45 Colt sizer

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I was hearing all the praise for old steel 45 Colt sizers. I decided that yes, my carbide sizers way over sized the brass.
Based on .012 neck thickness and a .453 bullet I decided that .474 was a good sized to diameter. That would make the inside of the case .45, about perfect for my bullets to have good neck tension. My Dillon expander just touches the inside of the case. I only want to size the part of the case that holds the bullet.

I don’t think I am sizing enough to need case lube.

I used an RCBS decal rod and setup. I still need to make a knurled nut to snug the decal rod in place and mark the die.

Yes Ian, I could just get a new barrel but this sure was a lot cheaper. A new barrel also would not solve the oversizing issue and the harm it does to brass.
 

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richhodg66

Well-Known Member
I've gone back to using an old steel RCBS sizer and am glad I did. I'd been using a Lee Carbide set, and they work fine, but I am convinced they are over sizing the brass. Ammo just seems to fit better now. Lubing cases isn't that much trouble and I only use single stage presses anyway.
 

Wallyl

Active Member
I agree with richhodg66 and resize my .45 Colt brass w/an RCBS steel sizer die. I roll the cases on a pad with synthetic oil, then size. I place the cases in a Thumblers Tumbler and tumble with dawn detergent and water---if I do that I need to clean out the primer pockets first. One can use SS pins when tumbling to avoid having to clean the primer pockets. Using Citric acid (Lemishine) is optional; it will make the cases shinier.
 
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Outpost75

Active Member
You always want to lube cases for sizing in a steel die. It doesn't take much, I use mineral oil USP on an uninked stamp pad. Avoids any galling or scratching and lube is easily wiped off with paper towell.
 

Wallyl

Active Member
Yes, you must lube the cases when you use a steel sizer die. I have found that even clean brass will scuff up a bit when using a steel sizer die, no matter what lube that you use. The SS pin tumbling removes the scuffing which I prefer. This happens with rifle brass especially with straight walled rifles calibers such as the .444 Marlin & .45-70.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Did we talk about the differences in this design a while back... Maybe it was the 429421 grease groove or wide front band...

Any how, I just cast some 452424 for a buddy. Who didnt know the bullets was different beyond diameter. One of both our favorites is the 454424. But his nee Henry BLK dont feed it proper. He has to jiggle and tilt to get it ta feed. Seated to crimp groove and dont wanna crimp it Over the DB. So I suggested the 452424 as it has a smaller meplat and therefore different taper to the ojive possibly allowing proper feeding.

I have video, but no pics of the bullet now. Ill try a d take comparison pics after coffee.
CW
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Good on ya, if so.

I got real tired of Coke-bottled cartridges in 44 Mag and 45 Colt about 6 years ago. Case life in both calibers SUCKED, 4-6 reloads resulted in longitudinal cracks developing. NOT HAVING THAT.

My RCBS T/C size die reduced diameters to .469" (W-W brass) in 45 Colt. C'MON, MANG. Fired brass ran about .478"-479" if memory serves. The steel die (from Huntington's) reduced diameter to ~.477", and the .453" Buckshot-made M-die spud does just a slight bit of opening to sized cases, plus that nice .004"-wider seat shelf that the M-die creates. My .454"-sized bullets seat properly, cases look proper, and now last a whole lot longer than in the past.

A similar story occurred with the 44 Magnum, with a similar happy ending.

That RCBS T/C 45 Colt sizer did not get retired. It now serves well as a 45 ACP/Auto Rim size die with its .469" finished diameter, which does good work in those calibers. The OEM 45 ACP T/C die is now unemployed, given its .467" finished diameter record and reputation. Alas--we live and reload in a jacketed-bullet world, and one that must also include darn little regard for brass life in an environment where components are serially scarce and prohibitively expensive. There oughta be a law.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
A similar story resides on my bench with a .49? Rossi 92 45 Colts chamber and .484s in a Ruger that want .454s .
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My Marlin 45 Colt has a huge chamber and I use Hornady carbide dies. Case life is good enough for me, 10-12 loads per case.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I got very lucky with that Ruger BisHawk in 45 Colt. All of its OEM dimensions are on the small side, to include the throats (.448"-.449"). That got fixed before Doug Guy set up shop, I got one of the piloted reamers and evened the throats up at .453". Grooves are at .452".