454 Casull/45 Colt (long colt)question

[Domino300]

I have 454 Casull dies ordered but my question is, if you shoot 45 colt brass in a 454, what is needed to reload the 45 Colt brass. Can any of the 454 sizer,expander or seater dies be used on the 45 Colt? Or do I need a separate 45 Colt set. I know they use different size primers and the 454 brass is thicker, longer etc. TIA

 

[rcmodel]

You may or may not be able to use them with the shorter .45 Colt brass.

The sizer would work, and the expander probably will.

But the seater / crimp die may be too long to use for .45 Colt.

Anyway, if it was me?

I'd buy another set of .45 Colt dies, adjust them to you press, and lock the lock-ring screws.

Then you don't have to be fiddling around with die adjustments every time you switch back and forth.

rc

 

[Bad Flynch]

Many die sets are marked for both; it is just a matter of setting the dies. In a modern set, there should be no difference otherwise. In an old set, it may be a problem.

The sizer die can be set so that it is nearly against the shell holder and used for both. The expander will have to be individualized, and so for the crimper.

 

[joecil]

I agree with RC depending on the brand of dies. With Lee dies, the sizing die, powder thru/expander, bullet seat/crimp die are the same for 45 Colt but also work on the 454 casull though it needs to be readjusted. Lee if you look show the same die set for both calibers. Now RCBS, Lyman etc require decided dies while Redding has some die lines for both and some as different.

 

[Domino300]

Thanks for the answers. I was confused because some dies were listed for both, some weren't.

 

[joecil]

The main thing is with 454 Casull make sure you have a good tight crimp while it isn't usually real necessary with the average 45 Colt load. The 454 if not crimped enough the bullet can walk out of the case due to the heavy recoil.

 

[5thSFGroup]

Most of the sizer dies are going to be .452. So any .452 round can be chambered...the problem, as already mentioned, will be the brass length. Casull brass will be longer and heavier. A Freedom Arms Casull can handle almost anything you can stuff in it...although I certainly do not rec getting stupid.

There have been some reported issues with lil gun powder loads in Casull. I do not use that powder but on that note. I have just finished loading some Casull rounds for 100 yard shots. When I used some Unique...at three different weights, the shots were well grouped at 50 yards but all over the place at 100. When I used Accurate #9, the shots were well grouped at 50 and 100 both. My Casull appears to like the slower burning powder.

Another issue, is my mold. I am currently using a Lyman 325 gr. gas check Casull mold. The bullets, poured from wheel weights, before lube and sizing are 350 grain. I have changed my powder to adjust.

A very knowledgeable friend of mine was using a 300 gr Saeco mold and having trouble with distance accuracy. We miked the bullets coming out of the mold, before sizing and they were at .400. He is not getting that much shrinkage from he pour. He is in contact with Saeco now. I would suggest that you mike your rounds before and after sizIng if you plan on any long distance shots.

Lee makes a separte die for crimping the Casull. I suggest you use that die. Their three die set does not crimp. Also, a disk is cheap and I also go with RC's method. I have a separate set of dies for the Casull. Same with .38 spcl and .357. Instead of fooling around with adjustments, I have separate sets for each.

 

[ljnowell]

Lee makes a separte die for crimping the Casull. I suggest you use that die. Their three die set does not crimp. Also, a disk is cheap and I also go with RC's method. I have a separate set of dies for the Casull. Same with .38 spcl and .357. Instead of fooling around with adjustments, I have separate sets for each.

Since when does a lee 3 die set not crimp? It should be a sizing/decapper die, a powder through expander die, and a seat/crimp combo die.

 

[gamestalker]

Ya, I had the same issue when the .40 S&W came into production, the only die set I had was for 10mm. The problem I encountered was with the seating die, and that was because the crimp portion of the die wouldn't reach the case mouth. The fix for that was for me was pretty interesting in it's self, and lead to a new method of working with jacketed bullets that entirely eliminated belling and crimping. But since you are working with a cartridge that will likely require a roll crimp, I doubt my little trick will work.

Unless the crimp portion of the 454 seating die will reach the 45 LC mouth, you'll need to buy a 45 LC seating die.

