My 1911 goes Kaboom

[I_Like_Pie]

I think we can establish this was caused by reloads and reloads are not to be used in the taurus pt 1911 or really for any model.

I think that this is hokey and utterly ridiculous advice in that a reloaded cartridge is exactly the same as any other cartridge that comes straight from any factory in the world.

The problem is that people can not differentiate from the above statement and the real problem....which is a misloaded cartridge. Sorry if I am being a bit flippant, but statements like this are flat out wrong...

Repeat after me folks ---> reload <> misloaded cartridge

[edit]After reading the quoted statement...not sure if I just got trolled. If so I took it hook line and sinker - Kudos[/edit]

Edited January 12, 2010 by I_Like_Pie
Questioning validity of said statement

[Mark@Sea]

I've shot literally tens of thousands of reloads through a 1911. I'm fond of a hard crimp, and plated or jacketed bullets (cause cleaning is so much less of a pain than with lead).

Nothing else to contribute to this, as most everybody has mentioned setback as either a primary cause or contributing factor.

[Mike.357]

the Lee Loader specifically mentions that there is no crimp on rounds made using that loader.

I never had any setback trouble, guess I was just lucky???

I loaded 1000 rounds using LSWC bullets and never had any trouble from them. Dunno.

Sounds like a double charge to me.

[Curiousgb]

I think that this is hokey and utterly ridiculous advice in that a reloaded cartridge is exactly the same as any other cartridge that comes straight from any factory in the world.

The problem is that people can not differentiate from the above statement and the real problem....which is a misloaded cartridge. Sorry if I am being a bit flippant, but statements like this are flat out wrong...

Repeat after me folks ---> reload <> misloaded cartridge

[edit]After reading the quoted statement...not sure if I just got trolled. If so I took it hook line and sinker - Kudos[/edit]

Hard not to take the bait sometimes.

[et45]

Glad you are okay.A good firm crimp (Lee Factory Crimp Die) after you load the rd is always a good idea.I have loaded 10's of thousands of .45 ACP lswc bullets with nary a problem.Statements above posters have made about lead bullets in an autoloader or reloads in general are false.

[timcalhoun]

I think we can establish this was caused by reloads and reloads are not to be used in the taurus pt 1911 or really for any model.

Well, if you can't handle a gun blowing up in your hand every now and again you need to toughen up. The cost savings when you reload far out way the occasional gun detonation. Plus if you take a home medic course you can stitch yourself up in no time and save the doctor bill. Bunch of wimps.

I imagine every gun manuel will have something like "use only quality factory ammo" or "use of reloaded ammo will void your warranty". It is only there for liability issues. Or maybe some gun makers have stock in ammo companies.

[USMCJG]

the Lee Loader specifically mentions that there is no crimp on rounds made using that loader.

I never had any setback trouble, guess I was just lucky???

I loaded 1000 rounds using LSWC bullets and never had any trouble from them. Dunno.

Sounds like a double charge to me.

A very heavy crimp is not necessary, and is actually unwanted, on cartridges that index on the case mouth. When I'm loading jacketed bullets for .45 Auto, I bell the case mouth just enough to seat the bullet and I only use just enough crimp to remove the belling. I use just a little more crimp with lead bullets. Testing has shown that too much crimp, particularly on hard jacketed bullets, can actually reduce neck tension and increase the likelihood of setback. As long as the expander in your die isn't too large, you should be fine with minimal crimp. A heavy crimp is a poor replacement for proper case neck tension. You should always load a dummy round and cycle it through your firearm several times measuring for setback when setting up a die.

[dunndw]

I'm glad you're OK. There was nothing done to that gun while it was in my loving care and I picked it up @ G&L brand new.

[SkunkSlayer]

Wow, I'm shooting reloads in my pt1911 I ran an got a magnifying glass and just checked my pistol, it's ok. I'm loading Win 231 @ 5.2 gr. 230gr. rn, on dillon 650.

Will keep a closer eye when loading. S.S.

[Guest pig832]

Glad everything came out ok, I too use reloads in my Taurus pt1911, I load 4.5 grains of bullseye over a 185 grain bullet without a problem. I did have a squib once, so I invested in a powder check, no problems since. I would still run the situation by Taurus, and see what they say. A lot of manufacturers put the reloads not recommended line in the owners manual, but still may back the warranty.

[wjh2657]

From many, many posts by the 1911 crowd on this forum I was lead to believe that the Kaboom was caused solely by the faulty design of the Glock barrel and chamber assembly. I was also given the impression that the 1911 was completely incapapable of a kaboom because of it's design. Only Glocks go Kaboom. I know this because it has been iterated so many times on the forums by so many experts. So is this post for real or just a misunderstanding of the circumstances? Is it really possible that a 1911 can go kaboom?

[Guest DaG]

Based on the last round's bullet setback, the round that KB'd may have had the same type of setback from a loose crimp.

That exactly what I was thinking.

DaG