the FCD is there for .45 except as mentioned.

Hi Schmecky,

Care to elaborate on what problems you had with the Lee FCD and the 40 S&W specifically?  I  just ordered the Lee Deluxe 4 set die (with FCD) in 40 S&W because I was impressed of how it improved the consistency  of my range brass .45 ACP's (as in how easily they fell into the case gauge after using it on them). 

[schmeky]

im really surprised you found a load(s) to work on your various platforms too.

Your being surprised is a surprise to me.  I have been reloading and shooting for 30 years.  The H&G #68 approximates the 230 RNL bullet, the most reliable bullet type for the 45 ACP.  A pistol is a mechanical device with fixed dimensions, therefore if you keep it reasonably clean, feed it premium, consistently dimensioned ammo, it will run reliably, for tens of thousands of rounds. these are my most reliable regular shooters:

Les Baer .45 - never a malfunction
CZ-40B - never a malfunction
Sig P-220 - never a malfunction
CZ-97 - no malfunctions for the past 3-4,000 rounds and counting

Look up the initial testing of the 1911 nearly 100 years ago.  The reliability was stunning.

[schmeky]

thumper,

Not sure precisely why the FCD is more diffucult to use with the .40.  I am guessing a lot of range brass that goes through a Glock with less case head support than some other autos, combined with a "looser" chamber than some, fire forms the brass making it more difficult to properly return to it's original dimension.

There is a die called the "U" die that is .001" undersized (hence the name "U" die) that is popular with many shooters.  This die is supposed to prevent problems with the FCD.  You push a case all the way through a U die; case goes in the bottom and comes out of the top, resizing 100% of the case back to factory specs.

I don't have one, and I'm just guessing here, but I do know the basics principles of the U die.  Maybe some reloaders more savy than me can chime in.

[Jack Straw]

schmeky,

That's an interesting point you bring up about the "U" die.   My bullet caster, who also runs a busy custom loading business told me he offers a service that perfectly resizes .40 brass.  He offers pre sized brass and will size customers brass as well.   I'm going to take my stash to him and see how it works.

I've been told that .40 range brass can be problematic and it's true that standard reloading dies cannot truly size the entire length including the head.

I'd like to use the FCD if the press will run smoothly.  Currently the thing is more like a darned rock crusher.

[bang bang]

thumper,

Not sure precisely why the FCD is more diffucult to use with the .40.  I am guessing a lot of range brass that goes through a Glock with less case head support than some other autos, combined with a "looser" chamber than some, fire forms the brass making it more difficult to properly return to it's original dimension.

There is a die called the "U" die that is .001" undersized (hence the name "U" die) that is popular with many shooters.  This die is supposed to prevent problems with the FCD.  You push a case all the way through a U die; case goes in the bottom and comes out of the top, resizing 100% of the case back to factory specs.

I don't have one, and I'm just guessing here, but I do know the basics principles of the U die.  Maybe some reloaders more savy than me can chime in.

from what i understand about this die, is that its suppose to "resize" the whole length of the case since most dies only do a partial resize.  This is, again from what i understand, due to the Glock chambers in 40 S&W.  If you look at fired brass from OEM 40 S&W Glocks, you will see a bulge near the base of the brass.  most if not all dies will not resize this bulge at the base and as such some reloaders have issues with chambering their reloads using brass fired from GLocks.. 

imo, i think its a unique solution.  i dont know if it works, but i dont see why not.

[schmeky]

bangbang,

Thanks for the info.  I have been told brass from some Glocks is called "Guppie" brasss, due to a bulge that can occur at the rear of the case.  I agree with you, a standard die is only a partial resize, the rear of the case is not fully sized.  This may be the reason for the difficulty in using a .40 FCD, but I'm not certain.

Maybe our savy pistolero, Mr. Straw, can ask his guy that does custom loading about this.  I'd like to know more.