I just received a letter from Remington.

"We believe that the nickel plate peeling may be related to a problem with a washing step prior to the plating process. The surface finish on the brass wasn't fully prepared to hold the nickel plating. Both a wash and a surface traetment are part of the plating preparation"

They are going to send me a check for $35.00. I think that's fair since I only sent back less than 50 cases.

Hope this is of some interest.

That's good to hear that they admitted a problem and took care of it. That's the only way they know of a problem if customers tell them.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Loading 45 Colt for about 15 years, only one bullet ever gave consistently small groups for me in different revolvers, very soft lead swaged 255 grain, 0,455 diameter bullet that Remington has made forever.

The soft lead 255 grainer worked very well through throats from 0,452 to 0,454 and bores from 0,451 to 0,454. Just about any powder in amounts giving standard velocities (600 to 900 fps) gave respectable to excellent groups with this bullet. I quit buying all other 45 caliber bullets for revolvers.

I suspect that excessive splitting of 45 Colt cases is partly, even heavily, related to chamber sizes, which can be very generous on 45 Colts. Each revolver I used had very consistent chamber diameters, smallest on a R&D 45 Colt conversion cylinder and largest on Ruger -- and range brass was often even larger. Brass was trashed when it became too work hardened (happened quickly) or when it split, and lots split, especially after 5 or more loadings. I attributed rapid work hardening to generous chamber diameters in all but the R&D conversion cylinder -- my resizing dies just barely sized the brass small enough to drop into the R&D cylinder.

I too got rid of all my 45 Colts, and now mostly shoot a 44-40 Ruger and various 357s. 45 Colt was the least satisfying cartridge to load, over about 50 years of reloads, including 32-20 and 44-40, both often considered a pain to reload.

Niklas

I didn't see anyone suggest IMR Trail Boss for the .45 Colt, so I will. It's proven to be very accurate for me in this caliber. It's not meant to be a barn burner in the velocity department, but it is accurate with cast bullets. I prefer a 200 gr. RNFP for my .45 Colts, and it's accurate when combined with Trail Boss.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Groo here
One of the most accurate shells I shot was the old rn lead
CCI alu case 45 colt... Not made now..
Try Hornity 250 gr lead RN with a good dose of Unique.. 8 to 9 gr

I load a lot of 9mm, 38 Special, 40 S&W, 44 special, and 45 ACP using both normal brass an nickel plated cases. Over the years i have noticed that nickel lated brass does not have the longevity of normal brass cases. There is a greater tendency for case splits which appears more frequently with Remington brass but does also occur with Winchester and Federal brass. I had one batch of 357 magnum R-P nickel plated cases in which ca. 5 to 10% would split upon each reloading.

I recently got a couple hundred Starline nickel .44 special cases.
As I started to size them after the first reload I noticed that
the nickel seems to gall a little on the carbide die. I broke down
and lubed the cases lightly and man, what a difference. After
polishing the die with some JB bore compound (more of a cleaning;
I don't think anything short of diamond dust will cut the carbide),
everything went very smoothly.
This is the first time I have ever used lube with a carbide die.
The Starline cases seem quite a bit thicker than others especially
near the base.
If you are experiencing scratches on the nickel give some lube a try.

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Nemo

I had the same problem. A complaint to Federal revealed that it was a known issue with the early 32 mag Fed brass. Apparently it was not properly annealed at the factory. They were actually recalled
and subsequent brass ever since has been fine.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Bumping this one to the top for all of you loading 45 Colt today.

Lots of good info here .


Good luck

Allen frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

Buff,

I have a box of loaded W.R.A. 45 ACP Auto Rim. I was very surprised. Just FYI, not trying to be picky, few know that it was also loaded by Winchester.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I reload Rem brass all the time with no issues. I never acquire enough plated brass of any brand to bother reloading.

Those of us who load and shoot the 444 Marlin are stuck with Remington brass.
Oddly, this particular case has a very good reputation and is used for all sorts of wildcats.
Many experts praise the strength of this brass.
I have never had a problem with it but also don't go thru it the way I do other 44 rounds.

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Nemo