Ran into an issue loading metalic cartriges for ROA conversion cylinder.

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BADUNAME30

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I sat and loaded a bunch o' .45 LC with the intention of usin it both in my Vaqero and my ROA.
Worked well in my Vaqero and then i attempted to load my R&D for my ROA and ......
IMGP1718.JPG
Oooops, never gave that a thot LOL

Sooo,if you load .45 LC for yer ROA, what lead bullet are you usin that allows the loaded length to fit ?
Are you maybe usin .45 Schofield cases.
( i'm not that familiar with Schofields,are they shorter , would they even work ?)
I know that a full wad cutter would work in the LC cases but i can't find even a listing of such a bullet.

This is the bullet i'm loadin over 6.5 gr o' Trailboss...
IMGP1831.JPG
I ran 'em back thru the seater and although they shot ok, i ended up with the case mouth above the bullet.
I'm thinkin 'bout just loadin this bullet upside down.
Whataya think ?
 
I ain't following you Jim. I load mine to 45 Colt specs, 1.6" or so.

Revolvers are very forgiving as to OAL but if it's too long to allow the cylinder to rotate then ya got a serious problem my friend :)

Don't think I'd load the bullet upside down though....

What brass are you using anyway ?
 
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I ain't following you Jim. I load mine to 45 Colt specs, 1.6" or so.

Revolvers are very forgiving as to OAL but if it's too long to allow the cylinder to rotate then ya got a serious problem my friend

Don't think I'd load the bullet upside down though....

What brass are you using anyway ?
Click to expand...

That pic is of my R&D conversion cylinder.
The rounds fit fine in my SA Vaqero but as you can see are too long for the CC.

I'm usin Remington brass.
 
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OK, then your problem is for sure the bullet. Guess that's what Craig meant. The ones J-Bar posted or any designed for 45 Colt should do fine seated to the crimp grove.

I have only used biglube bullets because I only load for BP, but even they have the two groves J-Bar mentioned. The ones you have must be for ACP or something other than 45 Colt.

Majedit: Oh, I'm suprised the Vaqero cylinder is that long, I've never examined one but I don't remember my Blackhawk being overly long....
 
Bullets designed for .45 Colt have both a crimp groove and a lube groove.

If you crimp them in the crimp groove you will have no problem. The crimp groove is placed to give you the correct OAL.

The bullet you are using was not designed for the .45 Colt.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/775...rain-flat-nose

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/789...rain-flat-nose
Click to expand...

I'm aware of all this J-Bar.
The problem i'm havin is that the .45 200gr SWC i loaded is too long for my R&D .45 LC conversion cylinder.

I've got that 2nd mold you posted. I'll hafta give it a try.

The bullet you are using was not designed for the .45 Colt.
Click to expand...

Mmmm... didn't know that when i bot 'em.
I spose i'll hafta jist use 'em up in my Vaqero LC loads anywho coz i don't load .45 ACP
 
Those are .45ACP bullets and have no crimp groove. Where are you crimping them? How long are the loaded rounds in the cylinder as pictured?

I've never loaded for the ACP but those noses look to be longer than those typically found on .45Colt bullets in that weight range.
 
Majedit: Oh, I'm suprised the Vaqero cylinder is that long, I've never examined one but I don't remember my Blackhawk being overly long....
Click to expand...


It's not at all that the Ruger SA cylinder is long.
It's that the R&D, minus the back plate, is much shorter.
 
Seating the bullets deeper into the case, over the same powder charge, is going to increase the pressure. I suggest using the correct bullets for the loading and the revolver.

45 S&W (Schofield) is a shorter length cartridge and can be used with the appropriate loads. So can the 45 Special,

http://www.cowboy45special.com/

As for other bullets and molds, full wadcutter bullets are available from

http://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html

http://www.westernbullet.com/sa4gr.html

and others.

Molds are available from SAECO, Lyman, and others. Custom mold makers can often provide that which is not common.
 
