.475 Seating Stem for WIDE .452 Bullets?

[TexasAg11]

Has anyone ever done this with the RCBS Dies? I have some Wadcutter and OWC bullets with meplats that do not fit inside of the normal 45 colt seating stem.

1) Will I have an issue loading bullets in the case straight?

2) If so, would a .475 seating stem work for my purpose in an RCBS 45 colt die and give me the correct seating coverage around the .452 cal bullets?

[country gent]

Will the .475 stem fit thru the neck area of the 45 colt die ??????

[TexasAg11]

Yeah that’s was kinda my question too

[j4570]

I pulled my rcbs 45 colt dies and 480 ruger/475 Linebaugh dies.

The 45 colt had the seater that screws in from the top. They are from the 1995 timeframe. The 475 dies the seater screws in from the base of the die like older dies despite these being from the 2000s.

I then checked the inside with a bore gauge and the 475 is too big to fit in the neck area of the 45 colt die so even if the stems interchanged it would not work

Three options I see:

Use some hot glue or JB weld to modify your seater. Don’t forget to use release agent on the bullet. I’d start with hot glue as it’s reversible pretty much

Slowly grind down the swc seater until it’s flat all the way across

See if RCBs still offers the service to send in your bullets and get a custom seater.

Good luck

Jason

[j4570]

Here’s the link to RCBS.

https://www.rcbs.com/spare-parts-and-extras/die-parts/alternate-seater-plugs---1%2F2--20/1853.html

If you have the old style from the bottom with a 1/4-28 thread they say they still custom make those.

[j4570]

Oh, missed an option, buy another seater plug and modify it with your lathe.

Seriously try the hot glue mod first.

[TexasAg11]

appreciate the help! good suggestions, thanks!