.45 Long COlt = .454 Casull

[azcoyhunter]

Shooters

Can I use the same Lee 3 Die set with BOTH the .45 LC, and the .454 Casull?

And will the same Auto Prime shell holder work?

Thanks

Clint

[45nut]

I have used RCBS dies for that,,and use 454 dies for my 460S&W. Same shellholder.

[azcoyhunter]

I have used RCBS dies for that,,and use 454 dies for my 460S&W. Same shellholder.

Thanks for the info

Is it better to get the bigger die set (.454 Casull) or the smaller (45 LC)?

thanks

Clint

[Pepe Ray]

In to days market, the set of your choice will be marked with both ctg. names.
There was a time when RCBS would make you buy two seperate sets, but they've smartened up.
Pepe Ray

[454PB]

.454 Casull dies may not allow crimping of .45 Colt brass. .45 Colt dies of recent manufacture should work for loading .454 Casull, although Freedom Arms does not recommend using them. I think their concern is that they may not size small enough for a good tight boolit fit and crimp.

In my experience, modern .45 Colt dies work fine for either cartridge.

[azcoyhunter]

Thanks

This site is great.

Clint

[Duckiller]

Bought a set of 45 Colt dies for 454 Casull. Was told that 45 dies were cheaper than 454 dies. Have had no problem loading either cases.

[lar45]

I use RCBS 45 Colt carbide dies for my Taurus 454 and they work great.
The Lee Autoprime should use the same shell holder, you'll just have to change to the small primer part for the 454.

[azcoyhunter]

Thanks again for all the info.


Clint

[BluesBear]

As long as you are using a Carbide sizing die then any .45 Colt dies will work just fine for the .454. Except for 9mm and .30 Carbine dies all Carbide pistol dies use a small ring located at the mouth of the die to size the entire case.
The standard steel sizing die uses the entire die chamber to perform sizing just as is done with tapered bottleneck dies.

Older steel .45 Colt sizing dies were often cut to size the case with a slight taper since the original .45 Colt dimensions called for a case mouth diameter of .476" and a base diameter of .480".
While the .454 Casull is has a mouth diameter of .476" and a base diameter of .4775". Being a relatively recent development, I've never seen a .454 sizing die that wasn't carbide.

Cases sized with the old steel .45 Colt dies are often difficult to load into a .454 chamber.

[lar45]

Older steel .45 Colt sizing dies were often cut to size the case with a slight taper since the original .45 Colt dimensions called for a case mouth diameter of .476" and a base diameter of .480".
While the .454 Casull is has a mouth diameter of .476" and a base diameter of .4775". Being a relatively recent development, I've never seen a .454 sizing die that wasn't carbide.

Cases sized with the old steel .45 Colt dies are often difficult to load into a .454 chamber.

My Ruger Blackhawk 45 colt cylinder has large chambers and new cases have lots of room to wiggle at the back. It sounds like you would work your brass much less with an old steel die and probably have better accuracy.
44man was telling me about just sizeing the first part of the case for proper bullet tension and leave the base unsized so the case is centered in the chamber better. It's helped me shrink my group sizes.
I think I'll have to try and find an old steel sizeing die to play with. I really don't like cleaning case lube off, but it may be worth while.
Brass that has been fired in my Ruger a few times will not size down far enough to chamber in my Seville so I have to keep the brass seperate.

[ace1001]

Get the 4 die set with factory crimp in carbide. Lee works fine. Ace