Loading 45 Colt: can I use 45ACP expander & seating dies?

STORMINORMAN · Aug 11, 2016

Friend has a new single action 45 Colt: wants to know if he buys a dedicated 45 Colt Resizing Die we could use the 45ACP expander and seating/crimp dies. Probably just .452 plated RN bullets for plinking.

Thanks in advance for your kind consideration!

6string · Aug 11, 2016

Your friend should be fine with his plan. I have regularly mixed dies marked for "45 ACP" and "45 Colt" to load not only these rounds, but also 455 Webley and 455 Eley. The tolerance variations you encounter in one brand of die to another for these cartridges will tend to exceed specification variations you'll find from SAAMI, Frank Barnes' book, reloading manuals, etc..

In fact, this is a great way to fine tune cast bullet load accuracy to get the ideal case neck tension, crimp, for a properly sized/matched slug.

As another plus, mixing dies like this can allow experimenting with crimp types (ie: taper crimp for ACP, roll crimp for "Long Colt").
But, that's probably more info than you're looking for!!

Best Regards,
Jim

STORMINORMAN · Aug 11, 2016

Thanks!

No, Jim: that's EXACTLY the kind of info I was looking for...

LEE does list two different expander plugs and seater plugs for the two calibers, but I would think those die bodies are probably very similar if not identical. Using a roll crimp on lead bullets is not something I'd envisioned initially, and I'll check out how they describe their Factory Crimp Die: the sleeves do have a different part number for 45ACP & 45 Colt.

Thanks, again!

arjay · Aug 11, 2016

Your seating die probably is a taper crimp.Cant say if that will keep the bullets from walking,you'll just have to try it.

reddog81 · Aug 11, 2016

I don't think the ACP die will do a roll crimp like a .45 Colt die would do but you can probably get it to work. Just watch for the bullets jumping forward.

ddixie884 · Aug 11, 2016

If your dies are "Lee" and it says acp and Auto Rim on the paper insert, I think you will find that if you tighten them down they will roll crimp. Mine do. I think you can neck size 45Colt with acp dies and load with the dies you have. JMHO-YMMV......

STORMINORMAN · Aug 11, 2016

I'll be durned..

reddog81 said:
I don't think the ACP die will do a roll crimp like a .45 Colt die would do but you can probably get it to work. Just watch for the bullets jumping forward.

reddog81: At starting loads under 800 fps with a 230GR bullet I'm hoping setback won't occur.

p.s My LEE dies do show 45 Auto-rim: thanks for the suggestion, ddixie884!

p.p.s. Wonder of wonders the 45 Colt LEE 3 Carbide die set is currently only $25.00 at Cabelas!! My buddy sprang for it since the Re-sizing die was almost that much by itself!

colt_saa · Aug 11, 2016

STORMINORMAN said:
No, Jim: that's EXACTLY the kind of info I was looking for...

LEE does list two different expander plugs and seater plugs for the two calibers, but I would think those die bodies are probably very similar if not identical. Using a roll crimp on lead bullets is not something I'd envisioned initially, and I'll check out how they describe their Factory Crimp Die: the sleeves do have a different part number for 45ACP & 45 Colt.

Thanks, again!

Instead of looking at the Lee FCD, consider the collet crimp die instead.

This will even do a great crimp on jacketed bullets that do not have a cannelure

45 Long Colt is one of the handgun calibers that Lee makes this die in. I think they run about $15

BLUEDOT37 · Aug 12, 2016

ddixie884 said:
If your dies are "Lee" and it says acp and Auto Rim on the paper insert, I think you will find that if you tighten them down they will roll crimp.

Not with my Lee 45ACP/AR Deluxe (4 die) set. It's dated 2009.

I also have Lee's 45 Colt Deluxe set too & you can use the FCD crimp plug from the 45 Colt's die, along with a small spacer in the 45ACP FCD die, to put roll crimps on your 45AR loads needing it.

It's best to buy the appropriate dies as the 45ACP & 45 Colt dies have different diameters anyway.

.

ddixie884 · Aug 12, 2016

Mine is a regular 3 die set and it has a crimp ring in it. I use it to crimp my .45 Auto Rims into the crimp groove for my .45acp revolvers.

Rule3 · Aug 12, 2016

http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Pistol/45%20Colt.pdf

http://www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Pistol/45 Automatic.pdf

Why not use the correct dies for specific caliber, they are not that expensive.?? If the were for both they would be labeled as such

A Revolver die roll crimps and a semi auto taper crimps. The cartridges are not the same as the SAAMI diagrams show,

I suppose a pair of vice grips and channel locks would work also.

DWalt · Aug 12, 2016

For many years, I have used .45 ACP dies for loading .45 Colt. I do not full-length resize .45 Colt cases, only about halfway (sort of like neck sizing), and that necessitates depriming cases separately. I use a .45-70 FL die for doing that. Has always worked fine for me, but I use only lead bullets (.452) and moderate loads.

REM1875 · Aug 12, 2016

6string said:
Your friend should be fine with his plan. I have regularly mixed dies marked for "45 ACP" and "45 Colt"
Jim

Same here I have been using a mixed set for ages. It was all I had at the time I am still using it despite the fact I have new stuff that i have never set up yet and haven't for years.

6string · Aug 13, 2016

The problem with referencing SAAMI specs, is that many guns for these chamberings don't follow those specs, or were built before SAAMI even existed!
Regarding crimp dies, I often use 185-200 grain SWC cast slugs intended for the ACP in my 45 Colt SAAs.... Actually, I've used the same slug (unsized from the mold) in my S&W 455 Hand Ejector for many years! Since the bullet has no crimp groove, taper crimp is fine. I use a light target load, so no problem with bullets creeping out.

There is a lot of fun to be had reloading for all the old 45 revolvers using the mix & match approach to dies! You can solve just about any dimensional issues in the chambers, throats, molds, etc.

Have Fun!!
Jim

da gimp · Aug 15, 2016

A friend bought the Lee carbide .45 Colt 3 die set... I detest their bullet seating die set up... On our Dillon 550B, we use his carbide .45 Colt sizing die on station 1, Dillon's powder die/expander on station 2, an extra .45ACP bullet seating die of mine on station 3 & his .45Colt crimp die (with the bullet seater removed for station 4... this lets me seat the bullet & then crimp it in separate dies... much easier to set than to try & do both on station 3...

There is no reason you cannot use the .45ACP bullet seating die & expander if you use the .45Colt roll crimp.. I've never tried using a .45ACP taper crimp for .45Colt, nor do I know of anyone else who has...

Loading 45 Colt: can I use 45ACP expander & seating dies?

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