.45 Colt Resizing Die Diameters ("Long" Colt, not ACP)

[JNewell]

I need to get a carbide resizing die for .45 Colt (Long Colt, not ACP). I've read various comments about some resizing dies being tighter than others. Does anyone have any info or experience with different brands of resizing dies in this caliber?

 

[Wil Terry]

I HAVE USED 45COLT CARBIDE SIZERS FROM RCBS, LYMAN, HORNADY,

LEE, CH, AND LIFETYME...Oh and one set of Lymans that was made specifically for .454" bullets in the 45COLT.
The RCBS standard carbide version is my favorite and works well with cast or jacketed bullets. All the rest loaded perfectly fine cartridges though. In the RCBS line their " COWBOY " dies are designed to be more compatible with lead bullets and the set I have loads beautiful ammunition though I leave it set up for 45S&W cartridges.
My least favorite die sets in any caliber, for what it is worth, are the Hornady's. Their "NEW DIMENSION " dies just are a royal pain-in-the-butt and their carbide sizer die is a cheap excuse for a real carbide sizer from anyone else.

 

[Black Snowman]

Interesting. I've used Lee RCBS and Hornady and the Hornady dies are my favorites. I have a 4 die set for 454 Cassul I got from Cabela's that loads like a champ. I don't like the Lee carbide dies because they have a bevelled mouth rather than radiused and it can hang up on a case that's not perfectly aligned going in. I also like their sleeve seating die and the 4 die set comes with a seperate crimp die. I also like Horandy's clamping style locking rings. YMMV obviously

 

[Burt Blade]

My Dillon carbide .45 Colt dies (new model) work very well for me.

 

[Bad Flynch]

In this caliber, I have Lee, Lee oversize, RCBS, RCBS Cowboy, and Hornady. I even have one that is a custom die by Lee for one of my .45 Colts that has 0.458" cylinder throats. For a guy with one set of dies, the RCBS Cowboy are hard to beat: two expander plugs, one for 0.454" bullets and one for 0.452" bullets.

Unless you have an old gun with generous chambers or an Italian clone with large throats, the RCBS Cowboy will be fine.


Remember that this cartridge has a 100+ year history and there is quite an allowable tolerance on ammo for it, due to taking old guns into consideration. If your gun is modern, practically any set of dies will do.

 

[JNewell]

If your gun is modern, practically any set of dies will do.

True...but I am thinking that having a relatively closer relationship to the sized brass and the chambers will somewhat improve both accuracy and brass life.

I'm interested in the custom-spec Lee (or other) die. I may make some calls to find out what someone would charge to make a sizer die to spec. (That assumes that sizer dies are pretty close to a specific size when made, obviously...not sure what the permitted variation in sizes is, or how it differs from one maker to another?)

 

[only1asterisk]

Even most modern 45 Colt chambers are on the large side. I have never seen a set of dies for 45 Colt that didn't resize much more than strictly required. My solution is to only resize the top .5" or so of the case. Obviously, this isn't going to work forever and eventually the cases will get too tight, necessitating a full length resize.

You could get a custom set of dies made to resize fired brass from your revolver just enough to go back into the chambers every time. I get most of the benefit without any additional cost by partially resizing the cases.


David

 

[Bad Flynch]

Here is a cheapie solution to try, before you spend a lot of money on a custom die.

Use anybody's sizing die, but only size the bullet holding area initially. Set the decapping rod out far enough to compensate.

Load as you would normally, but seat the bullet without crimping.

When crimping, use the Lee factory crimp die. It has a carbide ring in it that will finish sizing the rest of the case as you crimp. The diameter of this ring is more like a check for maximum ammo dimensions, and it sizes a lot less for cheap.

 

[Keoni]

Sizing .45 Colt

I tried Lee .45 Colt carbide sizer on Winchester .45 Colt brass. .452 cast bullet didn't fit tight enough in case, so I used an RCBS .45ACP carbide sizing die. Bullets fit case good and "Ruger and Contender only" load is very accurate in 5½" Ruger Bisley.

 

[Powderman]

From what I have learned, the important goal is to ensure that the bullets you are using will fit your revolver.

Older single action.45's can and did vary greatly in the groove/cylinder throat diameter. Now, with the modern manufacture, I believe that that problem has been eliminated.

My Vaquero measures .454 at the chamber throats and .452 groove diameter. In this case, I use a set of Lee dies, and am perfectly happy with them.

 

[Ironair67]

JNewell,
My new Redding Ti Carbide dies resize down to .470. I think this is a little excessive since my Vaquero chambers are about .483. I am going to try the "neck sizing" technique that was mentioned above, and decap in a separate step.