Loading 454 Casull with 45LC dies

[Don Dick]

I want check this issue out, as some companies market there 45LC dies as also being able to load 454 Casull.   Can anyone help me on this one.  The dies I have are the Dillion New Style 45LC.

[Duffy]

I have a set of RCBS 45LC dies, RCBS 454 dies and a set of Redding 454/45LC dies and all are carbide. The only difference that I've found is that the Reddings don't quite size the brass down as much as the RCBS by a .001 or so. As far as length goes on the 454 I don't size all the way to the head anyway. If your's will size enough for a good grip on the bullet and you can get a decent crimp then go for it.

[Don Dick]

Duffy, Thanks for the fast responce I will give it a try.

[Catfish]

The only thing you`ll have to do is back out your seating die. The Dillon dies are what I prefer for handgun ammo.

[fastvfr]

Right on.

I have only used the RCBS .45LC roll-crimp dies to load my Starline .454 brass, and these loads have never had any sort of problems at all.

As with any cartridge, the adjustment of the dies is the key element.

[unspellable]

The essential difference here is that the nominal 454 chamber diameter is tighter than the nominal 45 Colt chamber.  45 Colt chambers are usually oversized.  This is a hang over from the black powder era when they had to allow room for crud build up.  The 454 die diameter will be held to tighter tolerances than the 45 Colt die which may be larger.   So it's a matter of comparing your dies to your chambers.  Some 45 Colt dies will not size a 454 case down far enough.  On the other hand I don't like to squeeze down my 45 Colt brass any more than I have to.

A related problem is using cast bullets in the 454.  Cast bullets typically run a tad bigger than jacketed bullets.  After loading cast bullets I had to run the loaded cartridge into the sizing die before it would chamber in the revolver.