345 DeSoto
Member
Anybody cut down .308 Winchester and/or 7.62 NATO cases for .45ACP reloading?...
Last edited:
308/7.62 to 45ACP
- Thread starter 345 DeSoto
- Start date
- Status
USSR
Member
No!!! Why would you even consider this? .45 ACP brass is readily available for MUCH less than .308/7.62x51 brass. Also, you would then need to use LRP's as LPP's would be seated too deep in the primer pocket. Just MHO.
Don
Don
hueyville
Member
Look at price for once fired .308 and then compare to .45 acp. Does not make sense. If you have that much .308 either buy an M1a or trade it for what you need. Just the amount of labor has me reeling. Try one before you cut a bunch of cases. Wall thickness will probably be off also. Saw, trim to length, reams, deal with primer issues, will your pistol reliably bust rifle primers, etc. Logistics nightmare.
45lcshooter
Member
My thoughts too, why would you cut 308 cases to 45acp????? Online there is more 45acp for sale than 308/7.62x51.
Bowfishrp
Member
Agreed and if Mike doesnt have enough I will be happy to trade you some more!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Won't work anyway as Walkalong said.
The internal case-web taper of a .308 case would make the case mouth walls of a .45 ACP about 1/16"+ thick!
They would all have to be neck-reamed after you cut them off to even get a bullet in them.
And then the case capacity would be all goofy, so normal load data would be useless.
The only use I can think of for cut-off rifle case would be to make shot-shells for a .380 ACP or .45 ACP handgun like this out of .223 & 30-06 cases.
These were outside turned on a lathe to make them thin enough for a headspace shoulder & crimping.
rc
The internal case-web taper of a .308 case would make the case mouth walls of a .45 ACP about 1/16"+ thick!
They would all have to be neck-reamed after you cut them off to even get a bullet in them.
And then the case capacity would be all goofy, so normal load data would be useless.
The only use I can think of for cut-off rifle case would be to make shot-shells for a .380 ACP or .45 ACP handgun like this out of .223 & 30-06 cases.
These were outside turned on a lathe to make them thin enough for a headspace shoulder & crimping.
rc
Last edited:
Captaingyro
Member
Well, I guess we now know the answer.
I'd like to thank 395 DeSoto for asking the question tho, and everone who answered...I learned a few things.
The only stupid question I've ever heard was, "Hey guys, can you teach me how to play Poker?"
Oh, yeahhh...
I'd like to thank 395 DeSoto for asking the question tho, and everone who answered...I learned a few things.
The only stupid question I've ever heard was, "Hey guys, can you teach me how to play Poker?"
Oh, yeahhh...
345 DeSoto
Member
WHOA, guys...just asking! I'd heard of it being done, and wondered about it...
oldpapps
Member
I tried it and it worked, sort of.
Used 225gr lead round nose bullets and they have to be squeeeeed into the case. The nose was all goofed up.
I proved it could be done. Total waste of time and effort for less than useful brass. Shot it (only one) and pitched the case.
But I did it to prove a point to myself.
I've done lots of dumb things over the years.
Used 225gr lead round nose bullets and they have to be squeeeeed into the case. The nose was all goofed up.
I proved it could be done. Total waste of time and effort for less than useful brass. Shot it (only one) and pitched the case.
But I did it to prove a point to myself.
I've done lots of dumb things over the years.
If you've got access to it, check John J . Donnelly and Bryce Towsley's "The Handloader's Manual Of Cartridge Conversions." I have a copy and it has served me quite well. On page 348 of my manual, they state:
.308, .30-06, .270 or any similar case may be cut to length, I.D. reamed and sized.
However, they do go on to say in the next sentence:
You should not have a problem finding commercial brass.
So to answer the question, YES, it can be done. Should you? Probably not. Thank you for asking the question 345, it is after all, the only way to find the answer!
.308, .30-06, .270 or any similar case may be cut to length, I.D. reamed and sized.
However, they do go on to say in the next sentence:
You should not have a problem finding commercial brass.
So to answer the question, YES, it can be done. Should you? Probably not. Thank you for asking the question 345, it is after all, the only way to find the answer!
Clark
Member
Posts on this topic read about the same 15 years ago:
Don't do it.
I have.
It is too much work, and does not work well.
45acp brass is cheap.
Don't do it.
I have.
It is too much work, and does not work well.
45acp brass is cheap.
badger brown
Member
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2011
- Messages
- 14
hey i think i saw the same article. i cut off about 10 308's . then read 'you have to ream them out", i don't have a reamer. oops. measure it when you size them, the id is .429". a 44 mag speer shot cap fits just right about an eighth of an inch in the mouth of the case. that and 6.5-7 grains unique loaded singlely in the barrel works . the only problem is that if you don't shoot it you need to pull the slide to unload it . it will cycle the slide when shot but doesn't load from the mag. holds more shot and has a better pattern and cost less .
medalguy
Member
Well I have done it to load shotshells for my 1911, so yes, it can be done. I sure wish there was another way to get longer .45 cases for the shotshells though. 
badger brown
Member
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2011
- Messages
- 14
I think the 45winmag would work but there goes cheap out the window if you can find them
moonpie
Member
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoMag_(pistol)
the post reminded my of a conversation about the 44 AutoMag many years ago.
the post reminded my of a conversation about the 44 AutoMag many years ago.
- Status
