Reloading BP Cartridges

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Oohrah!

Oohrah!

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I'm new to reloading, so be gentle. Also, I know there are plenty of places I could ask reloading questions, but this has to do specifically with BP guns and cartridges.

For SASS shooting I use two pistols (Colt 1860 Army and 1858 Rem using conversions cylinders), and a R92 lever action, all shooting 45LC loaded with 25-30gr BP and a 230gr LRNFP bullet. I cast my own bullets. Very economical.

Since I don't have that many bullets to reload at a time, I have only purchased a Lee Hand Loader, which works just fine. Here's my question/problem:

All the new brass fits both cylinders just fine, but after being fired only about half of them will still slide smoothly into the cylinders. The others will not start or only go about halfway in without being forces, which I don't. They all work OK in the rifle, so I've taken to separating them into rifle-only or pistol-only. Is this a common problem? Is there a reloading tool I can get that will resize the brass. Am I doing something wrong? I have to say I do not which gun may be causing this issue.
 
When fired, a case will swell within the chamber (to seal the high-pressure gas from coming out the back). Chambers have (very slightly) different diameters, so a case fired in one chamber might not fit into another chamber. Probably not even the original chamber it was fired in. When reloading, an early step is to size the case. It gets run into a die that has an opening that is well within minimum specs for case diameter. After belling the case mouth, a bullet will fit tightly into the case and you will probably even see where the bullet has swollen the sized case a little. I wish I had some pictures. Anyone?

I think each of us owes it to ourselves to get one of those hardbound reloading books and read everything in it. There is so much information that will help to keep you safe and also to make reloading easier for you. Knowledge is confidence, and will keep you out of the frying pan.
 
Sorry to disagree but if your present reloading tool isn’t producing reliable smooth chambering cartridges, then it’s not working “just fine.” Get a good single stage press like an RCBS, or go ahead and get a good progressive press (I like the Dillon 550 but the arguments are endless!) and make some decent ammo. And get a case gauge at the same time so you can check your reloaded cartridges before attempting to chamber them. The gauge will identify a split case or bad crimp that occasionally sneaks through the process before it can spoil your day at the range.
 
Is there a reloading tool I can get that will resize the brass.
Click to expand...
As LoneGoose said, the brass expands when you fire it. The first step in (almost) any reloading process is to re-size the brass so it goes back to (close to) original diameter and will feed properly into the chamber the next time. You said you're using a Lee hand press. I assume you have Lee's .45 Colt dies for it? The first die in the set is supposed to resize the case at the same time it de-caps the old primer. Make sure this die is adjusted properly. If it isn't screwed in far enough, you may not be fully resizing the case.

Now, .45 Colt chambers can run a bit large in some guns, and you may get extra expansion. The problem is that most dies really don't do much resizing down close to the case head, and can leave that area "bulged" if it had been expanded out to fit a larger than spec. chamber.

They all work OK in the rifle, so I've taken to separating them into rifle-only or pistol-only. ... I have to say I do not which gun may be causing this issue.
Click to expand...
If they all work ok in the rifle, then it's the rifle that has the large chamber.

Is this a common problem?
Click to expand...
Here's a whole thread on it on TFL: https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=500684
 
Your Lee handloader will only size the "neck" area of the cases you are reloading leaving the rest of the case body expanded into the chamber in which it was fired. As the others have pointed out, chambers vary a bit in size. .45 Colt is a straight-wall case and can be easily full-length sized with a C-press" and a set of carbide dies. If cost is an issue, Lee Precision makes a very serviceable and inexpensive press that will size the cases with minimum effort.Their turret press will allow you to keep your dies set up for reloading without having to screw them in and out and adjust each time. The way I handle my black powder pistol brass for reloading it to decap after firing without sizing. Then clean/wash and dry the cases before full length resizing. Neck expanding and belling the case mouth is next, Then I re-prime, load powder, seat bullet and crimp, each as a separate step. Having a case-gauge is a plus if your competition shooting has time limits as it will help eliminate that wayward defective reload that can slip through the inspection process.
 
