45 colt head seperation while reloading

[10xforever]

Getting ready to load for the 45 Colt. I was reading the Lyman reloading data preceeding the load charts and they mentioned that the 45 Colt case head may seperate during reloading due to the small rim surface area. They cautioned on placing too much force on the case when reloading.
Has anyone had this problem with the 45 Colt?
I will be using new Starline brass and have an RCBS Turret press. I also clean my cases prior to resizing and primer removal.
Thanks for any comments on this matter.
Ron

 

[Tilos]

Carbide sizer AND case lube

Just sayin'
Tilos

 

[10xforever]

Tilos i have carbide dies. What brand of lube and how should it be applied to the cases.

 

[rcmodel]

I have reloaded .45 Colt for 25 years or more and have never ever seen it happen.

If it don't happen, don't worry about it.

Carbide sizer AND case lube

That's S.O.P. around here with any handgun caliber.

rc

 

[243winxb]

Could Lyman mean the shell holder will slip over the rim when extraction of the case from the die? Old steel dies it may have been a problem, i would think not with carbide. Lee does list 2 different numbered shell holders for the 45 colt. Make sure the shell holder fits well. The days of old original balloon head brass is long gone.

 

[Walkalong]

Never a problem here.

 

[Tilos]

10x:

I'm old school, so my lube method is;
30 cal cleaning patch moistened with any oil in a plastic container with the brass and shake/roll around for a few minutes...done.

Most now use some spray stuff called one shot and I'm sure someone will chime in with a name soon.

Just sayin'
Tilos

 

[highlander 5]

40 years of reloading multiple handgun cartridges including 45 Colt and never had a case split as described by Lyman.

 

[10xforever]

Thanks for all the advice, i am getting parinoid in my old age.

 

[243winxb]

Read you FL die instructions, most times i have 1/16" between the shell holder and carbide die.

 

[Action_Can_Do]

I've heard of this happening with the old, old balloon head style brass, but not with modern brass.

 

[DickM]

I've reloaded a ton of .45 Colt - originally on my old RockChucker, more recently on an LnL, using RCBS carbide dies and no lube. Never had any problems.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

If you ever do get one to separate, it is probably because it's been fired 5 or more times, and/or loaded hot, and gotten stretched and brittle. All brass can get that way, so it's not limited to the .45 Colt.

 

[ljnowell]

I've heard of this happening with the old, old balloon head style brass, but not with modern brass.

Thats where it comes from, I am sure.

 

[243winxb]

Hornady's Titanium Nitride & Reddings Titanium Nitride Neck Sizing Bushing may benifit from some lube. RCBS diamond-lapped tungsten-carbide dies need no lube IMO.

 

[10xforever]

As a side note to my inquiry, i contacted the Starline people on this matter and was advised a case head seperation may happen on NEW unfired brass due to the fact that it is ultra clean. Starline advised to either 1) do not resize the case the first time through till powder residue builds up to lubricate the case. or 2) tumble the new cases in used cleaning media so some of the powder residue rubs off on the new brass thus giving some lubrication to the new cases.
Thought many may be interested in this bit of knowledge for new brass users.

 

[dagger dog]

A little swipe of Imperial sizing wax on your index finger then spin the case between your index finger and thumb, slip it in the shell holder and push the handle down, with carbide dies it's a slick as snot on a doorknob, and I know you really don't need lube with carbide even with the .45 Colt cases but it just makes it work SOOOOO EASY!

 

[DickM]

As a side note to my inquiry, i contacted the Starline people on this matter and was advised a case head seperation may happen on NEW unfired brass due to the fact that it is ultra clean.

I had galling problems a while back with some new .32 S&W brass and new Redding titanium nitride dies and was told much the same thing when I called Redding to find out what was going on.

 

[W.E.G.]

they mentioned that the 45 Colt case head may seperate during reloading due to the small rim surface area.

That doesn't even make sense.

First, the .45 LONG COLT has a boo-koo "rim surface."

Second, if it didn't have adequate "rim surface" wouldn't we be talking about the shell holder pulling over the rim, rather than the case separating?

Third, I'm sure there is a lot about reloading I don't know, but I have NEVER heard of a shell case "separating" in the resizing die. I have heard of cases STICKING in the die due to inadequate lubrication.

Lubrication is not necessary if you are working with straight-walled pistol cartridges, and you are using a sizing die with a carbide insert.

You aren't using a non-carbide die are you?

AFAIK, no die-maker has sold non-carbide pistol dies in nearly three decades.

What edition reloading manual is this that gave this warning?

Starline advised to... not resize the case the first time

Who resizes new, unfired pistol brass anyway?

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

I've been reloading .45 Colt for a couple of years now and I haven't had a rim or case head tear off yet. I'm still using some of the cases I started with. This is with carbide dies and no lube. I did manage to break my (admittedly thin) reloading bench once resizing .45 colt though.

 

[Seedtick]

Who resizes new, unfired pistol brass anyway?

Me.

I size, trim, chamfer and tumble new revolver brass.
It works for me....
YMMV

ST