Making 45acp shotshells (My Way)

[GRUMPA]

I'm using a RCBS 40cal/10mm carbide sizing die, always worked for me. I have a 41mag sizer die and ran into the same issue you have....

The die I have has a rather generous radius, which seems to guide the sizing process rather well.

[dsbock]

Any idea what causes the cases to upset to one side?

I'll have to get a RCBS 40cal/10mm carbide sizing die and try with that one.

Thanks.

David

[William Yanda]

For those with a trim die and a hacksaw you can make the hacksaw safe by filing one side smooth.

I may use this tip. Marring the jig has been a concern in my mind.
Bill

[Johnny_V]

I bought a .41 Magnum carbide sizer die and resized a few cases. I tested on both cut and uncut cases using plenty of lube.

The first uncut case sized perfectly. After that they all seemed to size more on one side than the other. In some cases there was almost no sizing on one side.

Same thing happened with the cut cases. If there's a trick to this, I haven't found it yet.

If anyone had any suggestions on improving the concentricity of my sizing, I'm eager to learn.

Thanks.

David

The key to concentricity, is to trim the cases before sizing. After rough cutting to length with a trim die, I finish the case in my Forster case trimmer. I use the Dillon, .40 S&W Crimp Die (most generous mouth flare of any .40 die out there) and having made over 200 of these, concentricity has never been an issue. Remember, if the case mouth doesn't enter the die squarely (any die, regardless of manufacturer), you will never see concentric case necks, with this or any other caliber.

[dsbock]

The key to concentricity, is to trim the cases before sizing. After rough cutting to length with a trim die, I finish the case in my Forster case trimmer. I use the Dillon, .40 S&W Crimp Die (most generous mouth flare of any .40 die out there) and having made over 200 of these, concentricity has never been an issue. Remember, if the case mouth doesn't enter the die squarely (any die, regardless of manufacturer), you will never see concentric case necks, with this or any other caliber.

Johnny,

I tried this with both cut and uncut cases, the only one that came out sized properly was the first uncut case. After that, none of them came out right, cut or uncut.

Thanks for the suggestion.

David

[Johnny_V]

Johnny,

I tried this with both cut and uncut cases, the only one that came out sized properly was the first uncut case. After that, none of them came out right, cut or uncut.

Thanks for the suggestion.

David

Are you sizing the case first or attempting to form without sizing? My cases are sized with the trim die I made. You can make your own trim die by using a .308 Win. sizing die and cut it to length with a cutoff wheel, then squaring it up with a bench grinder. If you do this carefully, and keep the die from getting hot, you'll have a trim die just as good as a factory one. Also, I lube the case body rather generously with RCBS case lube before any trimming or forming.

Again, my procedure:
Size and trim with trim die
Trim to length with case trimmer
Prime, charge, insert wad
Run lubed case into Dillon Crimp die
Fill with shot through Crimp die
Insert Gas check
Roll crimp

I have a video on YouTube on how I make my shotshells, if you care to watch it. Mine is not the definitive way to do these shells, just my way.

[dsbock]

Johnny,

I had not been sizing the cases before running them into the forming die. I'll give that a try next.

My test cases are old Berdan primed, Kynoch .30-06 cases. Not much else I can do with them.

Thanks for helping clarify the process.

David

[JKH]

Anyone here that would be interested in making me a batch of cases? I could supply the donor .308 brass and have lots of trade items for the labor, I am thinking 50 total. I just don't have the strength to do the forming anymore.

[GRUMPA]

Anyone here that would be interested in making me a batch odd cases? I could supply the donor .308 cases and have lots of trade items, I an thinking 50 total. I just don't have the strength to do the forming anymore.

Just click on the link in my signature, then click the 45acp thread....

[mtbugler63]

The trick I use to get them centered is to start the sizing with the .41 seating die then finish with the .41 resizing die. That has all but eliminated the centering problem for me.

[dsbock]

Here's an example of what I'm running in to:

Trimmed (for my .45 ACP revolver) and chamfered case run into .41 Mag sizing die with lots of lube;


Same thing but with better results;


Comparison of the two.


I don't have a set of .41 Magnum dies. Just the one sizing die.

I'd really like to get this process working and make up a few loads.

Thanks for all the suggestions folks.

David

[Johnny_V]

David,

Here's a couple of pictures of what my 45ACP Shotshells look like after running them through my 40 caliber Dillon crimp die. I did nothing magical or fancy, just rough cut to length, trimmed, lubed, and sized.



I have to go out this morning, but I will post a video on YouTube later in the day and post a link.

[Johnny_V]

David,

Here's the link to the video on YouTube about how I form my case necks for the 45ACP Shotshell.

On YouTube, click on my name and I have another video on how I make the 45ACP Shotshell.

[Johnny_V]

David,

Just for giggles, I took 3 different cases, at random, and ran them through my 40S&W Dillon Crimp die and the results are in the following picture. The cases are from the left: Lake City .308, RP 30-06, and RP 8mm Mauser. All the cases came out concentric.

[dsbock]

Maybe there's something wrong with my .41 Magnum sizing die. Out of nearly 30 cases, only two have come out reasonably concentric. One trimmed the other untrimmed.

All the others are sized only on one side of the case.

Very frustrating.

David

[Johnny_V]

David,

Do you have someone you can borrow a Dillon 40S&W crimp die from? If not, I would be happy to loan you mine. Just pay the shipping. Did you watch the video?

[dsbock]

Johnny,

I did watch your video. I've been doing everything right. I even tried three different single stage presses and two different shell holders to rule out those variables. Which is why I think there might be something wrong with the die I'm using.

Since Grumpa is using an RCBS 40S&W/10mm carbide sizing die, I'm trying to get a hold of one of those or a Dillon .40 S&W crimp die.

Thanks.

David

[Johnny_V]

David,

The offer stands, should you need the die....

[dsbock]

I picked up an RCBS 10mm Taper Crimp die at a gunshow. Tonight I got around to testing it. I ran a dozen trimmed and chamfered cases through (lubing every third or fourth case) and all 12 came out the way they're supposed to.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and support. Now to cut some over powder cards and get these loaded up.

David

[Johnny_V]

I picked up an RCBS 10mm Taper Crimp die at a gunshow. Tonight I got around to testing it. I ran a dozen trimmed and chamfered cases through (lubing every third or fourth case) and all 12 came out the way they're supposed to.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and support. Now to cut some over powder cards and get these loaded up.

David

David,

Glad to hear it worked well for you... Taking my 1911 out this morning to have some fun with some pop cans.