GS

 

[5thSFGroup]

Midway



Available
Add to Cart
Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die 45 Colt (Long Colt), 454 Casull

The above needs to be purchase with the three die Lee set since the three die Lee set contains the following per Midway


Die Types Included
•Carbide Full Length Sizing Die with Decapping Unit
•Powder Through Expanding Die
•Bullet Seating Die

That seating die does not crimp..just sets depth. The separate crimp die does a fine job.

 

[joecil]

I actually use the Redding Profile Crimp die which is also 45colt/454 Casull. It does a great job. I've also tried the Ranch Dog Lee FCD with the collet design as on rifle rounds and it also works well.

 

[Dunkelheit]

I use .454 brass and load it with .45 Colt data, so i don´t need .45 Colt brass and don´t need another die set. Besides the .45 Colt is slightly shorter than the .454 and may leave burned powder rings in your .454 cylinder.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks for the answers. I was confused because some dies were listed for both, some weren't.

Like rc said, get a set for both and then you don't have to readjust them when you load each.

I'm a bit lazy so I have a turret set up .38 Special dies and another turret set up with dies for the .357 Magnum. The Lee dies I have for the .38 Special will do both .38 Special cases and .357 Magnum cases. The Lee dies I'm using for the .357 Magnum are dedicated .357 dies. I bought them because they were on "super sale" because the store was no longer going to carry the dedicated .357 dies in favor the the dies that load 38/357. For me it's easier to have turrets set up for both because I do load both often. If those dies weren't so inexpensive I probably wouldn't have bought them since I can't load .38 Specials with them. The .357 Magnum dies cost me only $15.99, normally ~$40.

 

[zxcvbob]

Buy an old set of steel .45 Colt dies off ebay or at a gun show (you can get 'em really cheap.) Throw the sizing die in your junk drawer and use your carbide .454 sizer plus your newly-purchased old expander/seater/crimper dies. You'll probably get nice steel locking rings as a bonus.

 

[ljnowell]

Lee makes a separte die for crimping the Casull. I suggest you use that die. Their three die set does not crimp. Also, a disk is cheap and I also go with RC's method. I have a separate set of dies for the Casull. Same with .38 spcl and .357. Instead of fooling around with adjustments, I have separate sets for each.

The three die set most definately does crimp. They say its a bullet seater die but it does in fact provide a crimp. Read the print under notes it says:

Technical Information

Material:
Steel

Die Types Included
Carbide Full Length Sizing Die with Decapping Unit
Powder Through Expanding Die
Bullet Seating Die

Accessories:
Plastic Container
Shellholder
Powder dipper
Load data sheet

Notes:
Adjustable crimp from slight taper to full roll

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/722889/lee-carbide-3-die-set-454-casull

 

[jim8115]

I load .45 and 454 with the 45 colt Lee dies. Reason? I went to buy a 454 casull set, when I opened the box, all the dies were stamped 45LC.

JIM

 

[243winxb]

Interchangeable Lee Dies

Interchangeable dies
Posted by on 19 October 2011 02:01 PM
Frequently, dies from one caliber may be used to load other calibers. Due to the locations of crimping shoulders, the operation may only work for dies of the shorter caliber to the longer. You may notice a label depicting the shorter die in your set for the longer version of the cartridge, we do this to reduce costs.

Even though some dies are interchangable, in many cases, different shellholders are necessary. You can see a complete list of shellholders under "Case Preparation" then "Shellholders and Calibers".



32 H&R Mag - 327 Federal Mag
45 Colt - 454 Casull *
44 Special - 44 Magnum
38 Special - 357 Magnum
30-30 Winchester - 30 Remington
357 Magnum - 357 Maximum
38 Super - 9mm Largo
44 Russian - 44 Special
40 Smith & Wesson - 10mm - 41 Action Express
32 Smith & Wesson - 32 S&W Long - 32 H&R Magnum **

*The 45 Colt expander die will also work for the 454 Casull by backing the die out approximately two turns to compensate for the difference in case length.

**Our dies allow the use of .308 bullets in the 32 H&R Magnum. The other bullet diameter commonly used is .311 and that is the expander that comes with the set. To use .308 bullets, it is necessary to purchase an additional expander and turn it down to .308. This can be done using a drill press and emery cloth or if you buy the additional expander from the factory, we will do it for $10.00.

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