Trimmed 454 brass in 45

[Torwe]

I've got a large supply of small rifle primers and was wondering about trimming 454 brass so that I could use these primers in my 45 handi. With of course standard 45 loads. If I was sucessful attaching pic you get an idea of my present groups using 9.0 gr unique and the lee 252 gr bullet I cast from straight wheelweights. I love my 45.

[dpe.ahoy]

It would work, but the rifle primers have a longer, hotter burn than the pistol primers.  You may have to play with the load some after doing that, or you may not.  Won't know till ya try.   Keep us posted when you do so.  DP

[Troyboy]

If it was me I would try to trade the brass before all the hassle of trimming and trying new loads. Lots of poeple have converted there 45lc to 454 so finding someone to trade with should be easy.

[gjdykeman]

Been there done that. I still use the 454 brass but trimmed it to 45LC length. It was a chore. My ruger Blackhawk and the 45 carbine share the same loads. I used to reload 357 mag and have 600 small magnum pistol primers. I use those and regular 45 colt loads. The Casual brass seems to hold up well. The 45 brass splits every once in a while after about ten handloads. Just using up my stuff. Once the primers are gone, i will just use the 45 brass. I have loaded 454C loads and small rifle primers with the brass trimmed just enough to chamber correctly. 1650 FPS in the carbine with a 300g FPGC hard cast bullet. Thats a hoot but way to much for me.

[cwlongshot]

Personally I would do this for hot 45Colt loads but not for the light loads you are contimplating.

If interested we could work out something as I have quite a bunch of 45 Colt brass.

PM me if your interested.

CW

[Torwe]

Thanks for the replys guys. I know trimming is gonna be a hassel but I have 4.5k sr primers and thought I could use them in this fashion in the 454 brass. I thought about reaming to 454 but its doing such a good job I kinda sorta hate to rechamber. The 45 is plenty of gun for me. I am gonna order some 454 brass and work it out. I'll keep ya posted. Thanks again.

[krod47nw]

Another option would be to get on the list to rent the 454 reamer that is now available from Tim.  If that is not of interest, trade your brass to CW for 45LC brass.

Kevin

[Dinny]

Are small rifle and large pistol primers the same diameter?  Am I missing something here

Thanks, Dinny

[Torwe]

Dinny 45 lc uses large pistol primers. The 454 uses small rifle. Thus the reason for the posting because 454 brass would allow me to use the supply of small rifle primers I have and I would only have to stock the sr as my maxi also uses them

[Dinny]

Dinny 45 lc uses large pistol primers. The 454 uses small rifle. Thus the reason for the posting because 454 brass would allow me to use the supply of small rifle primers I have and I would only have to stock the sr as my maxi also uses them

I had no idea the 454 uses the smaller primer. Something just wasn't adding up to me and now I see why. Thanks for the lesson.

Thanks, Dinny

[gcrank1]

IMHO I cant see going to all that work and having, ultimatly, the wrong headstamp. Ive done some of this and there are smarter, easier, and cheaper ways to get there.
May I suggest you just trade the primers (or sit on them as an 'investment') and the brass for LP primers and .45Colt brass.
Then spend the time you would have otherwise wasted in loading and shooting the right brass for the chambering, especially since it works so well.