Help .451 45acp

[coop78]

I have some .451 SWC cast boolits I want to load for my 45. After charging the case with powder I put the boolit in the case and the case seems to large and I can push the lead all the way in with my fingers. Am I doing something wrong here? Any help is appreciated.

[1bluehorse]

Uhhhh, might be a dumb question but did you run the brass through the right sizing die, not a universal decapper, by mistake????

[coop78]

I am using the lee delux 45 die set which comes with the decapper.

[Roundnoser]

As 1bluehorse said. First thing I thought was that you did not resize the casing. Check to make sure that you are using a sizing die / decapper, and not just a universal decapping die.

If the case is properly sized, you won't be able to push the bullet down into the casing without mechanical advantage. -- Let us know what you figure out.

[Bullet Caster]

Are you crimping the loaded round? When you bell the case mouth for boolit insertion you'll need to slightly crimp the case to keep the boolit from moving farther down. Just a thought. BC

[Char-Gar]

Yes, you are doing some wrong or have a very bad die.

[oneokie]

Are these boolits some you cast yourself or bought? Have you measured the diameter of the boolit and found that it is actually .451"?

If it is the correct dia., as others have said, you probably have a bad sizing die. It happens. btdt, got the t-shirt

[coop78]

These are cast boolits I about from a guy locally. I measured them and they are 451. When I get home tonight I am going to run through it again and let you all know how it works out. Thanks for all the info guys! It is much appreciated.

[oldscool]

Measure your expander.

[44Vaquero]

+1 on oldschool's thought. A quick check of my 45 acp Lee dies and a few Winchester cases shows:
Sized and de-primed case @ .469 O.D. case mouth
Finished round @ .471 O.D. case mouth w/.452 cast SWC
I cannot had seat a .452 cast boolit or a .451 jacketed. I do not shoot any .451 cast.
You may want to look at the crimp as well, you may not be applying enough.

[Tim357]

Any chance you are using Remington brass? I've noticed with .451 boolits, a lot of them tend to slide deeper into the case if I'm using Remington brass. Seems to be thinner than the other guys, at least in my lots.

[Jailer]

Are you sure your sizing die is screwed all the way down? It should be touching the shell holder when you size them.

I've also run into this problem with some shot out 45 brass. My KKM barrel likes .451 boolits and I occasionally run into some brass with no neck tension. It gets smashed with a hammer and thrown in the scrap bucket.

[MtGun44]

+1 on Rem brass. Some sizer dies are kinda marginal with Rem thin necks.

I tend to get better accuracy out of Rem, IF I have a good sizer - which I do.

Bill