Author Topic: Why not use die-set in .454 for 45 LC? (Read 374 times)

Sverre A. · « **on:** April 23, 2005, 05:40:44 AM »

Are there any reason for not use die-set in 454 when sizing 45 LC?

ca dunn · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2005, 08:56:10 AM »

Funny you asked, I was going to post the same question. Redding lists the 45lc and 454 casull dies as the same product#. I wonder if this applies to all brands or just redding?

chris

Iowegan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2005, 09:23:17 AM »

You can use the 45 Colt dies for 454 Casull. Because the 454 is a longer case, the crimp die for the 454 might not adjust down enough for a 45 Colt. It's like using 38 Special dies for a 357 Mag.

The sizer on older 45 Colt dies may be cut for .454" bullets (case diameter .4805) instead of the modern .451 bullets (case diameter .4775"). If you try to use the older dies, the 454 ammo won't chamber. Any 45 Colt die made after 1950 should work fine for both cartridges.

Catfish · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2005, 10:20:03 AM »

There is no problem useing .45 Colt dies to load .454 ammo. The only adjustment you need to make is to the seating die and crimping die, if you use a seperate crimp die. I also load .38 sp. .357 mag and .357 max. with 1 set of dies. You just have to reset them for each round.

Sverre A. · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2005, 11:08:57 AM »

Then I suppose - it also should be ok to use 454-die to size 45 LC.

Duffy · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2005, 06:08:51 PM »

FWIW I have a RCBS 454 sizer, a Redding 454 sizer and a RCBS 45LC sizer. The RCBS 454 sizer will size a case .001 smaller than the other two, so if I need extra grip that's the one I use. No reason why you can't use it even for 45 acp.

Locoweed · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2005, 05:54:10 AM »

You can resize the .45 in .454 dies and probably SEAT (but not crimp) bullets in the .45 using .454 dies, but the .45 won't be able to reach the crimping part of the .454 dies because the case is shorter. Conversely, as noted above, you can use the .45 die for any procedure on the .454. I'm guessing that you would need dies with longer bodies to be able to seat and crimp the new .460.