Bullet diameters

[crooked stripe]

I bought about 800 bulk 45 cal 200 gr lswc's at a gun show last week and found they are the wrong size. I was buying for my 45 colt. The box said .451 dia and I should have looked for .453-.454 dia. The only thing that holds the bullets from falling into the case is the wax lube. What do you think. Can I use them? If not it would be a good excuse to look for another shooter.

 

[243winxb]

I think you have a die problem.

 

[LiveLife]

If you can't use them, maybe you can swap them for the right sized bullets in the Buy/Sell/Trade Reloading Components/Gear - http://www.thehighroad.org/forumdisplay.php?f=50

 

[crooked stripe]

Pistol is a new Vaquero in 45 colt. 5.5". I hope that since they are small I can crimp them to hold the bullet and at least shoot somewhat on target till the ones I ordered this morning get here.

 

[rcmodel]

Crimp isn't the answer.
You need more case neck tension.

If the stars are aligned right, the resized but not expanded cases are small enough to have some neck tension on the smaller bullets.

Try putting a bullet in a sized but not expanded case.
If it won't go in, your solution is to use the smaller expander button for the .45 ACP to bell the cases.
Or turn your .45 Colt expander down with a drill & emery paper.

Now you have the proper neck tension and a light crimp is all you need.

That still won't address the undersized bullets gas cutting and leading you barrel.
But if you load them hot enough to give them a swift kick in the butt, they may "bump up" to fit your chamber throats and work just fine.

rc

 

[J2FLAN]

A good while back I loaded some 200gr lswc that I use for 45acp to shoot in my 7" Blackhawk, instead of the 255gr. Not all that bad, but shot WAY low (light bullet). Loading them I turned down the crimp die just a little until it would hold. I only shot 50 and did not notice any bullet run-out.

 

[Fatelvis]

Crimp isn't the answer.
You need more case neck tension.

RC Model got it right. Generally a .452" bullet would be used with your Vaquero, but slugging your cylinder mouths will give you the best answer as to what size to use. A good quick way to tell if a cast bullet is of optimum diameter is to drop the unloaded bullet into the cylinder (as revolver is pointing down) and it should b a r e l y drop through, or have to be "helped along" with a pencil or other kind of stick.

Or turn your .45 Colt expander down with a drill & emery paper.

First try cleaning your expander of any risidual bullet lube or crud, and try seating a .452" bullet in a newly sized case. If it still doesnt grip the bullet well, chuck up your expander in a drill, and sand it down (a little at a time), until your bullet is held firmly using only neck tension when seated. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[dagger dog]

I ran into that problem with NEW cases, I was going to load them the first time with
0.452" inch lead bullets and they dropped to the bottom of the case.

Had to run them through the sizing die, then the neck tension was correct I followed up with a firm crimp into the last cannelure.

In reading about how much crimp, I came across this little bit of advice from John Linebaugh. Set the die to crimp enough that the edge of the case mouth can not be felt when you run your thumbnail across the junction of the bullet and the case.

Also once you size the case, only flare the bare minium to accept the base of the bullet, this will extend case life.

 

[crooked stripe]

All great information, Thank you

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It's been a long time since the bullet diameter for a .45 Colt has been .453"-.454". I think all modern .45 colts and Rugers chambered for the .45 Colt use bullets with the diameter of .451"-.452" almost without exception. Even current 3rd Generation Colt SAA revolvers are chambered in the smaller diameter.

I would be careful if you bought bullets sized to .454" for the New Vaquero. Squeezing down that bullet in the barrel might increase the pressure of your ammo.

 

[Fatelvis]

I ran into that problem with NEW cases,

Ok, now it makes sense....I always size new brass just for that reason. Even if they seem to have the correct neck tension when new, I still feel that sizing them brings them all to the same dimension, and irons out any shipping dings or out of roundness. I'm glad you worked it out. Now give us a shooting report! Good shootin-

 

[USSR]

I would be careful if you bought bullets sized to .454" for the New Vaquero. Squeezing down that bullet in the barrel might increase the pressure of your ammo.

Squeezing down lead bullets a couple thou is no problem in regards to pressure. Many of the .45 Colt revolvers out there have large throats that you simply have to use the larger bullets. My S&W 25-5 has throats of .4545", so I size my bullets with a .455" sizer.

Don

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Squeezing down lead bullets a couple thou is no problem in regards to pressure. Many of the .45 Colt revolvers out there have large throats that you simply have to use the larger bullets. My S&W 25-5 has throats of .4545", so I size my bullets with a .455" sizer.

Don

Don.
What you do and what new reloaders should do are totally different things. New reloaders should be using the correct bullets for safety.

 

[USSR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by USSR View Post
Squeezing down lead bullets a couple thou is no problem in regards to pressure.

Don.
What you do and what new reloaders should do are totally different things. New reloaders should be using the correct bullets for safety.

Arch,

Reread the original quote. With LEAD bullets (unlike jacketed bullets), there is no pressure spike when using a bullet a couple thou larger than bore diameter. They squeeze down easily and there is no safety issue.

Don