45 CB load questions

[alan4620]

Just bought 500 45 colt new primed brass 1.22-1.26 in length.
They are shorter than 45 colt’s but they were 58.00 shipped. So why not.

My question is can I trim them to one length and reduce powder charge and be safe? Or must I trim all the way down to 45 short length?.898 I think.

[scattershot]

45 Colt case length is 1.285. Schofield is 1.100.sounds like you have an odd duck case. Are they Hornady, by chance? Anyway, if it were me, I’d just trim to the same overall length and shoot ‘em.

[Wheelguns 1961]

Remember to size them all before you do anything. They will grow. I am not really sure what brass you have. Perhaps, post a picture of the headstamp.

[alan4620]

JAG 45 Colt head stamp. They were cheap cause of being short.

[alan4620]

New and primed.

[Castaway]

Trim all to same length so your roll crimp is consistent and work your load from there. Keep in mind, ease of extraction for a straight walled case isn’t a good indicator of pressure. Watch your primers

[Walks]

I'd trim them to .45 Schofield length. Data is available.

[charlie b]

I will assume you are firing them in a .45Long Colt. If so then trim to same length, or sort them according to length. This is to ease adjustment of the crimp since it will have to change with each length of brass so you get consistent crimp. If you leave the brass different lengths then they will have a bit different vel so plan accordingly.

I'd shoot a mid range load in them since the oal will be a little shorter than normal (as long as you are crimping into the bullet crimp groove).

I have a good trimmer so I'd just trim them all to 1.22, load and shoot.

[Gtek]

Primed new brass, pull de-prime pin and full size run and re-evaluate.

[georgerkahn]

I will assume you are firing them in a .45Long Colt. If so then trim to same length, or sort them according to length. This is to ease adjustment of the crimp since it will have to change with each length of brass so you get consistent crimp. If you leave the brass different lengths then they will have a bit different vel so plan accordingly.

I'd shoot a mid range load in them since the oal will be a little shorter than normal (as long as you are crimping into the bullet crimp groove).

I have a good trimmer so I'd just trim them all to 1.22, load and shoot.

100% as charlie b has written!
geo

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Remember to size them all before you do anything. They will grow. I am not really sure what brass you have. Perhaps, post a picture of the headstamp.

Generally, straight wall pistol cases don't grow. In fact in some instances, they get shorter.

[Wheelguns 1961]

Generally, straight wall pistol cases don't grow. In fact in some instances, they get shorter.

I have had new 327 fed cartridges grow .003” after sizing. I also had a batch of new starline 45 colt brass that was all over the place size wise. After sizing, they were all the same size. I can’t remember the exact size, but they were in spec. I always size new brass first before doing anything.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

SNIP>>>
I also had a batch of new starline 45 colt brass that was all over the place size wise. After sizing, they were all the same size. I can’t remember the exact size, but they were in spec.

WOW, that's crazy.

[Wheelguns 1961]

WOW, that's crazy.

I thought I got a bad batch when I first started measuring them.

[1006]

I am Lazy-I know. But the best way to ruin a good deal is to go back and put too much work into perfecting an inferior product.

If you are loading them at Cowboy Action velocities with bullets weighing less than 250 grains, consider getting a 45 ACP taper crimp for the crimping phase. Set the crimp die for the shorter cases and just slightly over crimp the long ones. Then, go shoot them. Once you have shot them all, if the accuracy was good enough for you, use them again, or trim them as suggested.

If you load them with heavy bullets or hot loads, you will need to trim them and roll crimp at the same shortest length.

[garrisonjoe]

45 short length?.898 I think.

There is no .45 Short cartridge. The 0.898" length is the Cowboy .45 Special case length - essentially a wild cat made for CAS use, but Starline has been talked into making cases so that folks don't have to trim a lot off of .45 Colt cases.

Yes, they shoot fine with light bullets and light loads, if you want gallery type loads. A 250 grain bullet will likely have enough shank length to bulge the case walls if seated normally, so load a 200 or lighter slug. Loading dies are not made specifically for this cartridge, but often a .45 Colt sizer and a .45 Auto Rim expander and seater/roll crimp will give excellent service. The roll crimp is recommended with lead bullets to help retain the slug until pressure builds up to get complete combustion with those light charges.

good luck, garrisonjoe