Gold Dot pulling, .45 colt

[mewachee]

I have notice today that my Gold Dot are loose in my .45 Colt loads. I roll crimp them, but find it difficult to do so with out crushing the case.

Today, one looked a little longer than the others. I thought, should I try to push it in. When I did, the bullet didn't move. Then I tried a little harder and it moved.

I haven't noticed that much pull, but my standard deviation is as high as 50.

As a side note, I have posted about 335 WLNGC's pulling as well, but at Cassul velocities though. The are crimping into a cannelure and then pulling out.

The Gold Dot doesn't have a cannelure, any ideas?

 

[mewachee]

I am considering just slightly expanding the brass 1/64 down, just enough to set the bullet on the brass. Then just jam the bullet in.

How far down do you bell the brass?

 

[dmftoy1]

Just a SWAG . .but is it possible that you've got an expander that's on the "big" side and you're using .45 ACP gold dots at .451 ?? A quick look at Midway's site seems to show a crimp cannelure on the .45 LC gold dot's, but none on the .45 acp's.

Just a wild guess.

Good Luck,
Dave

 

[rcmodel]

+1
The Speer Gold-Dot .45 Colt 250 grain #4484 bullet has a cannulure.
It is the only .45 Colt GD they make.

The 185, 200, and 230 grain HP are for the .45 ACP and do not have a cannulure for crimping.

I would not recommend roll-crimping a plated bullet like the Gold-Dot without a cannulure.
If you cut through the plating, you may end up with a bore obstruction.

rcmodel

 

[mewachee]

rcmodel, went and bought them tonight.

There are 2 reasons for the 230's. The first is that they didn't have the 250's for a couple of weeks at either store I can buy bullets here in town. The second is because I have seen many places where .451 bullets were recommended for the colts. I figured if I were to load them at acp levels, all would be fine.

Part of the problem is the revolver I am shooting is fairly light. I will probably shoot what I have loaded for fun.

I found the 250 grain gold dots at Sportsman's Warehouse, I should get another box just in case. When they are out of something, you never know when they will get it in again.

Now my concern is, with these 250s, do I have to speed them up in order to get them to perform. I was hoping to keep them at or under 1000 fps. From what I know, Gold Dot's open up very well under most conditions.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Lee has a Carbide Factory Crimp Die (Part #90865) for the .45 Colt that works very well. I use a FCD on all my handgun ammo and never have a problem with bullets pulling, bullet setback or crushing them.

 

[mewachee]

How is it that the lee works different/better than RCBS roll crimping or Redding profile crimper. I use the RCBS die. I have seen where others recommend it for my cassul loads as well.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

How is it that the lee works different/better than RCBS roll crimping or Redding profile crimper. I use the RCBS die. I have seen where others recommend it for my cassul loads as well.

mewachee,
Your post seems a little hostile. You asked for suggestions and I gave you a suggestion. If you don't like my suggestion don't use it. I"ll remember not to bother you again, sorry...

 

[PotatoJudge]

I don't see the hostility, just an absence of a ? at the end there and short sentences that make it read a bit choppy and harsh.

I'm voting for 45 acp vs colt tolerances causing your problems. I have loaded 185 grain .451 Golden Sabers in the 45 Colt. While they didn't move in or out, they would spin in their crimp. They shot fine over a bit of Unique.

 

[mewachee]

ArchAngelCD, not at all. I appreciate your impute. I just need to know why this is the go to crimper. They are not sold for the cassul or colt here in town. So I was looking for what is different before I buy it

As far as the whole acp vs. colt thing. every bullet I have tried is in the manual I have. I have one of those manuals that compile from other books for one caliber. The interesting thing is that the .451 230 gr. Gold Dot is in there, but the .452 250 gr. Gold Dot is not. I loaded some of the 250's and they were in fact tighter before crimping than the 230's after crimping.

I normally avoid buy online unless necessary, however bullet is now a perminent part of my arsinal; if I can not find it in town, I will order them. I burn up the others, and not replace them.

Thanks for all your help. I am still want that info on the lee crimper.

 

[Uncle Chan]

I use the Lee FCD on all of my cartridges. And I do mean all. I find it especially useful for my 45LC. The roll crimp will make a groove where none exists. Once crimped, the bullet doesn't go anywhere. I've never tried one on a jacketed bullet, though. I would think a taper crimp would work better there.

 

[rcmodel]

A taper crimp will do nothing at all to hold a revolver bullet against pulling due to recoil.

The Lee FCD for revolvers is fine, but even it is not a cure for improper case neck tension to start with.

You should never be able to spin a bullet in a case with it held only by the roll or FCD crimp.

If your expander button is too big for the bullet being used, turn it down a couple thousands to get correct case neck tension before even worrying about the crimp.

rcmodel

 

[mewachee]

I definitely think there is some to rcmodel last statement. These 250 gr bullets felt like my rifle buttons when I seat them.


It is snowing today. The last time I went shoot in the snow, I ruined my chrono. If the snow breaks, I will test these 250's. I am confident that all will be well. I will respond with the velocity and pull results.

 

[johnmerry]

hey Mewachee How are you doing? This is John merry talking. I load up a substantials amount of hot .45 Long Colt ammo to feed my custom Ruger bisley. The dies I started with were RCBS dies. and after loading up about 1000 rounds with a heavy crimp I can honestly say that their crimp dies stink. here is why, every time I would apply a heavy crimp the die would shear of these little slivers of brass of from the top of the case, which greatly shortens case life. so I bought a lee factory crimp die from Cabelas for right around 15.00 and have been very happy sense
What the LFD does is it presses the top of the case into the crimp canal giving it a flat appearance and at the same time it fully resizes the case.Now my super heavy load is a 370gr brute at 1500 fps from a 5 1/2 inch barrel. I do not really hunt with it I just like to watch tough guys shoot it after five rounds most of them are not that tough. The RCBS dies would not hold the bullet in place. But the LFD? How sweet it is.