I have a Ruger BHK in the .45 Colt/.45 ACP. If you look down the .45 Colt cylinder, from the rear you will see that the chambers are not cylinders as in other calibers (.44 Magnum)....the first 1/2" is a conical taper which then becomes a cylinder. If you insert a factory round in the cylinder, there is considerable play side to side because of the conical area. When you resize the cases with a carbide sizer, the sizer sizes them into a cylinder. However using a RCBS steel sizer die, the die will size the case to better for the cylinder, as it too has a sight taper. So I resize .45 Colt brass w/ the steel sizer die...I must lube the cases; I then clean them using SS pins & dawn detergent (also cleans teh primer pockets). The sized cases fit teh chambers better and I believe that case life is better.
Oversized 45 Colt chamber
- Thread starter Brad
- Start date
Charles Graff
Moderator Emeritus
Lyman 310 expanders are ,452 and .454 and with adapters are used in my presses.
Outpost75
Active Member
I use RCBS steel .455 MkII dies to size only the mouth of the case down to the depth of the bullet base, and to decap. I use the .455 expander to flare the case mouth. After seating the bullet I use the Redding Profile Crimp die. Cases last forever and the rounds work in my H&R Handi, Ruger, 1905 Colt SA and 1920 Colt New Service.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I have a "few" 45 Colt rifles and carbines. EVERY ONE, had a generous chamber that produces bulbus fat looking cases. It hasnt been a issue, but we know its working brass more.
Just last week a friend who just started loading was very perplexed with a trail Boss load I advised.
I explained to him that straight wall lead bullet one could safely load 70%-100% load density but not to compress. So measure a bullets depth in a case and compute 70% and use that as starting load.
He did and was shooting 7.5g and loaded up to 8.5 he measured the case cap with his bullet at 9g.
Well he bought a new Hornady manual and they listed 5.7g as max.
I loaded his bullet and 5.0, 5.5, 6.5,7.5 & 8.3g
Of coarse all where safe. But what I found was 5.0,5.5 & 6.5 barely showed anything on the brass. 7.5 &8.3 both had "fat" Brass.
I know Trail Boss is NOT low pressure its just high volume and low velocity.
CW
Just last week a friend who just started loading was very perplexed with a trail Boss load I advised.
I explained to him that straight wall lead bullet one could safely load 70%-100% load density but not to compress. So measure a bullets depth in a case and compute 70% and use that as starting load.
He did and was shooting 7.5g and loaded up to 8.5 he measured the case cap with his bullet at 9g.
Well he bought a new Hornady manual and they listed 5.7g as max.
I loaded his bullet and 5.0, 5.5, 6.5,7.5 & 8.3g
Of coarse all where safe. But what I found was 5.0,5.5 & 6.5 barely showed anything on the brass. 7.5 &8.3 both had "fat" Brass.
I know Trail Boss is NOT low pressure its just high volume and low velocity.
CW