45 loading question

[Grizz]

can 45 ACP dies load 45 Colt? I'm looking at an alternative to buying this ->

https://www.luckygunner.com/45-long-col ... 500-rounds

which looks close enough to the 45 Super pistol load ...

thots?

[samsi]

My first thought was no, then I went and resized a couple Remington 45 Colt cases - one each in an RCBS carbide Colt sizer and the other in the same but ACP. There's not enough measurable difference between the two to be an issue, they're virtually identical. You'd still probably want to pick up a roll crimp die unless you're okay with taper crimped Colt cartridges.

Also, I believe it's recommended to use Colt dies for loading the 45 Cowboy Special (or maybe just the sizer) but I've always used the ACP dies and not had any issues.

[2ndovc]

I've used the same set for .45 ACP, .45 AR, .45 Cowboy Special and .45 Colt with no issues. I've since added an extra sets so I don't have to constantly readjust the dies for each cartridge.

jb

[Griff]

I've always used 45ACP dies for the 45 Auto, and 45 Colt sizers for the 45 Colt and Cowboy45Special. ACP dies give a slight taper to the case. I don't have any Dillon dies for the ACP, just RCBS, and I'm not sure they're tall enough for the Colt.

[Grizz]

thanks for the feedback everyone, I don't have any 45 Colt brass. Yet.

[Sixgun]

Like Sami’s says, the carbide dies for both the acp and the 45 Colt will leave your brass the same diameter which will leave your loaded cartridge not fitting the chamber in line with the throat/barrel. Roll crimp using heavy loads is another issue as is the neck expander along with the proper formed seating stem…….you want the bullet to be pushed uniformly into the die….….yea, in a pinch with light loads and light bullet weight.

You will be overworking the brass along with other issues discussed above. The 45 Colt is one cartridge where the steel sizer works the best………

A hammer, vise, a skinny nail and a $1.98 scale will load about everything but there’s a reason why I have 75 or more sets of dies.—-006