45acp reloading

[Hammerdown77]

A visual inspection should be enough. The only cases I know of that will have small primer pockets are the Winchester NT variety. You can lay a .45 ACP next to a .38 Special to see the difference.

Just a word of warning, I'm finding Blazer and Federal cases in my collection that have the small primer pockets, too.

 

[Moonman]

small primer 45 ACP cases are increasing in the marketplace.

Just sort them out until you have a batch to keep track of.

 

[Fishslayer]

'bout a year & a half since this thread started.

I always sort by headstamp so I can tell you the SPP brass in my pickups is increasing.

We have:

WinKleen
Federal NT ("dot-Federal-dot" instead of just "Federal")
CCI
Blazer

Well, actually it seems almost everybody has some variety of non toxic (lead free SPP) ammo.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

LOL Another thread brought back from the Abyss...

 

[blujax01]

'bout a year & a half since this thread started.

I always sort by headstamp so I can tell you the SPP brass in my pickups is increasing.

We have:

WinKleen
Federal NT ("dot-Federal-dot" instead of just "Federal")
CCI
Blazer

Well, actually it seems almost everybody has some variety of non toxic (lead free SPP) ammo.

I don't know that if a 45 has a small primer that means it is lead free. I don't think Blazer is and it's all small primer now. *Edit: Blazer has a line called "Clean Fire" that is lead free and also uses small primers. Makes sense that they would change over to Small primers on all three (Clean Fire, Brass and Aluminum) instead of having two set ups.*

Blazer - Blazer Brass

"blazer brass

handgun ammunition


ECONOMIC RELIABILITY. Blazer® Brass brings shooters the reliability and quality of ammunition built to SAAMI standards, and is backed by stringent ISO certified quality systems. Blazer Brass is loaded in reloadable brass cases for added value. Standard Boxer-type primers and primer pockets mean you can reload Blazer Brass cases just like any other case. Blazer Brass is loaded with a protected-base FMJ bullet. CCI® primers insure reliable ignition, and we load clean-burning propellants. Blazer Brass is available in 9mm Luger, 380 Auto, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 40 S&W, and 45 Auto calibers with standard-weight bullets.

A number of factory 45 Auto cartridges are fitted with small primer pockets. There is no safety hazard in reloading these cases with standard small pistol primers. However, most published load data is developed using cartridge cases with large primer pockets and standard large pistol primers. A small pistol primer should have no trouble igniting a 45 Auto charge but may produce slightly less pressure."

 

[KLYDE]

Loading 45 is no problem. I find the bigger bullet is easier to pick up and insert. Instead of using my barrel to check brass, I trust Wilson case gages. They're available on-line from the usual suspects for about $15.

+1 Many manufacturers make the CASE GAUGES for multiple calibers. Pistol and rifle. IMO these are a MUST have. More so for rifle as head spacing off of the shoulder can be checked insuring your sizing die is correctly set up. For the .45 ACP, WAY easier than removing your pistol barrel for a chamber check. I have a case gauge for every caliber I reload.

 

[running iron]

Loading 45 is no problem. I find the bigger bullet is easier to pick up and insert. Instead of using my barrel to check brass, I trust Wilson case gages. They're available on-line from the usual suspects for about $15.

I use a Wilson max case gauge too. I use it because I don't want to take out my barrel to check rounds if there is a simpler way. I have never had a round pass the case gauge test then not function in any of my 45's. At least the ones loaded with FMJ bullets. Hollow points are another story.

 

[mike smith 1002]

blazer 45 acp with small primer pocket

My grandson started shooting with me and he wanted to buy some ammo? since I reload it was nuts but he bought blazer brass .45 acp. When we got home i normally put up the brass and am done.he wanted to reload so i grabbed his brass and it had a small primer pocket?? Never have seen this. I set it aside and reloaded 50 of my brass for him. I figure i will load a few of these and see what happens but am considering trashing them rather then getting them mixed in. Any one seen this?

 

[Twoboxer]

All Blazer Brass 45ACP is SPP now. Here's a link to a thread with a few more of the "culprits":

Which brass manufacturers use small pistol primers in .45 ACP? - Glock Talk

 

[federali]

Primer pocket uniforming

I use lots of range brass which I pick up along with shells from my own two .45s. As reloading is a hobby, I don't mind taking extra steps to insure clean, functional ammo. After decapping, I wash and tumble my brass, after which I use a primer pocket uniformer (from Sinclair) chucked in a portable drill. Priming has never been easier and all primers are seated to proper depth. My MP .45 does not like even a slightly high primer. You would be surprised at the lack of uniformity in primer pockets, even from the same manufacturer. Primer pocket uniforming is also a foolproof way to find .45 brass with small primer pockets rather than crushing a primer during the primer seating stage on a press.

I'm finding increasing numbers of small pockets which I'm setting aside. When I have enough of them and when I have to change over my Dillon RL 550 to do a run of 9mm, I'll load up a batch of small-pocket .45s at the same time.

 

[carpriver]

I am glad I checked in this afternoon, I was going to ask about trimimg 45 acp rounds, my question got answered by reading this thread.