hand loading .45 Schofield question

J

Johnnu2

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I have a Uberti Schofield in .45 Colt; but I want to use the shorter .45 Schofield round. THE PROBLEM IS, the RIM of the .45 Schofield case is slightly larger in diameter than that of the .45 Colt case and I've read that the Schofield case will not chamber because it will hit the ratchet (I don't have cases to test this but am quite sure it is correct). So, THE QUESTION IS: are the case CAPACITIES similar enough that I can simply trim the Colt cases to the Schofield length and then use the loading manual loads for the .45 Schofield in my .45 Colt cases?
THANKS,
J.
 
My mixed 45lc rims measure from .507-.510 supposed to be .512, my schofield starline brass measure .520. That’s only .004 larger. I’m pretty sure that modern schofield brass will work in your revolver. I have an ASM Schofield .45lc revolver and have no issues using Schofield brass.
 
Place a 45Colt case in the Uberti cylinder and take a very close look at the rim and how much clearance there is betw it and the ratchet.
There's most likely a cut-out in the ratchet for the 45Colt case rim and very little extra room if any for a larger rim.

If the chamber was cut with a standard SAAMI cylinder chamber reamer for 45Colt, the rim recess dia should be .516 (+.0015).
That wouldn't allow a 45 Schofield rim to chamber given the spec listed.

But perhaps with the popularity of the 45 Schofield and SASS, the mfg'r made the rim recess a few .000 larger in dia to accomodate.
 
Why don't you try a round and see? Go to a gun store and ask the counter person to check and see.

I have 4 Ruger Vaqueros in 45 long colt modern Scofield work in all of them! As well as all of my lever actions in 45 Colt.

Guns like Colt SAA and early S&W 25's have "Recessed" chambers and Scofield will never work in them, but I have Clone Copies of SAA'a with flat faced cylinders and 45 Scofield worked in all of them!

There is an old Army round from the late 1800's/early 1900's called 45 US or 45 US ARMY, this was ammo for late usage in old Scofield's, 45 SAA's & Colt 1908 revolvers. It is Scofield length and has a Colt rim, it uses a 230 grain lead or jacketed bullet (depending on which batch you find) and loaded to 810 fps. It is what the 45 ACP was designed to duplicate. So to answer your second part Yes you can trim. (the old ammo uses a long conical shaped bullet)

Original Scofield was 200 grain lead loaded to 710 fps with 22 grain of FFFG, which won't fit in modern Scofield brass. There were civilian loadings with 230 and 250 grain bullets also.

Ivan
 
Thanks for the thoughts everyone.... appreciate the responses.
Ivan.... I haven't gone to a store since last March.... anykind of a store. But you can bet that as soon as things clear up, I will be to the local LGSs pronto.
J.
 
All my revolvers chambered for 45 Colt will accept the 45 Schofield rounds with no problems. I use Starline brass.
 
peh_7 said:
All my revolvers chambered for 45 Colt will accept the 45 Schofield rounds with no problems. I use Starline brass.
Click to expand...

Yes, BUT, are they Schofield's. or standard SAA or Smiff DA's ? It's my understanding that the Schofield ratchet assembly will not accommodate the 45 Schofield IF chambered for the 45 Colt.....

J.
 
It's been suggested that I use the Starline .45 Cowboy Special brass since the rim diameter is exactly the same as the .45 Colt cartridge case; and, I will get the shorter OAL that I've been looking for. I've got a back order in with Starline (as we speak) and anticipate using a mixture of reloading dies for 'belling', seating and crimping. Load data is relatively non-existent, but I've been told that the case capacity is very close to that of the .45ACP. Also, that Trail Boss is a good powder along with Unique. SO.... THAT'S THE ANSWER.
J.
 
Original Scofield was 200 grain lead loaded to 710 fps with 22 grain of FFFG, which won't fit in modern Scofield brass. There were civilian loadings with 230 and 250 grain bullets also.

Ivan[/QUOTE]

This was because the original brass case was a balloon head design and doesn’t have a solid head which makes for a larger case that can hold more black powder. They are naturally weaker and should not be used. I have some balloon cases in .450 Webley that I bought not knowing any better.
 
Last edited:
Several years ago when I bought my Uberti Schofield replica, I sent an email to Starline inquiring about their .45 S&W brass. They replied that it was the same as their .45 Colt brass but shorter, which I guess from a manufacturing standpoint would make sense.
They said that .45 Colt reloading dies could be used after adjusting for the shorter case length.

I have no experience with loading black powder in my gun, but I would think that with smokeless powder in the .45 S&W cases, target velocity, cast bullet .45 ACP loading data should be fine.

You might want to check with Starline and see if the .45 S&W dimensions are still the same as the .45 Colt other than case length.
 
Thanks Walter, I already put in my order for the 45 Cowboy Special brass. I had contacted Starline to confirm it's rim diameter so, there's no question it will fit well. It's even shorter than the 45 Schofield brass which I like because the Uberti cylinder is so short. Just for the heck of it, here's a picture of my Uberti Schofield .45COLT "founders model"; I really think it's a beauty:




J.
 
Very sharp revolver. Here’s mine with a shorter bbl.
 

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