This is why you clean and inspect cases

[Grub Master]

I am getting ready to load some for the weekend and this is what I found in the batch I just cleaned.

I have no idea how the primed case on the left got in there.
Should I use the center one with the larger primer hole? What would have caused that? There is a big difference between it and the one on the right and they are both W-W.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The larger flash hole is going to be more common in the future, since there is no detriment to firing the round. If you'll do a search on large flash holes, there are numerous threads on the subject.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Husker_Fan]

I know some makers have .45 brass designed for use with small primers. Could the larger hole be used to insure ignition with small primers? Just a guess as I don't reload .45....yet.

 

[Memnok]

The larger flash hole is likely from factory ammo using a "green" (lead free) primer. I have read they are safe to reload as usual.

 

[Dudemeister]

I don't know much about .45ACP, but I do know there is brass with larger holes in .45LC that is intended for blanks, or for shooting wax bullets in Cowboy Action. The reason for the larger flash hole is that the cartridge usually doesn't contain any powder, rather it's the power of the primer that propels the wax bullet or the rough grain powder for popping balloons.

One thing I know is that the manufacturers of these cases will have a big warning against using them for normal loads. They say that a case with the larger flash hole loaded with powder and a bullet will burst in your gun, likely damaging the gun and possibly causing injury in the process.

So I would personally not attempt to load those

 

[jcwit]

The larger flash hole is likely from factory ammo using a "green" (lead free) primer. I have read they are safe to reload as usual.

Yes this is true! I've reloaded a bunch with no problem.

 

[Sediment]

Load it and shoot it.

 

[bbuddtec]

Finally, flash holes that don't trap walnut! hehe

Rock on!

 

[Steve Koski]

Minnesota - Probably 98% of factory ammo primers are identical to the primers you and I reload with, and they use a lead styphnate compound.

Koski

 

[ReloaderFred]

Question. If the larger flash hole was safe to shoot in the original factory loading, then why wouldn't it be safe to reload?

Answer: It isn't unsafe.

Just load and shoot, and repeat as necessary.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Dudemeister]

Question. If the larger flash hole was safe to shoot in the original factory loading, then why wouldn't it be safe to reload?

Answer: It isn't unsafe.

Just load and shoot, and repeat as necessary.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Well... here is what I'm talking about. This is from Midway's site on .45LC Starline Brass with 0.140 Flash hole:

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THIS BRASS:
The .45 Long Colt Blank has the same external dimensions as the standard .45 Colt but utilizes a 0.140" diameter flash hole to keep the primer from backing out with blanks. FOR BLANK USE ONLY! NOT TO BE LOADED AS LIVE AMMUNITION!!

I is unclear whether this is ammo that the OP bought and fired or simply found (at the range). If this is ammo he bought and fired, the we know that it would work, but is it possible that the actual powder type and load are different than the normal recipe.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I'm fully aware of what blank brass is, and how it's used, especially in .45 Colt. Blank brass is completely different than .45 acp brass from Winchester, Federal and Speer, which is the brass that's going to show up with large flash holes. I could go into the explanation of why the flash holes are larger, but it's been covered many, many times on this forum and most other reloading forums. The search function is your friend.........

I've talked to the company representatives at several different SHOT Shows about this issue and they tell me there's no problem with reloading it. I've reloaded and fired this brass many, many times, and it's not a problem. And .45 acp (Automatic Colt Pistol) brass isn't .45 Colt. If it were .45 acp blanks, there would be either a star crimped mouth or a reduced neck portion, with a heavily roll crimped case mouth to hold the card wad in place. The .45 Colt doesn't require this, since it's intended for revolver use.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[minnesota]

I was under the impression that all of the manufacturers do not use lead in there primers for factory loads, only the primers for reloading have lead in them?

 

[ReloaderFred]

"I was under the impression that all of the manufacturers do not use lead in there primers for factory loads, only the primers for reloading have lead in them?"

Only those rounds and packages that are marked "Non-Toxic" "Win-Clean", etc. contain lead free primers. All others are loaded with lead styphnate priming compound. There may come a time in the future where lead styphnate primers won't be available, but not at this time.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Sport45]

When Winchester first started marketing the "clean" line of .45acp they used a large primer with the large flash hole. There was a warning on their website that the brass should not be reloaded. They have since removed that warning and I no longer try to segregate ACP brass based on flash hole size.

My current "issue" with .45acp brass is that some have small primer pockets...