45 Colt

[DCP]

I have some 45 Colt REM UMC boolits 6 pieces of it to reload, I decide not to shoot them.

So I pulled 2 of them and when I went to de-prime it, none of it would seat into the lee shell holder.

The bullets are hollow based and there was about 33 grains of powder that was clumped up.

They have Copper colored primers that were dead. (2 any way)

Look like BLACK POWDER but I just don't know.

Thanks for any help

[Outpost75]

These sound like the old style balloon head cases which are a folded rim without any relief cut. I would trade them to a collector and not shoot them.

[birch]

I bought 100 of those same bullets at a gunshow for the price of brass. I was also bummed out when I could not reload them. someone told me there is a shellholder that would work, but I just shot them and threw them away. I didnt think there would be a collector market for them.

[w30wcf]

DCP,
Yes, your rounds are b.p. It is very difficult to get all of the powder out of an early b.p. round since some of it will sometimes remain in the balloon head portion of the case and some will cling to the inside case walls. UMC and REM-UMC offered .45 Colt rounds loaded with either 35 grs. or 40 grs. of b.p. Seems like yours contained the 35 gr. charge. There was also a 28 gr. version.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/w30wcf/Vintage%20cartridge%20boxes/45colt35grs.jpg


I have some of the same cases and find that a shellholder for the 300 Win Mag works just fine. I have reloaded the cases several times now. I did anneal them first to help avoid any splitting and to make them seal the chamber better.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/w30wcf/Collector%20Cartridges/UMC45ColtBP.jpg

w30wcf

[cajun shooter]

If you only have 6 of the cases then it may not be worth the time to prepare them for shooting. I shoot the 44WCF and have about 150 of the balloon head cases in that caliber and I shoot them and then reload them. There is nothing wrong with shooting balloon head cases.
If you look at the case that John posted you will understand why they never made a rifle to fire the 45 Colt cartridge in the 19th century. Later David

[WARD O]

w30wcf -- good answer, thanks for the education complete with pictures.

ward

[DCP]

Thanks to all and a special thanks to w30wcf