cut-back 45colt cases and 45acp dies

[shu]

just asking - anyone ever tried cutting back 45colt cases to 45acp length and reloading them using 45acp dies (and a 45colt shell holder)?

why would i want to do this? well, i just got a new vaquero in 45colt (largely to have a ssa in the collection and learn about a new cartridge. i find 230gr plated bullets do not have enough grip surface (too easy to push-back). (255gr plated bullets work well.)

the 45colt dies are roll crimp, and the plated bullets have no crimp groove, so i have been using a very light crimp. by trimming back some 45colt cases to 45acp length, i could try the 45acp dies (which have a taper crimp).

i'd probably start with bullseye, appropriate for a light 45acp load with a 230 gr plated bullet.

 

[Sport45]

Why do you need to cut the cases back? After full length sizing in the .45Colt die you could switch to .45acp dies and just not run them in all the way. It would save a whole lot of bullet jump in your revolver.

The "trimmed back" brass may also have too much wall thickness to do what you want.

 

[bakert]

sport45 has it right although I woundn't worry as much about bullet jump as all that labor involved cutting them back..
The .45 ACP crimp die will work with .45 Colt brass if adjusted up so the case doesn't go in but just far enough to crimp. I use a Lee taper crimp on lead bullets in .45 Colt at times with lighter loads and they work fine but haven't tried plated. In fact I use a .45 ACP sizing die to resize my Colt brass since my older Lee dies were apparently for .454 bullets and didn't give enough bullet pull when they were seated.

 

[MCgunner]

A hint and my dies are old, but my Lee .45 ACP dies will full length size a .45 colt case. I bought the gun, ordered the bullets and cases, and sure nuf didn't have to order dies. You have to back the bullet seating die and powder through expander out like you do with .38s to load .357s, though.

 

[shu]

thanks.

the other issue is the huge capacity of the 45colt case - like that little dab of 3.0 gr bullseye in a 38spl case.

-shu

 

[caz223]

Trail boss.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

I'd try your 45 acp taper crimp die on plated bullets without a canelure. OTOH, I'd try to find bullets with a canelure, and use the 45 colt roll crimp on them.

Interesting story about older lee dies being for 454, and not sizing small enough. Apparently Hornady 454 dies size smaller than 45 colt (the sami 454 dia spec is smaller than 45 colt). I've heard some Hornady customers were not getting adequate tension with 45 colt dies, so Hornady sent them 454 sizer dies as replacments, and their problems were solved. I bought the 454 set for 45 colt, since it included their taper crimp die at no extra charge. The seater and expander dies are the same part number between both sets.

Andy

 

[bakert]

When I sent the sizing die and a letter to Lee explaining the problem of no bullet pull, a .45 ACP die was what I got back. Since then I've talked to a few other people that use ACP dies to resize .45 Colt cases. As far as crimping, I know a few oldtimers that have loaded .45 ACP ammo with RCBS dies with the roll crimp die for years. They set it to just push the bell back tight against the bullet.
shu, you might be able to do this by experimenting a bit but the taper crimp is probably better.
RCBS used to sell .45 ACP die sets with either crimp die you wanted I suppose because a lot of people that loaded .45 Auto Rim.
One other option would be to get some shorter .45 Schofield brass and use the ACP dies but you would need a shell holder.

 

[suemarkp]

Measure your expander die -- is it expanding for a .454 or a .451? I would try a 45ACP expander die and see if things are tighter. It is better to have more native tension than to try and crimp things into a loose hole.

I'd be careful if you're shortening cases, as that decreases powder capacity which in turn increases pressures. Use a different powder if you want a more case filling one. You could try 45 Schofield cases, as I think they are a little shorter than 45 Colt, but use 45 Schofield load data too.

 

[tac5mh8]

It, is doable, but like others have said, why, I tryed, it, to get a better load, way to much work, cutting that brass, trail boss, unique, fill the case ok, also as others said, shofield cases are shorter, and save a lot of work, I myself, havent found the results at the 25yd line worth the time it took, But since the revoler doesnt head space, like the acp. the taper crimp, will work fine, just cant roll crimp for acp , try it but i dont think you will find it worth all the fuss.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

I just checked, Lee has separate part numbers for 45 acp and 45 colt expander dies and expander inserts/plugs. Hornady has the same part number for the expander die in the 45 acp, 45 colt, and 454 casull die sets.

Check the brand you use to see if there is any difference between 45 colt and 45 acp expanders. I don't think there is a difference in the Dillon expanders either.

Andy

 

[JoeHatley]

I load a lot of plated bullets in .45 colt cases using a roll crimp. It works fine. Just adjust the crimp as firm as you can, but not cut through the plating and they will hold fine.

Good Luck...

Joe