I'm glad Curator mentioned cleaning the fired cases. I decap them and wash them in a tub at home. Wipe down the outside and use a 45 caliber brush for the interior, then rinse and let air dry. Just takes a few seconds per case. I use an inexpensive Lee single stage press. The only difference is I put a lubed felt wad, the same ones I use in C&B revolvers, between the powder and bullet. I use the same process for 45-70 loads.

Jeff
 
I knew the Lee hand loader only resized the neck area. I also will mention that I do deprime, wash, and tumble clean with walnut shells before any sizing or loading.

It looks like I need to find something like the C press mentioned, or one the Lee presses.

I do use calipers, bit will look into getting a case gauge.

Like I said, Newb, so thanks for the help.
 
If all you're going to do is load .45 Colt (or similar) you could do just fine with a Lee Precision Press like this one: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Precision-Reloader-Press/1317216.uts?productVariantId=3088737

$40 isn't too hard to swallow, if you have a bench you can bolt it down to.

If you don't want to dedicate space at a bench, you can do the same work with the Lee Hand Press for a few dollars less.
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/6...g+-+Metallic+Reloading+Presses-_-Lee-_-665540
 
Thanks Sam1911, but I mainly need something to fully resize 45LC brass, and according to reviews, it looks like these are not suitable for that.

Any other suggestions anybody? Cost not necessarily an issue yet.
 
Why would those not resize .45 Colt brass? Resizing a straight-walled pistol case isn't terribly hard. But certainly there are better options.

Regardless, this certainly would: Lee's Challenger Press, which it seems every reloader owns at one point or another.
https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Br...11890867&sr=8-1&keywords=lee+challenger+press

Any single-stage reloading press should handle resizing .45 Colt, but "O" style (as opposed to "C" style) presses are stronger and often have more leverage.

That includes the Lee Challenger, the RCBS Rockchucker or Partner or Reloader Special, Lyman Crusher, Lee Classic Cast, Redding Boss, etc.

Pretty much anything on this page: https://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetL...0&sortBy=p_price|0||p_metric_sales_velocity|1
 
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If you start reloading for one caliber it's sort of like peanuts or potato chips. You can't do just one. Pretty soon you'll be reloading other calibers be they black or smokeless. I can bet you an E-beer and be darn sure of winning.

So I'd also recommend a bench mount press of some form. If you only have limited space then mount the press onto a roughly foot square piece of 3/4" plywood or two layers glued together of 1/2" plywood. In your bench in a couple of handy spots drill in from the edge about 5 inches and from below install 5/16 top hat nuts spaced about 8 inches apart. This becomes your "quick mount" area for the press and other handy things. So make a bunch of the sub mount plates for other things. One tool that comes to mind would be a nice bench vise if you don't have one over to one side. Another is the NEXT press you buy (can never have too many it seems :D Or there may be some other tool or other that you use on occasion but don't have room to have it set up permanently.
 
Sam1911 said:
$40 isn't too hard to swallow, if you have a bench you can bolt it down to.
Click to expand...

Here is another option for the casual reloader who doesn't have the bench.
rcbs press1.jpg
I built this about 40 years ago for use after work.
My suck job (learn to work with your head, not with your hands!) has had me working out in the sticks away from home, power,
and the associated comforts of modern living for quite a few years.

I put this together so that after work I could work on prepping cases and loading. One perk of the job was that I could just step
out of my tent to do load testing.

This set-up might look a little rough, but it has rode in the back of a work truck getting rained and snowed on quite a bit.
The missing paint on the right of the '0' is from carrying it.
Built with two pieces of 3/4 dense plywood glued and screwed together with a 6"x6" lagged to it that I cut at an angle with a chain saw.
That angle allows it to sit on a footstool (or a log butt) to plumb up for use while sitting in a chair.
Works for sizing rifle cases as well as for pistol.

Drilled the bottom end of the plywood for bolting a Lyman bullet sizer that I set on a tailgate (or table) and attach with cowboys.
The weight of the press lets me size most any bullet.

