.45ACP Easiest To Load?

[ACP230]

An occasional dropped case wouldn't bother me too much.

The other problem with 9mm, for me, is that I can't find a real accurate 9mm load. I've used TC and RN lead bullets, and 124 and 115 grain FMJs and got indifferent results with all of them.

The two problems together make it my least favorite pistol round to load.

 

[ChuckS1]

I like the .45 ACP but the .45 Colt is just a tad bit more fun for me.

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

Just another observation...I just finished reloading several hundred .45ACP and am in the process of doing the same with 9mm. I have surplus Canadian IVI military brass and find that every 10th or 12th case has an "undersize" primer pocket that results in a partially seated primer stuck in the case, which in turn traps the case in the shell holder. This stops the whole works until I can pop the primer out of the case...minor, but a royal pain...and the IVI is such good brass.

 

[5906fan]

.45acp is easy to load. I like 200gr cast rn's over 4gr Red Dot.

 

[jt1]

I have surplus Canadian IVI military brass and find that every 10th or 12th case has an "undersize" primer pocket that results in a partially seated primer stuck in the case, which in turn traps the case in the shell holder. This stops the whole works until I can pop the primer out of the case...minor, but a royal pain...and the IVI is such good brass.

Did the brass have crimped primers? If so, the crimp may not be fully removed.

John

 

[MikeD49]

If the .45ACP is easier to load it's probably because I load so many of them on my Dillon Square Deal. I shoot and load more 45acp than all other handgun cartridges combined. Equipment and familiarity?

 

[w2kbr]

Well, I'm new to reloading, but I do .45, 38/357, and 9MM. I'm kinda an old dude at 71, but have no problems loading any of the above. But I still do a quick check every 10th round, and being retired don't care how long it takes as long as the product is correct.

As for 9MM accuracy, it's been tough to find the right mix. On paper I want "In the Black at 25 and 50 yards". Have been told that folks have spent big bucks to get really accurate 9MM pieces, and still have problems, not to mention the "right" load.......

regards
R

 

[ACP230]

My son shot up almost all the .45 target loads I made while practicing for Camp Perry. (I have been sick for the past 10 days so got behind in my loading.)

Today I made about 150 so he's good for next week.
Just 400 Winchester LP primers left but he thinks that will hold him till the Nationals. Now I need to find another case of those primers at a fairly reasonable price.

 

[running iron]

No the 45 acp is not the easiest round to load for me. The 44 Special and 44 Magnum are. I check every 45acp round I load with a Wilson Max Case Gauge.I have no time at all for jams or FTF's. I have a few different 45's and sometimes I have to do a little filing on the nicks around the rim. I never have to do anything to my 44 brass. Auto pistols are more particular about brass than most wheel guns from my experience. They are easier to de-cap & resize because they are so short, but that's only one step for us diehards that still like the old single stage set up.

 

[Forrest r]

The 45acp is a great round to reload/shoot, like the 200gr bullets myself. Bullets are easy to hold, nice fat brass, large primers to see & use, excellent case capacity in the tumbler. I use a hornady progressive so using a lee factory finish sizer doesn't matter, It's still 1 pull of the handle. The only draw back that I could see with reloading the 45acp was casting the bullets for it. Was using the 230gr cast bullet & it used up alot of lead. Switching to the 200gr helped, lead goes farther & can cast more per pot.

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

Did the brass have crimped primers? If so, the crimp may not be fully removed.

John

I don't believe the primer is crimped...at least not that I can tell. I've seen other military brass with an obvious crimp, but do not see the same on these. However, there is a ring ~1mm wide around the primer. Also, the ring is slightly recessed from the rest of the case head. Perhaps that is the type of crimp used on these cases?

 

[scattershot]

I think what you're seeing is the crimp. Most military ammo is crimped for use in fully automatic weapons, so I'm sure yours is, too. Processed cases usually have the crimp removed, but in the volume they turn out they may miss a few. Most reloading supply houses have a primer pocket reamer available, and it will solve the problem for you.

 

[Reddog]

I have a large quantity of military 45 ACP brass (WCC), and practically all of it has the primer crimped in place. I had lots of primers that wouldn't seat, so used an old CH carbide button setup that we used back in the old days to remove the crimp from military 30/06 brass. Now the primers seat perfectly!
Dick

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

I think what you're seeing is the crimp. Most military ammo is crimped for use in fully automatic weapons, so I'm sure yours is, too. Processed cases usually have the crimp removed, but in the volume they turn out they may miss a few. Most reloading supply houses have a primer pocket reamer available, and it will solve the problem for you.

I think you are right...I will have to pay a visit to my local pusher this weekend as I now have a small collection of IVI brass that I am unable to seat a primer in.

 

[Dale53]

Last of the Mohicans;
I have tried both reaming and swaging primer pockets. I MUCH prefer the RCBS primer pocket swager. Dillon makes a tool just for that and I suspect it might be even better. However, the Dillon costs a good bit more.

At any rate, I have done tens of thousands of swaging primer pockets on both pistol (mostly .45 ACP) and rifle (30'06 and .308 along with thousands of .223's).

FWIW
Dale53