New 45 Colt Brass too short?

keano44 · May 1, 2011

I recently purchased 100 new Hornady 45 Colt brass. They measure 1.228" (average) with my caliper. Once fired Winchester brass measures 1.274" (average). The short case is evident in the photo with the Lee case trimmer and lock stud, the 45 Colt trimmer is bottomed-out against the lock stud, and the case is about .050" from reaching the cutting edge. I have reloaded many different sizes of handgun cases before, but this is my first foray into the world of the 45 Colt.
Is this normal?
Is this a factory defect?
Should i return them?

rcmodel · May 1, 2011

Looks like you got the short end of the case there!

.45 Colt SAAMI Max is 1.285".
"Trim Too" or Min is 1.275".

Your Hornady cases appear to be the short ones Hornady uses with the spier-point LeverEvolution soft tip bullets.

Send them back and buy some other brand.
Hornady is the only company making short cases for the nerf-ball bullets they make.

rc

ljnowell · May 1, 2011

I have culled and destroyed a ton of hornady 357mag brass for the exact same reason. I think its wrong that they even make it that way. It should have to have a different headstamp.

Quoheleth · May 1, 2011

SAAMI shows 1.285"
http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Pistol/45 Colt.pdf

Give Hornady a call and see what they say.

Q

keano44 · May 1, 2011

Ahhh Yesss, the LeveRevolution cases. I should have thought of that, as I have run into that issue before with 45-70 Hornady cases. The factory rep told me the cases were shorter so that ammo loaded with the LeveRevolution bullets would cycle reliably in lever action rifles.
Would that be the same case (no pun intended) with the 45 Colt?

keano44 · May 1, 2011

deleted

rcmodel · May 1, 2011

Yes.

But they are too long to fit in some .45 Colt revolver cylinders with standard length cases too.

At the very least, Hornady should mark the packaging some way to indicate LeverEvolution case length cases.

rc

ljnowell · May 1, 2011

At the very least, Hornady should mark the packaging some way to indicate LeverEvolution case length cases.

Thats what I am saying. How about an lr on the headstamp, or a symbol. Something.

Walkalong · May 1, 2011

Agreed.

They should make it clear on the packaging. If they get tired of having brass returned, they just might.

I have mostly Winchester .45 Colt brass, and it works just fine, as I am sure other brands do as well.

helotaxi · May 2, 2011

I'm glad my Hornady .45C brass predates the new rounds. Good brass worthless bullets.

gamestalker · May 2, 2011

I have had the same experience with new Star brass for the .357 mag. All were shorter than SAMMI min. and some were as much .012" under SAMMI min. The Winchester and Remington brass I buy is always at or near spec. so needless to say, I don't buy Star any more.

helotaxi · May 3, 2011

SAAMI min is actually 0.10" shorter than the "trim to" length and brass is usually safe slightly shorter than that. Of course, if you always seat to the cannelure really short brass causes problems with short OAL and the pressure problems that can cause.

Mal H · May 3, 2011

There's a possibility they boxed up .45 Schofield cases (product 8779) in a .45 Colt box (8780). (Was the box factory sealed?)

Check the rim diameter and compare it to another .45 Colt case you have. If it is about .01 wider, then that may be the problem. If it is a LeverEvolution, then the rim diam. should be the same.

[Edit]
Nope, probably not. My memory wasn't too good on the length. Those are too long to be Schofields.

New 45 Colt Brass too short?

keano44

Member

Attachments

rcmodel

Member in memoriam

ljnowell

Member

Quoheleth

Member

keano44

Member

keano44

Member

rcmodel

Member in memoriam

ljnowell

Member

Walkalong

Moderator

helotaxi

Member

gamestalker

member

helotaxi

Member

Mal H

Administrator

Similar threads