45 Colt / 45 Auto Rim

pantannojack

pantannojack

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NOt at all happy with the over sized case of the 45 Colt cartridge, using todays low pressure powder charges, Red dot, 231, etc. And that I opened a bottle or Aliant Unique dated 1994 suffering low booms and sensitivity to powder position in case, up or down causing pressure spikes at historically satisfying charge of 8.5g under a 220g round nosed lead Lee mold drop sized .452. I think the powder needs to be fertilizer, I don't believe a mag primer would help, I tried over powder tissue stuffing to no remedy.

So if 38 spcl is good in a 357 mag chamber and a 44 spcl is good in a 44 mag chamber, Does a 45 Auto Rim sound usable in a 45 Colt chamber loaded appropriately? An opinions?
 
If the revolver is conventionally chambered in 45 Colt, wouldn't the thick rim of the 45 AR be a problem? If it is used in a revolver converted to use moon clips, it should be OK. My M1917 converted to shoot 45 Colt with moon clips does OK with 45 AR as well as 45 ACP in moon/half moon clips.
 
You didn't say what revolver you are shooting, but I used 45 Scholfield cases in my Triple lock that was modified to 45 Colt by way of a shaved recoil shield. A couple of the chambers were short which required Colt 45 cases to be trimmed excessively, a real PIA. I had a smith touch up the chambers but until that was done the shorter Scholfield cases worked fine.
Midway has them on sale now at $18/100.

John
 
If you make a .45 Colt work in a .45 ACP revolver, please post pictures...
 
6.5 gr of Red Dot with a 250 gr bullet has been a sweet spot for me. It is dirty. There are not many case filling loads for that 45 Colt case unless you go black powder.
 
Auto Rim brass will not work, the rim is much too thick. You want wimpy smokeless loads, use 45 Cowboy brass, that's why it exists. As for me, I stuff the case with all the 3F it will hold, compress it with a card wad, and top it with a Lyman 454190.
 
The rim is too thick on the 45 Auto-Rim to work properly .
But ... a good answer is 45 Cowboy Special ... a case that is basicly a short 45 Colt ... it has a 45 Colt rim but is the length of a 45 ACP case so you can use 45 ACP reloading dies to seat and crimp bullets ... a case can still be sized in 45 Colt sizer .
I'm surprised someone doesn't make a dedicated 45 Cowboy Special
3 or 4 Die Set ... it would be a good seller !
There may be a die set out there ... I haven't looked !
Gary
 
pantannojack said:
NOt at all happy with the over sized case of the 45 Colt cartridge, using todays low pressure powder charges, Red dot, 231, etc. And that I opened a bottle or Aliant Unique dated 1994 suffering low booms and sensitivity to powder position in case, up or down causing pressure spikes at historically satisfying charge of 8.5g under a 220g round nosed lead Lee mold drop sized .452. I think the powder needs to be fertilizer, I don't believe a mag primer would help, I tried over powder tissue stuffing to no remedy.

So if 38 spcl is good in a 357 mag chamber and a 44 spcl is good in a 44 mag chamber, Does a 45 Auto Rim sound usable in a 45 Colt chamber loaded appropriately? An opinions?
Click to expand...

been using Unique in 45LC for over 40 years.........8.5 gr behind my cast 250 gr bullet........NEVER a problem..........Your powder is deteriated.(sp)
 
Last edited:
The older I get, the less interested in forcing something to fit, I am.

The 45 Colt was designed with and for black powder. Unless you’re using BP, what you’re trying to do is outside of the cartridge’s design parameters. And Yes, I know it’s been done for years. A lot of bad ideas persist.

A long time ago, a gentleman named Elmer Kieth switched from 45 Colt to 44 Special. That was a good idea then. It’s a good idea now. You Officially have an excuse to buy another gun. Get going.
 
Yendor357 said:
The older I get, the less interested in forcing something to fit, I am.

The 45 Colt was designed with and for black powder. Unless you’re using BP, what you’re trying to do is outside of the cartridge’s design parameters. And Yes, I know it’s been done for years. A lot of bad ideas persist.

A long time ago, a gentleman named Elmer Kieth switched from 45 Colt to 44 Special. That was a good idea then. It’s a good idea now. You Officially have an excuse to buy another gun. Get going.
Click to expand...

Your lone opinion............Against 10's of thousands of others.....Do you even own a 45LC?..........GEEZ!
 
I have used 231 in the 45 Colt for years and never found it to be position sensitive. Works great for me with my cast 255 grain bullets.
If anyone that trashes Unique wants to throw it out PM me and I will send my address and you can send it to me. I will dispose of it 8.5 grains at a time.
 
twodog max said:
I have used 231 in the 45 Colt for years and never found it to be position sensitive. Works great for me with my cast 255 grain bullets.
If anyone that trashes Unique wants to throw it out PM me and I will send my address and you can send it to me. I will dispose of it 8.5 grains at a time.
Click to expand...

I also have used Win 231 for “cowboy loads” in .45 Colt with 250 grain lead FN bullets. Works fine. I tested Win 231 for velocity variances depending on position in .38 Special long ago and it doesn’t change. I pointed the gun up before 1 shot then down before the next, etc. Another reason I use W-231 for lots of cartridges and might have more than 1 pound…
 
I second the use of the .45 Schofield cases. They have almost the same relationship length wise to .45 Colt cases as do .38 and .44 Special to .357 and .44 Magnum. I have found .44 Special data to work well in the Schofield case as the two cases are only one grain apart in water capacity. Also the Schfield case having a slightly bigger diameter rim ejects well.
 
tennexplorer said:
I second the use of the .45 Schofield cases. They have almost the same relationship length wise to .45 Colt cases as do .38 and .44 Special to .357 and .44 Magnum. I have found .44 Special data to work well in the Schofield case as the two cases are only one grain apart in water capacity. Also the Schfield case having a slightly bigger diameter rim ejects well.
Click to expand...

Does the longer jump to the rifling cause velocity loss, accuracy loss, cruded up cylinders throats?.......I will just continue on like I have for the last forty years.
 
In an unmolested 45colt revolver 45 Schofield or Cowboy Special might solve your issues. Ive never noticed a problem with the shorter brass but then I’m not building target loads just minute of sass marshal loads. I prefer shotgun powder in my pistol loads, Red Dot, Clays, Clay Dot.
 
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