[Hawk]

45 Colt will be my first attempt at metallic reloading.

Do lead bullets need lubricated? If so, is whatever comes on the Speer product adequate?

Unlike shotshell recipes, the load data I found on the IMR site doesn't list specific primer manufacturers. Are primers interchangeable in the metallic world? (My shotshell manuals get downright breathless about not substituting primers in a given load).

Can I just grab a handful of never-fired Starline and go to town or is some type of preparation required? Dies are carbide but I’m not certain how / why this would affect the need for lubrication.

Although not specifically related to reloading: has anybody else noticed the supply of .452 lead bullets taking it in the shorts? Midway had squat when I called and it took a special order locally to dredge up 300 Speer 250s.

TIA!

[Sistema1927]

45 Colt will be my first attempt at metallic reloading.

Good choice.

Do lead bullets need lubricated? If so, is whatever comes on the Speer product adequate?

Most, if not all, commercial lead bullets will already be lubed. If the cast your own you need to deal with lube.

Unlike shotshell recipes, the load data I found on the IMR site doesn't list specific primer manufacturers. Are primers interchangeable in the metallic world? (My shotshell manuals get downright breathless about not substituting primers in a given load).

Just about any large pistol primer will work. No need for magnum primers. Recognize that CCI will be the hardest, Winchester in the middle, and Federal the softest. If CCI work in your weapons (and they should unless you have had action work done) stick with them until you are more experienced.

Can I just grab a handful of never-fired Starline and go to town or is some type of preparation required? Dies are carbide but I’m not certain how / why this would affect the need for lubrication.

You won't need to lube with carbide dies, but I would deburr the neck (inside and out) and use a primer pocket cleaner on new cases first. It wouldn't hurt to check the case length, but it is a rare Starline case that is out of spec out of the bag.


Although not specifically related to reloading: has anybody else noticed the supply of .452 lead bullets taking it in the shorts? Midway had squat when I called and it took a special order locally to dredge up 300 Speer 250s.

I buy 500 to 1000 at a time, and haven't needed to buy any lately. .45 is a popular caliber, it doesn't surprise me that you are having difficulty with Midway. Have you checked any other suppliers? Also, why are you stuck on Speer? There are cheaper choices out there from other vendors, possibly some locally to you.

[drdirk]

I get my bullets from ebay. I think it is called Magnus Bullet company. I buy in bulk so it hase been a while. He once sent me the wrong bullets, said keep them and sent me another package. Good guy. I reload for my 45 colt conversion cylinder in my Ruger Old Army. Nothing special to worry about. 45 colt is actually pretty easy to reload. Any like the previous poster said, yes, they are lubed alreayd for the most part. In my opinion, reloading for revolver is actually easier than for semi. If i fits in the cylinder, has powder in it and a primer (any primer!) it will go booom.

Have fun!

[drdirk]

I get my bullets from ebay. I think it is called Magnus Bullet company. I buy in bulk so it hase been a while. He once sent me the wrong bullets, said keep them and sent me another package. Good guy. I reload for my 45 colt conversion cylinder in my Ruger Old Army. Nothing special to worry about. 45 colt is actually pretty easy to reload. Any like the previous poster said, yes, they are lubed alreayd for the most part. In my opinion, reloading for revolver is actually easier than for semi. If i fits in the cylinder, has powder in it and a primer (any primer!) it will go booom.

Have fun!

[Hawk]

Also, why are you stuck on Speer? There are cheaper choices out there from other vendors, possibly some locally to you.

Actually, I had given my dealer an order for 1000 of the ones Midway was out of (don't recall the name offhand) and after two weeks all he could get was 300 Speer.

A relatively large local dealer (Ray's) had nothing whatsoever in .45.

He's not keeping the backorder of 700 alive as I'm guessing this is a temporary aberration. Between Midway, Ray's and Pioneer, they had zero .452 lead in 250gr with any kind of lube. Hopefully this fluke will go away by the time I use up the Speer.

Looks like I'm SOL on Trail Boss as well. Ray's has some but his retail location has been placed behind a moat by the Dallas Hwy folks. Being the only Texan alive that drives a car, and a mildly lowered car at that, I couldn't get in and I'm pretty sure I did at least a thousand dollars worth of suspension damage trying.

I'm real close to giving the thing up as a bad job.

[SASS#23149]

He's a local,and been in biz for quite some time.

http://www.bulletworks.com/index.html

with the flat rate box that the post office offers,bullet shipping can be pretty reasonable these day.

the postman may glare at ya tho!!:)

[Hawk]

Thanks!
That looks like the ticket.

[highlander 5]

First off which 45 Colt pistol do you have? As far as powder Unique or Universal Clays work well in the 45.
If you can find .454 dia bullets you can use them as well they'll only raise pressure slightly.Hint for best accuracy measure the chamber mouth's diameter and use that diameter bullet.

[Hawk]

I bought the brass and press when I ordered the STI.

Got tired of waiting for STI and bought an Uberti to have something to play with while waiting - turned out to be good fun. I've only put a couple hundred factory rounds through it and figured it was time to put the press to work. There's plenty of powders - I'll likely go hunting for an alternative tomorrow.

The STI is due the end of the month but I wouldn't be shocked if it got bumped again.

[CZ223]

The Ubertis are good guns but don't feed them like you might a Ruger. My old Speer manual has 2 sections for the 45 Colt, one for originals and the other for loads for the Ruger and the TC. Stick with loads meant for the original colts and you will have no problems. If you are loading for cowboy action, light loads, then you will want a bulky powder like American select. If you are loading heavier then there are sevral good choices like unique, Bullseye and Red dot.

[Ol` Joe]

Graf has lead .452" bullets in stock from a few different makers. They also only charge $4.75 I believe in shipping to the lower 48. I haven`t had a 45 LC in quite awhile but I used .454" lead in my old Ruger and found they shot better then .451/.452". You will find the common jacketed diameter to be .451" and lead when cast for the LC to run .452"-.454".
A 250 gr cast LSWC over 8.5gr Unique was my favorite lead bullet load although I did some lighter loads with Red Dot that seemed to do fine also.
If I was doing cowboy action I would look at Titegroup or Trail boss as they are not position sensitive and should work a bit better then other powders with real light charges in these large cases. (Trail boss is so bulky I doubt you will have much extra room in your case)

[fastbike]

I have an Uberti Cattleman. A nice load for mine is 6.5 gr Titegroup w/ a 200gr Oregon Trail RNFP. You might try Oregon Trail direct.
I would note that the Titegroup leaves most of the case empty. However, it was designed to shoot well regardless of powder position. You might also try Trail Boss. I have some, but have not yet loaded any rounds.

[Stinger]

I ordered and received .452's this week from Midway, and they are listed on their website right now.

:confused:

Stinger

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=1&Categoryid=17804&categorystring=9315***652***675***9015***7563***

[Hawk]

The nice lady at Midway said they should be restocked soon when I called.

Around here, even Sportsman's Warehouse didn't have any .452 in 250. They did have some 200 grain Oregon Trail - I grabbed those today. Weird - it's like the SASS tripled their membership overnight.