45 Colt Loading - My Retro Way

by Charles, Monday, February 11, 2013, 11:27 (4249 days ago)

Many years ago, I broke the code that rock hard sixgun bullets were not a good idea. It seems like the folks who machine cast and sell these things still have learn that lesson as well as the folks who buy them. I prefer nothing harder than ACWW and softer like 1-20 is what I prefer for velocites under 1,000 fps, which is what I like best.

I find I am shooting as well at age 70 as I did at age 21 in spite of my older eyes, weaker muscles and arthritis in my hands. The secret is I shoot allot more these days, shooting in a 22 falling plate match each Saturday. The constant practice in correct hold, breath control, trigger squeeze and sight picture pays off when I go to something larger.

I loaded a batch of 45 Colt loads and thought you might like to tag along to see how I do it. Nothing too wierd, just my way of doing things.

The expanding plugs in current dies are made for jacketed bullets and can deform my soft bullets. So, I guy old Lyman 310 expander dies as they come in larger sizes intended for cast bullets. I have dies in .452, 454, .357, 358 and .429. These expander measure the actual size, so with a little spring back of the brass, give about .001 tension on the bullets. These old Lyman dies have the neat little two step "M" design that creates a slight opening at the top to enable you to start the bullets by hand. No bullet deformation on soft bullets with this set up.

I used older RCBS steel dies as the newer carbide dies size the brass to much to suite me. Pictures in my 45 Colt sizer. It has the letter code of "I" on it which makes it made in the early 60's.

Years ago, I found out that some seating stems are the wrong size for some SWC bullets and can round off the edges of the meplat. My fix for this is to take the seating stem and turn it flat in the lathe. This will work fine with any bullet with a flat spot on the top. The one pictures started life as a RN stem, but is experiencing life now as a flat stem. I did leave a little dimple in the center, as that make it a little easier to turn.

The loaded round is put together with this set up. 250 Keith cast from 1-20, sized .454 and loaded over 8.5/ Hercules Unique (Yes, I still have some). This is for my Colt New Service. Others loads are put together with .452 bullets.

I know that in these days of progessive reloader and super hard cast bullets, this is somewhat out of step with the time, but it works for me and works very well.