Using 454 casull dies for 45 Long Colt???

[Marlin Hunter]

Does anyone know if 454 Casull dies can be used to reload 45 Long Colt? Basically the sizing die.


I looked at the cartridge specs and there is only slight differences.

The rim thickness of the Casull is 0.060 and the Long Colt is 0.059 (this should not be a problem. It is the part in the shell holder)

The external diameter of the Casull is 0.4775 and the Long Colt is 0.480. (a difference of 0.0025." this may be a problem)

I don't think .0025 undersize for the 45 LC is a problem because it is a low(er) pressure cartridge.

The length of the Casull is about 0.100 longer, but this should not be a problem for the boolit seat die or the crimp die since they can both be adjusted.

My crimp die is a Lee F.C. die and it says it's for 454 Casull or 45 L.C.

[RobS]

It would only be a problem if you had a set of Cowboy dies designed for the 45 colt with .454 bullets; i.e. RCBS makes some dies like this. As you probably know already, many companies dual up on dies like the 38 special/357mag, 44 special/44 mag, and even the 45 colt/454 casull. Dillon using the 45 colt die set for the 454 casull, Lee uses the same dies for both (check the part numbers) etc. I shoot 454 casull and have no problems with a Dillon 45 colt resizing die and Lee dies for the rest of the stages in my progressive press.

If you have access to 45 colt dies you can use them and if you think you need 454 casull dies then you can buy them after you try the 45 colt dies. I don't think you will deside to buy a new set of dies after reloading with the 45 colt dies though as they will work just fine.

That's my experience anyway.

[dk17hmr]

More or less one in the same. I cant get a really good crimp on LC in my 454 dies, but loaded several hundered rounds with them before I got actually 45lc dies.

[UT Phoneguy]

I have been using the carbide sizer from my RCBS 454 set for quite a while now- I have an old set of steel 45 LC dies and looked at the specs too. Works great and cheaper that buying a new die. Haven't tried flaring or bullet seating yet. You guys sure know how to peak a guys curiosity!

[Hardcast416taylor]

I came into possession of a double handful or more of .454 Casull brass. After reading an article about trimming the brass to .45 LC length for a stronger case I did just that. I only use this trimmed brass for my jacketed "elephant" loads in my SBH Ruger. Works fine so far.Robert