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Thread: Making 45acp shotshells (My Way)

  1. #1
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    Making 45acp shotshells (My Way)

    I was PM'ing back and forth with a couple of members and told them I would make a post of how I make mine without the real need for special tools, so here it goes.

    This picture shows what I used to cut the scrap 308/06 cases to a bit over 1.260 in length.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Once I had just a few cut I trimmed them to length (1.260 -.01) and brought them in the house. I know it looks as though it has a real big chamfer on the O.D. but I didn't adjust the cutters for this and left them as is.

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    Once I got my press bolted back to the table I used a 40cal carbide sizer and sized them down just far enough so that it's neither to much or to little to chamber in the barrel for my 1911.

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    After I got done pretty much neck sizing them I got a regular 45acp case next to them for comparison.

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    Now I put in the primer in all of them (5) and put in 6gr of Bullseye powder. After I got the powder in I used a 44mag case and just rested the case on a piece of cardboard and tapped the case down which cut out the wad I use to place over the powder.

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    Once I got the wad shoved in the case I put in 120gr of #8 shot in the case.

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    For the overshot card I used an old time card, I've also used those hard paper inserts that come in magazines as well, pretty much what's handy and harder and thicker than regular paper which you don't want to use. For making this I grabbed a 9mm case and tapped on it the same as the 44mag case I used earlier for the wad in order to make the over shot card.
    Last edited by GRUMPA; 02-20-2013 at 05:03 PM.
    Click to see what I'm doing and have available, this takes you to the VS (Vendor Sponsor) section of the site. Currently..25Rem,30Rem, 32Rem, 35Rem, 257Roberts, 358Win, 338Fed, 357 Herrett, 30 Herrett, 401 Winchester, 300Sav, 221 Fireball, 260Rem, 222Rem, 250 Savage, 8mm Mauser (AKA 8x57), 25-20WCF

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  2. #2
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    The 9mm overshot card fits inside and on top of the shot just perfectly.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    I put the shell back in the press and used a 45ACP seater die with the seater plug for the 230gr round nose boolit to roll the end of it to hold the overshot card in place.

    NOTE: Make sure you have a magazine handy, make sure you put a large enough crimp on the case so it will fit your magazine.

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    And here's a line-up of the others I made just for comparison sake.

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    The ones I made I put them in my 1911, although they all fired they did not cycle the action enough to chamber another round. I also didn't anneal these as I would recommend be done. The ones I used showed signs of case mouth split just after the first firing. After each shot I cycled the action which went smoothly, no stuck cases or anything to point out.
    Last edited by GRUMPA; 02-20-2013 at 05:59 PM. Reason: Added Note
    Click to see what I'm doing and have available, this takes you to the VS (Vendor Sponsor) section of the site. Currently..25Rem,30Rem, 32Rem, 35Rem, 257Roberts, 358Win, 338Fed, 357 Herrett, 30 Herrett, 401 Winchester, 300Sav, 221 Fireball, 260Rem, 222Rem, 250 Savage, 8mm Mauser (AKA 8x57), 25-20WCF

    Annealing Services

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...php?117-Grumpa






  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    Genius!

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy Plinkster's Avatar
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    Agreed, I've been turning over how to do this in my head for a bit. Thanks for solving this one for me! Do you think a larger powder charge would cycle the action? I'd love to have the option of snake shot in my 1911. And all with tools I already have! Thanks again Grumpa!
    Is this a......what day is this??

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Plinkster View Post
    Do you think a larger powder charge would cycle the action?
    Something like that would be up to the user to determine. Personally "IF" it were me I would give it a shot and see what happens. The ones I shot today the wife said sounded more like a "pop" more than a bang, I don't use the 1911 for pest control but rather one of my revolvers in 38cal which Speer makes those handy dandy shot capsules for.
    Click to see what I'm doing and have available, this takes you to the VS (Vendor Sponsor) section of the site. Currently..25Rem,30Rem, 32Rem, 35Rem, 257Roberts, 358Win, 338Fed, 357 Herrett, 30 Herrett, 401 Winchester, 300Sav, 221 Fireball, 260Rem, 222Rem, 250 Savage, 8mm Mauser (AKA 8x57), 25-20WCF

    Annealing Services

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...php?117-Grumpa






  6. #6
    Boolit Master


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    I have done a simular thing. Annealed 308 brass,the extractor groove is the same as 45ACP. I used Unique 7 grns? (I think,have to look when I get home) and a cut down 410 plastic wad. Crimped with a homemade die. It seems like the load needs to be taylored to each pistol to function the slide but mine will empty the clip.
    I've hunted birds with it at short range and it turns snakes into Gainesburgers. I keep some in my Webley MkVI for arouond the home place. Momma makes good use of them on the slithering varmits and has sent a coyote or 2 scurrying for the fence.
    Lewis AKA Wright Brothers Gunsmiths

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  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    thank you for the write up Grumpa! I am going to give this a try.

