Beware of 45 GAP brass

[tooltech]

If you load 45ACP.

I was sorting some range brass the other day, and ran across a lone 45GAP case. I was about to throw it in the scrap bucket, when curiosity got the better of me.

The cases are close enough that if you don't pay attention, you could get bitten. Especially if you use a case feeder.

I ran it through my progressive by itself. It feels noticeably different in the sizing die, and of course a large primer won't fit. It will NOT fully cycle the powder measure, so at best you will get a light powder squib. (Be careful if you are loading small primer 45 ACP ) It seats just fine, even without flaring the case, but no crimp can be applied.

Here is the finished round (sans powder and primer) compared to a normal 45ACP round:

 

[beeenbag]

I done this with a 380 while reloading 9mm. I noticed it felt funny when sizing but payed little mind to it, then when I seated a bullet, it hit me. It was easy to notice the difference by a mild glance after running through the seating die though, even if you didn't notice it in the dies.

Easily done my friends, reloading needs your 100% attention at all times.

 

[Lost Sheep]

There's the other direction, too

I have found that if you have good leverage, you can easily load and seat a 45 ACP bullet into a 460 Rowland case. You can even chamber it. I have no doubt that your gun would fire it, too, but only one. If you smush the Rowland case down to 45 ACP headspace dimensions, the crimp applied is tremendous and there is no place for the brass to release the bullet. Bye-bye gun.

Sorry, no pictures.

Lost Sheep

 

[Intel6]

As you note the GAP has a small primer. This alone will keep you from ever loading a GAP case by mistake as it will not make it through the priming station.

 

[beeenbag]

As you note the GAP has a small primer. This alone will keep you from ever loading a GAP case by mistake as it will not make it through the priming station.

Not always true... some people actually prefer small pistol primer 45 acp. There are quiet a bit of it out there now.

 

[gregj]

This is exactly why, when I sort out my range brass I set them headstamp down on the bench top. This way I can easily pick out a GAP from the 45ACP, or the errant 40S&W, due to the noticeable difference in heights. I do the same for 9mm to spot any missed 380. I then pick up a handful at a time to sort out the NT (or small primer) headstamps.