New Colt SAA - size for 454 or 452?

[shotstring]

I had a half dozen or so Colt SAA guns chambered for 45 Colt. I never slugged the barrels because I wasn't casting bullets at the time and only had one practical source to buy my cast bullets from. These were 452 diameter bullets and once I worked out a good load, accuracy was super in all of the revolvers. They were all 3rd generation guns except one 2nd generation.

I am now getting into casting for these guns (still have a couple of them left) and the molds are 454 dia. I'm assuming the guns are bored 452, so should I purchase a 454 or a 452 die for my Star? I don't really want to buy a sizing die I don't need or will never use, so I hope to limit my purchase to only one die, either the 452 or the 454. What would you suggest?

[targetshootr]

Since they worked fine at 452 that's what I'd go with. But you might tap an unsized boolit through each throat to see if they should be bigger.

[shooter93]

The third generations are 452 bore...the cylinder throats may be slightly bigger. I shoot a lot of 453's in mine but 452's work too. take the cylinder out and drop a 452 bullet in to see if it falls through. If it doesn't see if it slip fits from the front of the cylinder. If it does both those things the gun will shoot 452's very well.

[shotstring]

Thanks. Makes sense to go 452 and just pan lube at 454 and see if any difference. If 453 would work better than 452, the 454 likely will too. What the heck...think I will have to just buy lots of dies anyway for all the bullets and calibers I hope to shoot. No one ever said this was a cheap hobby.

[hunter64]

Try only shooting factory loads. As hard as I try to convince my friend to use my reloading stuff he will not try it and only buys factory stuff. He has all sorts of toys and the ones we both have are WW1 .455 Webley's and they run about 50 bucks a box of ammo. He shoots them and then I get the brass and reload them. I have several Garand's and he buys 20 bucks a box ammo and I reload for 6 bucks a box and mine are more accurate. I guess someday he will see the light, but until then the more he shoots the more free brass I get so I guess I should keep my mouth shut.

[Paul B]

All my .45 Colt handguns have .452" bore. However, I size my boolits to .454". Works just fine.
Paul B.

[John Boy]

Shotstring, at the target distances for CAS ... don't make a spit of difference whether they are 452's or 4's. If you get lead splatter at the forcing cone using 454's ... use the 452's

Also, the cylinder throats of 3rd Gen's are tight, so 452's will give a full pressure curve of the bullet out of the cylinders