  8. #8
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    Grumpa: This is the type of stuff that sets Castboolits apart from most all of the websites out there.

    Most people would never even think of doing this.

    Great job!

    Randy
    "It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
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  9. #9
    Boolit Master

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    When I lived in Los Angeles in the 80's we made up a lot of these, exactly as shown for when we went camping out in the desert. Wouldn't cycle the slide. Sure made mince meat of snakes.
    Jack
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  10. #10
    Boolit Master

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    The Speer aluminum versions work the slide on my 1911 so it is possible for sure, they are just an aluminum cased version of what the OP is doing, they use no plastic capsule in front of the case.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNKioE7gzyE

    not my video, just one I found.

    There is an article in handloaders digest 11th edition showing how to make and load the rounds with the rcbs dies using a 410 wad with shotcup, no reason it would not work with the OP's cases.

    Here is a pdf that shows much of the data and info in that article plus more

    http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...644,bs.1,d.dmg
    Last edited by Willbird; 02-21-2013 at 10:04 AM.
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  11. #11
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    Nice info to have. Years ago I had a commercial 45 ACP shot shell die set that I sold. Before selling, however, I made up several cases, then forgot the specifics of loading. Now I know!
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  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy

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    Mine are similiar, I like the take out styrofoam containers from the eattin joints. Easier to cut.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master jmsj's Avatar
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    Grumpa,
    Thanks for posting this.
    How do your loads pattern?
    jmsj

  14. #14
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    Anything over about 25' it gets a bit wild, which is why I prefer shot loads in the 38cal revolvers. To be honest I only carried them around when I would go to the desert, didn't shoot snakes with it but it was so over grown that range with anything but that would be pointless.
    Click to see what I'm doing and have available, this takes you to the VS (Vendor Sponsor) section of the site. Currently..25Rem,30Rem, 32Rem, 35Rem, 257Roberts, 358Win, 338Fed, 357 Herrett, 30 Herrett, 401 Winchester, 300Sav, 221 Fireball, 260Rem, 222Rem, 250 Savage, 8mm Mauser (AKA 8x57), 25-20WCF

    Annealing Services

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...php?117-Grumpa






  15. #15
    Boolit Master


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    Very good information. I have looked for one of the commercial die sets to do this. However even if I found one I doubt I would be willing to pay the price as I understand they are considered collectible by some. I like your idea even better. Thanks for sharing this wealth of info.
    Mark 5:34 And He said to her (Jesus speaking), "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction."

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    This should be a sticky! Doing this in a Blackhawk convertable, they could be very long, or you could use .460 S&W brass with the Colt cylinder. Just looking at it from the POV of the dies and supplies on hand. Might be able to use the Lee push through sizers for a better fit in the throat?

    Not high on the list of things needed, just thinking out loud. Thanks for sharing GRUMPA.

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master Artful's Avatar
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    I used to do similar with 30-40 krag cases for 44 magnum revolvers using 410 wads - I used to use the 22LR ammo trays for cutting out the top wad and sealed them with fingernail polish to keep out the rain/moisture as I lived in Oregon's westerly coastal range and it was a little moist most of the time.

    Dean Grennell had articles doing this back in the 70's - I sure miss him and his projects sometimes.

  18. #18
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    I made some shot loads for the 44mag out of 303 brass and the 410 wads, if I remember right it was rather on the light side but they did work OK. Since that time I went with the Speer shot capsules.
    Click to see what I'm doing and have available, this takes you to the VS (Vendor Sponsor) section of the site. Currently..25Rem,30Rem, 32Rem, 35Rem, 257Roberts, 358Win, 338Fed, 357 Herrett, 30 Herrett, 401 Winchester, 300Sav, 221 Fireball, 260Rem, 222Rem, 250 Savage, 8mm Mauser (AKA 8x57), 25-20WCF

    Annealing Services

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...php?117-Grumpa






  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    Well, I tried and failed. All I got were off center crushed necks. It seems that my brass is to thick to be squeezed down that easy. I used unsized 308 brass, and lubed liberally, but the 40 S&W die would not let my brass be sized evenly.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master




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    I think I will give this a try later this month.
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BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
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