JT
 
Check out ebay and/or craigslist for used presses. I found an old cast iron "C" style press for not that much (just remember to count shipping!) on ebay. That was my second press. I got my third one (A Lee turret) at a gun show (One of the... "if you buy all my turrets I'll sell you the press for $5.00" deals). Neither of these presses were something that I was really drooling over, I didn't have a specific make/model in mind, but I had my eyeballs peeled (proverbially, not literally) for good deals. Pretty much anything will fit your needs for .45 LC, and the deals are out there!
 
Many decades ago, I got started reloading with a Lyman tong tool. I reloaded many thousands of revolver and rifle cartridges before I decided on a bench mounted press. Even so, I would not recommend it unless you have a bit of free time. A good “C” press is all you need for the 45 long Colt cartridge. Well, the press and dies.

Good luck, you won’t necessarily save any money by hand loading but you will shoot more for the money spent!

Kevin
 
HMM, SASS, sooner or later the quantity shot is going to overload the quantity needed, a progressive press equals more time at the range less time at the bench and the Dillons are the best. My 550 has thirty years, rebuilt once from the ground up. by Dillon and will get passed on to the grandkids. :)
 
whughett said:
HMM, SASS, sooner or later the quantity shot is going to overload the quantity needed, a progressive press equals more time at the range less time at the bench and the Dillons are the best. My 550 has thirty years, rebuilt once from the ground up. by Dillon and will get passed on to the grandkids. :)
Click to expand...
Lots of good advice.
About the Lee handpress....I have three of the things and twelve other presses. (Yes...a 550b and a SQD).i have used the hand presses for reloading cartridges from .25ACP to .416 Rigby. Get a good set of full length carbide dies and it will resize your .45 brass.
 
Pete D. said:
Lots of good advice.
About the Lee handpress....I have three of the things and twelve other presses. (Yes...a 550b and a SQD).i have used the hand presses for reloading cartridges from .25ACP to .416 Rigby. Get a good set of full length carbide dies and it will resize your .45 brass.
Click to expand...

Being fortunate enough to own a winter home in Florida came with the, how do I replicate everything needed to maintain two hobbies, shooting and hand loading in two locations. Well its a good excuse for owning several hand guns, mostly black powder. But didn't want the expense of duplicating high priced Dillions. So Lee's classic turret press, automatic index, with several tool heads, for the winter home, works quite nicely. For black powder cartridges a Lee dipper is used to dump the powder at the powder station. No where near as fast as a progressive but faster than a single stage press. Also used for 38's, 45C's, 380's and the occasional 9mm. Lees cheaper furnace and their thru bullet seizer and liquid Alox takes care of the bullet making end of the process. No big investment but keeps me in ammo. The permanent home has Lyman, RCBS and Dillon equipment, most of it 30 years old or older.
 
I decided to try the Lee turret loader with 45LC dies.

One more question - I used to deprime before washing and tumbling. Looks like it is the depriming die is also the resizing die. I don't think I want to try resizing before cleaning. Some videos I watched show the cleaning with primers still in. Is this OK to get a good clean?
 
It certainly is with smokeless, probably would be ok with BP. But...

There are inexpensive universal depriming dies which would let you quickly run your cases through just to get the primers out before you wash.
https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISIO...9&sr=8-3&keywords=lee+universal+decapping+pin

That way you don't end up pushing BP fouling into your resizing die. It's an extra step but shooting BP in cartridge guns makes some extra steps a good idea sometimes.
 
And the beat goes on, lots of folks these days have discovered wet cleaning with stainless steel pins in special tumblers. Mine are low cost Harbor Freight rock tumblers. Decapping is still an option but its much more effective and leaves the primer pocket clean and shiny, as well as the inside of the case. However my 45C cases for BP never come back to the level of shiny that 45C cases used for smokeless only does. As a trap shooter for a number of years, reloading shot shells required a wash cycle in a nylon bag thru the family washing machine from time to time. Not sure if that would work for brass shells.
 
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