Those are .45ACP bullets and have no crimp groove. Where are you crimping them? How long are the loaded rounds in the cylinder as pictured?
Click to expand...

Thanx Craig, i figured that was what you meant. I initialy gave them a very slight crimp twixt the lube groove and the top of the side 'wall'.
They are now seated a bit below the case mouth and as you can see, that took me into no pressure issue.
IMGP1833.jpg

Although they are shootin fine, i'm gonna jist 'thump' 'em all apart and cast some 200 FN and start over.
I got a friend that loads .45 ACP so i'll give him these bullets.

I've never loaded for the ACP but those noses look to be longer than those typically found on .45Colt bullets in that weight range.
Click to expand...

They are indeed for .45 ACP Craig. Now that you got me thinkin this over more i remember that i've got the same bullet loaded in some .45 ACP ammo that a friend loaded and gave me.
 
Seating the bullets deeper into the case, over the same powder charge, is going to increase the pressure. I suggest using the correct bullets for the loading and the revolver.
Click to expand...

I'm aware of that Hat. As you can see in my above pic, i didn't run into that issue.

45 S&W (Schofield) is a shorter length cartridge and can be used with the appropriate loads. So can the 45 Special,
Click to expand...

I'm gonna look into both of these. They will be both shorter to accomodate the shorter R&D cylinder,and, jist give me somethin different to do ;)

http://www.cowboy45special.com/

As for other bullets and molds, full wadcutter bullets are available from

http://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html

http://www.westernbullet.com/sa4gr.html

and others.

Molds are available from SAECO, Lyman, and others. Custom mold makers can often provide that which is not common.
Click to expand...

Penn is a local fella that i know.
I wasn't aware of his full wad cutters coz he never brings 'em to our local gun shows. I'll check him out this saturday while we're doin the show.
 
I'm wondering that too Craig and also what criteria you are using to set your seating die Jim ?
Click to expand...

As i told Craig above,goin on past experience, i just used a very very slight crimp because there was no crimp groove.
Never made the connection that there wasn't a cannelure because these bullets are made for .45 ACP and .45 ACP rounds don't get crimped :banghead: LOL

You'd never believe that not only did i used to know all this stuff before, but i used to do this quite successfuly for a living.
:eek:
 
Majes said:
I was beginning to wonder if ya didn't get a 45 ACP conversion cylinder by mistake
Click to expand...
I was wondering the same thing... but then I figured that the distance to the forcing cone would need to be the same for both .45 colt and .45 ACP cylinders, since they're both made for the same frame. So the cylinders would have to be the same length, right?
 
Don't kick yourself my friend, just be safe. I was beginning to wonder if ya didn't get a 45 ACP conversion cylinder by mistake, that's all. Glad ya got it sorted!!
Click to expand...

Thanx Majes, i can recall jist 'nough so far to stay out o' trouble.:)
I think...:uhoh: LOL
 
The sales info for R&D/Howell/Taylor .45 conversion cylinders states that .45 Colt as per common spec. is too long to be used. They suggest either to load the .45 Colt to a short OAL -or- use Schofield brass/slug in those cylinders.
 
I've used an assortment of 45acp bullets in my BH's and my ROA conversion and had no problems, except the longer ones have to be seated deeper and I usually load to the lighest specs for my ROA and have had no problems as far as pressure, they usually drop out of the cylinder with little or no force needed. I cast and reload for both and sometimes I have more of the acp's on hand and use them for all.
 
unknwn said:
The sales info for R&D/Howell/Taylor .45 conversion cylinders states that .45 Colt as per common spec. is too long to be used. They suggest either to load the .45 Colt to a short OAL -or- use Schofield brass/slug in those cylinders.
Click to expand...
Can you supply a link to that information please? I do not find any cautionary statements on R&D's website, Howell's website, or Taylor's website. All of those just say that the conversion allows use of .45 Colt cartridges in an ROA.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I have two Kirst conversions for my ROAs and they digest all my .45 Colts loads without any length difficulties.
 
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