45 Colt Sizing Dies

[minuteman]

I'm currently using Starline Brass with Lee dies and I thought I'd ask others who have other brands of 45 Colt dies what theirs are sizing at.

My new, unsized brass measures .476 just above the rim and a trip through the Lee carbide die leaves them at .469. Once they're sized, I have to bell them before I can get the trimmer into the case and once I seat the lead it noticeably bells the brass around it. I'm getting split cases around the 4th or 5th reload.

Just wondering if the Lyman or RCBS carbide dies are a bit nicer on the brass and size closer to .476.

Thanks, 

Jason

[Paden]

Jun 15, 2016 18:09:22 GMT -5 minuteman said:

I'm currently using Starline Brass with Lee dies and I thought I'd ask others who have other brands of 45 Colt dies what theirs are sizing at.

My new, unsized brass measures .476 just above the rim and a trip through the Lee carbide die leaves them at .469. Once they're sized, I have to bell them before I can get the trimmer into the case and once I seat the lead it noticeably bells the brass around it. I'm getting split cases around the 4th or 5th reload.

Just wondering if the Lyman or RCBS carbide dies are a bit nicer on the brass and size closer to .476.

Thanks, 

Jason

Where is your case splitting occurring?

Here's a cut/paste from a post I made in a much earlier thread. (It was a slightly different topic, but an easy place to grab some measurements I had already taken). I use Starline brass and a Redding carbide die; I don't trim my brass or full length size. I only "neck size" to the depth of my bullet:

Bullet sized to .452 =.4520
Case after sizing with Redding Carbide sizing die = .4700
Case after expanding = .4715
Case with bullet seated = .4750
Case after maximum roll crimp applied with Redding Profile Crimp die = .4750
Case after bullet removed with inertia hammer puller = .4730
Bullet after removal = .4520

[minuteman]

Cases split around the base of the seated bullets. The lead I buy measures between .452 and .454 and with a seated bullet the case is back to .475. That's why I'm curious if there's an off the shelf sizer die that wouldn't seem to hourglass the brass.

I use the same cartridges between a carbine and revolver and the carbine leaves a bulge about 1/4" above the rim in a distinct spot (not all the way around) that prevents seating in the revolver so unfortunately I'm stuck with full length sizing.

Thanks for the measurements. Looks like yours were taken at the case mouth and give a similar effect as mine, though not as extreme.

[nicholst55]

Several people have gone back to a plain old steel sizing die to solve the problem of overworking .45 Colt brass. I suppose one could buy one of the (expensive) Redding dual ring carbide sizers, as well.

[Paden]

Jun 16, 2016 5:51:11 GMT -5 minuteman said:

Thanks for the measurements. Looks like yours were taken at the case mouth and give a similar effect as mine, though not as extreme.

You're welcome. All my measurements taken at the point of the two driving bands, down a ways from the mouth.

[dougader]

Huh. I've never had a case split down around the base of a seated bullet. Usually the case mouth.

I use Lee, RCBS, Hornady, and Redding pistol dies. My 45 Colt dies are RCBS.

[Deleted]

The "Cowboy" reloading dies from RCBS & Hornady could help a bit, they're made a bit oversized. I have tried using LEE Factory Crimp Dies with the crimping innards removed in the past to size cases for a 44 mag S&W that required .433 bullets. It worked okay, but I really needed a little more neck tension.

[minuteman]

Jun 16, 2016 19:58:28 GMT -5 @358156hp said:

The "Cowboy" reloading dies from RCBS & Hornady could help a bit, they're made a bit oversized. I have tried using LEE Factory Crimp Dies with the crimping innards removed in the past to size cases for a 44 mag S&W that required .433 bullets. It worked okay, but I really needed a little more neck tension.

I removed the Lee FCD from my turret because both it and the seater die seem to be a roll crimp and I saw no advantage in the extra step. From what I've read, the FCD die in rifle calibers uses a different crimp than the seater die so it's worth it as an option. Next trip to the range I'll have to use it to size with and see if there's a difference. 

Posted by nicholst55

Several people have gone back to a plain old steel sizing die to solve the problem of overworking .45 Colt brass. I suppose one could buy one of the (expensive) Redding dual ring carbide sizers, as well.

Never thought about it but I guess it makes sense that the manufacturers wouldn't retool to allow for a carbide coating and yet keep the same sizes? Maybe the .005 that's it's overworking it is due to the carbide?

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I'll play with the Lee FCD a bit and maybe check into the RCBS Cowboy dies since they advertise being bigger for cast bullets. 

Jason

[okie44]

I have thought about trying these.

www.redding-reloading.com/online-catalog/124-dual-ring-carbide-dies

[450ak]

Lee dies are pretty good but the best part is they are easily modified to fit your sixgun. Harbor freight sells some chink diamond files that will open a carbide ring quickly. Sometimes this is what you have to do took me a week of early mornings to open a set of dies to match my 44 vaquero dies to fit .433 throats. Unless you want to shot pure lead slugs, the factory dies ain't gonna make you happy.

[wfngc]

I adjust the die body depth on Lee carbide dies so it only resizes the case mouth the length of the bullet from the crmp groove to the bullet heel or base depending on the bullet type. i have had no problems with case mouths splitting or case web seperation with moderate 850 to 900 fps loads.

[minuteman]

I thought I'd revisit this. I found a good price locally on a set of steel RCBS dies and picked them up with a tub of Unique case lube. Long story short, I'll just leave the carbide dies alone. The RCBS dies are much better quality and give a far superior result, for my needs anyway. No more bottlenecking and much better expanding. I don't mind seating and crimping in one die either as I only load one bullet.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[pbcaster45]

This old post of mine addresses the same problem... Hope it helps!

singleactions.proboards.com/thread/3419/uberti-73-winchester-colt-problems

I really need to shoot the Uberti 73 some more!