45 ACP roll crimp

by Bob Hatfield , Sunday, June 15, 2014, 06:09 (3757 days ago)

In developing loads for my Enfield 455 revolver (unshaved), I borrowed a Unimat lathe and cut down 200 pieces 45 Colt brass to 45 ACP length. The reason I chose that length instead of the .75 length of original Webley brass was because it was easy with the Unimat lathe to use a Lee .45 ACP trim pilot to get a consistent length. I then thinned the rims down to a guessed at .035. All the cases fit the Webley perfect. I wont be doing this again for a while as it took probably 5 to 6 hours to complete the cases. Whew! what we do to scratch an itch!

So I have been trying to load the 250 grain swaged and graphite 45 Colt Remington bullet in the 45 ACP length case. My problem is the my RCBS 45 ACP dies were made in 1990 and only taper crimp. With each shot the all the remaining bullets creep forward and each shot has a different sound and splatter the target. I even had one bullet come completely out of its case and when I fired it went bloop. Its spit out of the barrel though.

The bullet has good friction fit, but I need to crimp over the ogive. My load is about 5.8 grains of Unique. I did have a few that I taper crimped the living hell out of that were pretty accurate but I know I was damaging the bullet.

Short of cutting down a 45 Colt seating die does anyone still make 45 ACP with a roll crimp?

Bob