Doing "The Squeeze"...

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Captain*kirk

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No, it ain't some new dance. I'm getting set to load up some BP .45 Colt ammo. Planning on putting as much 2F (or should I use 3F?) as I can fit in the case topped with a 250gr hard cast bullet. My only questions now have to do with compression and seating. Do you guys use a compression die? And some sort of non-lubed wad, or just the bullet? I've read where using the bullet can deform the nose, and since a compression die is fairly inexpensive, I could be persuaded to get me one. Some folks claim wads made from milk carton or egg carton work fine and are consumed on firing, some folks claim you should use a non-sparking drop tube while others say not necessary for pistol carts. I just want these to turn out right the first time, so any advice from experienced BP cart loaders will be much appreciated as I'm ready to start cranking out ammo.
 
For black powder cartridges, I have heard plenty horror stories of static ignition so I use dippers to charge my cases. The things I load though are quite weak compared to your massive 45 (I load 32sw and 38sw) so it is possibly too far separated. But I have not ever used any kind of wadding. I just seat slightly lower than a full dipper leaves me to ensure compression and crimp I the same stage so that I’m crimping while compressed. It has worked out for me for a few hundred rounds. If you do choose to made wads, I would highly suggest just using a spent case as a cutter.
 
For 10 years I shot fully loaded, BP 45 Colt ammo in CAS matches. I came up with a load that duplicated the original performance (255g @ 910 fps from a 7.5" bbl) with modern brass. It was 35-36g of FFFg behind a soft cast (not hard cast) RNFP lubed with SPG. No wads or cards and no compression dies back then. I had a machinist friend make a custom nose punch that fit my cast bullet's profile perfectly. Just seated them over the powder and crimped it.

Dave
 
What is a compression die?
Been loading about everything for sixty plus years and that is a new one.
One of the original loads was 40 grains but it wasn't the standard load and was only possible in balloon head cases.
I agree with the 36 grains and .1-.2" compression. I have used fffg for my loads. I believe too much real compression causes erratic performance.
 
PapaG said:
What is a compression die?
Click to expand...

Here's a Montana Precision compression die with 14 user reviews: --->>> https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1011260595?pid=423150

-Compression dies are used to compress the black powder in the cartridge case to a consistent depth.

-Montana Precision recommends that a compression die be used for black powder cartridge reloading and that a bullet seater should not be used because it can deform the bullet. Instead, the bullet should be seated into the cartridge with finger pressure only.
 
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I’ve done that. 3F a 250 grain RNFP or even a 200 grainer of the same design. Brimful, hold the bullet straight and seat it full with roll crimp. Either bullet pan lubed with 50/50.
I don’t do it routinely I just punch paper not buffalo. ;)

Ive pulled the bullet also, the powder column is solid for about half the depth.
 
arcticap said:
Montana Precision recommends that a compression die be used for black powder cartridge reloading and that a bullet seater should not be used because it can deform the bullet. Instead, the bullet should be seated into the cartridge with finger pressure only.
Click to expand...

I think that would apply only to single shots. I want my revolver and lever action bullets snug and crimped.
When I was shooting BPCR, the field was divided between loaders who sized the brass enough for one or two thou of "tension" and those who used unsized or barely touched cases with bullets "slip fitted."

Mike Venturino wrote of using a compression die on .44-40 for CAS. He said the extra step in loading saved him having to wipe between stages of the match. But he is the only one, everybody else I know of shooting BP CAS just mashes it down with the bullet.
 
When I loaded black powder 45 long Colt, I was using a Dillon 450. The powder dropped into the case and I placed a bullet on top. Next station seated the bullet and compressed the powder and the last station crimped the whole mess in place. Loaded and shot thousands like this before I decided I prefer my Italian Colts better in 45 ACP.

Kevin
 
Dave T said:
For 10 years I shot fully loaded, BP 45 Colt ammo in CAS matches. I came up with a load that duplicated the original performance (255g @ 910 fps from a 7.5" bbl) with modern brass. It was 35-36g of FFFg behind a soft cast (not hard cast) RNFP lubed with SPG. No wads or cards and no compression dies back then. I had a machinist friend make a custom nose punch that fit my cast bullet's profile perfectly. Just seated them over the powder and crimped it.

Dave
Click to expand...


That’s pretty stout. What powder were/are you loading?
 
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