Making 45acp Cases from Starline 45 Win Mag

A series of pictures to completed ammunition (.3gr less than normal)

Cases sized, gauged & plunked, chamfered, flash holes deburred, pockets gauged w/no work required, expanded/primed, loaded & gauged and plunked again.

Semi-custom pistol, custom ammunition. Why am I doing this? C'mon, you have to ask?

Time to get ready for church. Today's message probably about resisting pride.

Oh yeah, the sloppy printing on Starline bag is not mine. Probably Powder Valley.

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CQB45ACP said:
Yes that'd work. And can see the future with even more projects.
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Unimats and Sherlines are a hobby unto themselves.
The tail whig on my Sherline busted a while back - age and metal fatigue - so I’m looking for a few replacement parts. It’s not the finding it’s the hunting that makes it interesting.
 
CQB45ACP said:
No, nothing so scientific. Anyway, if I recall correctly, Win Mag aren't special other than being longer.

I'm just curious about how long MY cases would last vs. hearing anecdotes about cases still working since John Browning was in diapers dreaming of designing the 1911. Wanted to try it for myself. (I have several update threads about it here on THR.)

Then, add to that, a curiosity about case trimming and reading about what the rifle guys do, I thought cutting down my own would be fun...Also have been told .308s can work, but they're really expensive.
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I would go the mini-chop saw route, but I've got a 3D printer so I can make the jigs you see the people on Youtube using. Only 0.3 grains less water capacity leads me to agree with you on the same as normal 45 ACP brass. No extra webbing or head thickness.
 
CQB45ACP said:
Thanks for the positive encouragement! I'm exceptionally wealthy, have the time, and don't care about the brass.
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I have trimmed 9x19 mm to load for 9x18 Mak. Not because I'm poor but because I'm cheap, and the brass was in hand. I was short of 44 spl cases so I trimmed down 50 ct of 44 mag. I will say all of this was a pita.
 
joneb said:
I have trimmed 9x19 mm to load for 9x18 Mak. Not because I'm poor but because I'm cheap, and the brass was in hand. I was short of 44 spl cases so I trimmed down 50 ct of 44 mag. I will say all of this was a pita.
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Couldn't disagree more but it's all a matter of perspective I guess. I don't have to do this for cost or availability reasons.

Anyway, you'll find this picture and progress report annoying also...:)

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Have now made a dozen cases and loaded five others. But, won't be making a range trip today to shoot them not that there's any particular reason that'll be any different than other days EXCEPT THIS:

Its beyond improbable that anyone else at the range will be shooting shortened 45 Win Mag cases so retrieval should be a piece of cake!

If you're inclined to do this, don't waste your $70 on the Redding trim die and extended shell holder. Instead, use a mini tube cutter. Any case trimmer can then complete the job of course.

After I reconfirm .308 is the correct size, I am now going to make some 45acp from them!

Now I need someone who wants the scrap brass rings I've made. Surely someone on Etsy could use them.

Over and out
 
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As cheap as 45acp brass is the cost and time involved isn't worth the effort and all you end up with is mismarked head stamp 45acp witch is only worth five cents apiece with a proper head stamp.
 
In light of all this testing and effort it made me curious how long the legend cases will live... the 350 and 400 are effectively big pistol cases, which probably start life at as close to minimum spec as possible... I don't expect they have special physics working for them, so it's all downhill from there....
 
The only time I make 45 acp brass out of something else is for my shot loads.

I made this little fixture to hold the case and saw it off a bit proud of the fixture. The thumb screw locks into the extractor groove.

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Then hold it up to a belt sander and sand it flush with the fixture.

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Its still slow but not tubing cutter kind of slow. Does work though.

463B80BD-DA85-4046-AB9B-9CD3AB5C37F3.jpeg


Once I found starline 45 auto black brass, I really don't use it much more though. Its already formed too.

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jmorris said:
The only time I make 45 acp brass out of something else is for my shot loads.

I made this little fixture to hold the case and saw it off a bit proud of the fixture.

View attachment 1199925

View attachment 1199926

Then hold it up to a belt sander and sand it flush with the fixture.

View attachment 1199927

Its still slow but not tubing cutter kind of slow. Does work though.

View attachment 1199928


Once I found starline 45 auto black brass, I really don't use it much more though. Its already formed too.

View attachment 1199929
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Slow??

First I'd have to build a shop, then buy equipment for the shop, then learn how to use equipment in the shop, then take a break to sign divorce papers, then make the cases...

Mini cutter is much better option for me:)
 
Highland Lofts said:
As cheap as 45acp brass is the cost and time involved isn't worth the effort and all you end up with is mismarked head stamp 45acp witch is only worth five cents apiece with a proper head stamp.
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I see multiple reasons for doing this, one is to see if it can be done, another is to learn how.

45acp brass is currently very easy to get, but who knows what the future holds. Five years ago I could have bought all the 45 Colt ammo or brass I wanted, then two years ago I couldn't find either ammo or brass at anything close to a reasonable price. Knowing how to make it and what donor case to use would have been nice.

chris
 
ballman6711 said:
I see multiple reasons for doing this, one is to see if it can be done, another is to learn how.

45acp brass is currently very easy to get, but who knows what the future holds. Five years ago I could have bought all the 45 Colt ammo or brass I wanted, then two years ago I couldn't find either ammo or brass at anything close to a reasonable price. Knowing how to make it and what donor case to use would have been nice.

chris
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It's a hobby after all. I am going to try other cases (like .308, I think it is).

At my age, I may have all the 45acp brass I'll ever need--sorted, cleaned, sized, and ready to load, but I'm only using a very small handful of Winchester to see longevity for myself. That makes no sense at all!

But, in short, my goal is to have fun.
 
CQB45ACP said:
It's a hobby after all. I am going to try other cases (like .308, I think it is).
Click to expand...

Thats what the case above was, that said, for solids the wall thickness is too thick that low in the case web. So, for them, you would need to ream too.

This is a 45 acp case.

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And that 308 trimmed long for the shot round and it gets thicker the lower you go. Cut one in half, longways and it's easy to see why.

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jmorris said:
Thats what the case above was, that said, for solids the wall thickness is too thick that low in the case web. So, for them, you would need to ream too.

This is a 45 acp case.

View attachment 1199948

And that 308 trimmed long for the shot round and it gets thicker the lower you go. Cut one in half ways and it's easy to see why.

View attachment 1199949
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Thanks! Our posts passed in the ether. Yes I just saw the thickness issue.
 
The HF chop saw is great! I use one for cutting cedar arrow shafts. If I was gonna go down your path I'd use one with a wooden dowel inserted to keep from flattening the case, and finish up with a case trimmer.
 
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