Please refresh my memory, I have 45 Colt dies and have used them to reload 45 Scofield casings.

Is there enough adjustment to also load the 454 Casull? Or do I need to obtain 454 Casull dies due to the much longer casing length?

Randy

Hi Randy,
It's more than just case length that is an issue.
Straightwall cases aren't actually straight, they taper.
But, if your 45 Colt dies are carbide they will try to make your cases straight!
The problem is the carbide ring will either be too oversized to give adequate case neck tension on the bullet, or the carbide ring will be too undersized and will leave the case wall ahead of the web and head area unsupported by your cylinder chambers.
Given the high pressure of the Casull cartridge, either situation is not ideal.
If I am not mistaken, the Freedom Arms branded dies that came out in the 1980s were regular steel so that the sizer could be cut with the correct case taper along its full length.
If your dies are steel, you might be in luck. For years 45 Colt dies have been all over the map dimension-wise.
Assuming your revolver has correct tight chambers, a resized case should be as snug a fit as possible without any force needed. Then, make sure your expander plug is a correct match to your chosen bullet diameter.

Jim

I’ve used 45 acp and .45 Colt dies to size Casull brass. The only thing I recommend to get is a Lee factory crimp die. The Casull’s recoil and slow burning powder benefit from a solid crimp the fcd can provide without damaging the case.

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I use a set if 45 Colt RCBS carbide dies for my 454's and a Lyman roll crimp die to finish them off, I had problems with H110 not getting consistent burns until I got the roll crimp die.

I believe my dies are marked 45 Colt/454. I know I have loaded both calibers with that one set of dies.

From what I see on case dimensions, a die set for a .460 S&W would work to reload a Casull?

Right or wrong here?

Randy

I believe the sizer will work. BUT you may need a shorter seater and crimp will need to fit also! The true "Only Way to Tell" is to try it! The die companies change things for ease of manufacturing. So an older set may or may not work, but a newer set could be the opposite! (my original Lyman 1960's All American non carbide 45 ACP dies had a roll crimp!)

Ivan

I haven't tried 460 dies, but usually it works this way. .44 Special dies will load magnums and even 444 Marlin. But not the other way around.

If you buy 357 mag dies, many won't do 38's. You can use .38 Spec dies for .357 mag and I have loaded .357 Max with the same .38 Spec die.

There was a recent post about 10 mm seat die not working for 40 S&W, but .40 dies work on the longer 10's.

Short of crimping, I have loaded 45 Colt and .454 Casull with .45 ACP dies. I've loaded .45 Win Mag with the same.

Except the Win Mag I have dies dies for all, but haven't always.

Ivan, I have a set of carbide Lyman 9mm Para dies date stamped 1998 that features roll crimp?

Clear as Mud...

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