My buddy just bought a 454 Ruger Super Redhawk. I already reload 45Colt for him and me and I am wondering if I can use the 45Colt dies for the 454 Casull. The 454 case is thicker I believe, and .1” longer but I should be able to adjust for the length. I have the factory crimp die for the 45 Colt as well.
I would have to get a 454 Casull cartridge length gage of course to check
reloaded rounds. Thanks, Willyboy

They should work, but it might depend on the exact dies. I was able to get my .45 Colt dies to work for .460 S&W which is half an inch longer. The cylinder works fine as a cartridge gauge.

I forsee a number of potential problems.
There's more to it than just being able to shove a loaded round into the cylinder.
First, 45 Colt reloading die tolerances are all over the map. Some size brass with the intention of using .451/452" bullets, some size brass with the intention of using 454" bullets.
Furthermore, the belling or flare die insert may be intended for correct neck tension with either range of bullets, complicated all the more by whether intended for jacketed or lead bullets.
Meanwhile, the 454 Casull was totally designed around the tightest possible tolerances, outside of a benchrest rifle.
When the Casull first came out, Freedom Arms offered a set of reloading dies. They featured a plain steel sizing die. The intent was to size the brass full length while preserving the taper of the case. This is not possible with a conventional carbide sizing die. These use a carbide insert sized to the smallest diameter of the cartridge's specs, i.e.: the neck diameter. That's why so many reloaded cartridges have the weird constriction above the web of the case.
This constricted part of the cartridge is unsupported by the chamber walls. Given the high pressure of the Casull, and case splits may be just the start of your troubles. Maybe....

Now, these are only "potential" problems. You may get lucky and the numbers will all line up. Also, I have no idea how strict Ruger is with adherence to chambering tolerances.

Best Regards,
Jim

Thanks for the input. I won’t have the Ruger available when I am reloading
so I will need a separate cartridge gage. I did notice some 45Colt dies specify that they can be used for 454 Casull but most do not. Willyboy

I was having problems with loading the 454's with my 45 Colt RCBS dies, but that was because I didn't take the time to reset the dies and tried using the spacer from my 357/38 dies. The problem was resolved by getting a separate set of Hornady dies for the 454, no problems since.

I've been using a set of Lee .45 Colt dies to reload .454 Casull for my Ruger Redhawk Alaskan. I've had no problems using cast bullets sized to .452 and jacketed bullets from Hornady that are .451-.452. I crimp into the crimping cannelure on the bullet and COAL is always within SAAMI specs and fits the cylinder properly.

Groo here
I hve one of the first adj sights FA 83 454's and the FA dies.
The FA is NOT made like the Ruger or Taurus guns.
Both Ruger and Taurus will shoot 45 colt factory loads.
The 45 colt is often loaded with .454 cal bullets.
My original Fa guns would not chamber ANY factory 45colt shell.
Too Tight.
I got to the point that I started using the 454 dies for ALL my loads
So I could shoot any load in the 454 if I wanted...
Do your self a favor and just get Dies marked 454.

I had a Ruger SRH 454C & used my 45 Colt Lee Deluxe Pistol Die Set (which includes the FCD) to load for both 45 Colt & 454C. I don't recall having any issues related to the loading dies.

Don't know what type of bullet you'll be loading in the 454C but my SRH had large throats (.455-.456") & because of that it always leaded with .452" cast lead bullets. That was just one of the reasons I sold it & got a S&W 460.

If you plan on loading/shooting 45 Colt cases using AA9, in the SRH 454C, read this:
AA#9 Squibs in 45 Colt cases

Don't forget to use small rifle primers for the 454C & give the bullets a heavy roll crimp to avoid jumping crimp.

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I've never seen those FA 454C dies but I think I know what you're getting at.

The 454 Casull is a straight walled case (SAAMI specs: .4775" O.D.), same diameter mouth to rim.

To get the proper bullet-neck tension, & avoid jump crimp issues, the neck needs to be sized ~.003-.004" smaller than the .452" bullet. Seating the bullet in the flared case expands the case mouth/neck out to hold the bullet snugly leaving the bullet's profile visible.

A typical sizer for the 454C or 460S&W might have a ~.468" I.D.

I never got any case splitting above the web & I always full length sized my 454C cases with a TC sizing die.

Full length sizing the case, down to the web, results in a bright ring where the stronger/thicker web is compressed but not as much as the brass case wall above it.

Handloaders that don't like to see that ring adjust the sizing die to stop just before the web or neck size the case only. One thing that results from doing it this way is in an abrupt sizing step being visible.

Was that FA 454C sizing die cut like "an old" steel 9mm Parabellum (which IS a tapered case) sizing die, with a tapered cut inside, mouth to rim? (TC ring dies can only straight size the 9mm walls.)

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Waiting for the break of day

Which brand of dies do you have?


The Lee 4 die Carbide set I use #90967 does both 45 Colt and 454 Casull and that is verified by Lee.

I think the Hornady full length Nitride sizing die I have will to but never tried it or checked the site for confirmation.

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Thanks everyone for the information. I currently have RCBS 45Colt dies
which I don’t believe will work for the 454 Casull. Willyboy