FTE with SWC any ideas why???

[Boricua]

I started out with 4.0 gr. of Clays and got several FTE. It seems that the slide did not go back far enough to eject them, the case just rode back foward and jambed there. So I tries 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4. The 4.3 worked without a hitch but I am not really sure why the cases are not being ejected. Do you guys have any ideas? The pistol feeds SWC just as well as the RN which is good news for IDPA but bad if it's not going to eject consistently.

[JohnC]

I'm guessing a combination of too light a load for too heavy a recoil spring. I don't have much experience with Clays. I'm loading the 200g LSWC with 4.8g of WST and while function is flawless it is marginal extraction wise. I also load the 200g LSWC with 5.2g of W231 and function is flawless but marginal. I would load both heavier if I were to use them as competition loads in the XD with stock recoil springs. My favorite is 5.2g of W231 with a 230g LRN and it runs like a champ and accuracy is excellent. I have not chronographed any of these loads in the XD so I don't know if they would make the power level you are looking for.

[brian40]

SWC's just have a hard time for most people in semi-autos. Other people have them work fine. Didn't work for me so I don't use. Try another profile bullet.

[dosei]

The XD has a very stiff recoil spring. This helps keep recoil down when shooting +P loads and, in turn, wil cause light load to FTE. If the load does not generate enough recoil to push the slide fully to the rear, the case will not eject.

[Boricua]

That is what I thought was happening. So I guess I might have to change my powder. Do any of you guys have a suggestion on a good powder that is as clean as Clays?

[ZAT]

For 45, I have always had good luck with Winchester 231. I tried Action Pistol, but did not like it as much as 231. TYhe load mentioned above 5.2 grains worked very well for me in my USP. Have not worked up a load for the XD yet. You may also try some VihtaVuori powder. I have never used it, but quite a lot of folks have ahd great success with both handgun and rifle.

[Don]

All of my own pesonal reloading notes using Clays indicate that they are under powered even with what should have been maximum loads. Brass not ejecting well, primers rounded (not enough blowback on the case to flatten them against the breech face). I am not sure that the reloading data out there is right for Clays.

But as others have indicated 231 is nice and I think it is clean too.

[Old School]

My SA Mil-Spec likes TiteGroup. I hope my new XD45ACP Tactical likes it too, as I am not in the mood to change powders for just one gun.

[mnbud]

I'm currently at work so I don't have the details of my loads but I spent all afternoon at the range with my new bitone 45 and it never skipped a beat. I had nothing but my reloads with me,I had 85 rounds of lead semiwadcutters 200 grain that were loaded using bullseye powder and fifty rounds of 185 grain Hornady xtp hollowpoints and some 230 grain full jacketed round nose.I was really excited that I will be able to shoot lead as it is quite a bit cheaper. I also have a sub compact 40 caliber that I couldn't fire lead at all. It just wouldn't feed well.I may play with AOL after the newness of the 45 wears off. As has been said many times on here the accuracy of the 45 was almost unbelieveable.

[Alvin]

Here are a few loads you can try with a 200 gr LSWC bullet loaded to an overall cartridge length of 1.275 inches and a standard primer. All of these loads should produce 21,000 psi or less pressure and are within SAAMI specs. These loads are in order of actual powder burn rates (not necessarily in order of advertised burn rates).

Please note that these are MAXIMUM loads and you should start out 10% less than these loads and work up carefully.

I hope this helps.

Vihtavouri Oy N350 – 7.3 gr
Vihtavouri Oy N340 – 7.2 gr
Vihtavouri Oy N340 – 5.7 gr
Alliant Red Dot – 5.9 gr
Winchester WST – 4.9 gr
Alliant American Select - 5.5 gr
ADI AS-30N 4.7 gr
Accurate No. 2 Imp. – 6.8 gr
Alliant Green Dot – 6.7 gr
Vectan As – 5.5 gr
Alliant Power Pistol – 9.0 gr
IMR 4756 – 9.3 gr
ADI AP-70N – 6.3 gr
Alliant Herco – 8.5 gr
Vectan Ba 10 – 3.8 gr
Hodgdon HP-38 – 5.8 gr
Alliant Unique – 7.9 gr
IMR 7625 – 7.2 gr
IMR 800-X – 9.1 gr
Vectan Ba 9 – 6.4 gr
Winchester WSF – 7.6 gr
Winchester WSL – 6.2 gr
Winchester 231 – 6.1 gr
Ramshot Silhouette – 7.9 gr
Hodgdon Universal – 6.3 gr
Vectan Sp 2 – 11.8 gr
Winchester 571 – 11.2 gr
Winchester 540 – 9.6 gr
Accurate No. 7 – 8.8 gr
Ramshot Enforcer – 12.0 gr
Accurate No. 5 – 9.1 gr
Accurate XMP-5744 – 10.2 gr