Trimming .45 Colt to .455 Colt

[PJ Hardtack]

The friend trimming some .45 Colt brass for me called yesterday to tell me that the 50 cases I gave him are ready to be picked up.

For reference, he informed me that it worked out to removing 14 thou from the rims of the .45 brass. I gave him a couple of unfired Dominion cases as examples. He wants me to test it for function just to be sure.

[Grapeshot]

Not to be a Smart Allec, but wouldn't using .45 Cowboy Special be easier?  All you would have to do is thin the rims and not wory about trimming back the case where the brass starts to thicken, making it difficult to seat a boolit and having posible chambering problems.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I bought about a half hundred .45 Auto Rim to use in my MK VI Webley ... I figure it will expand from .45 to .455 the first time I shoot it ... *S*

TTFN,

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Yeah, but, Wadd.  Your Wobbly is shaved for moon clips or auto rim cases isn't it?

I do it the way PJ does 'cause. Cowboy Special cases are not that common here in the True North Strong and Free.  If they were, I would use them, but the rims will still have to be thinned. 

Grapeshot, you are correct as the faster inside taper allows better obturation, but we have to do what we have to do.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Sir Charles,

I have already bought about 50 Auto Rim cases ... and yes, my 'Wobbly' was already set up for moon clips and .45ACP ... I have already shot hundreds if .45 ACP through the pistol using moon clips ... I have shot Auto Rim through it before and had but one problem ....

That problem was that after the ammo had been shot through the .455  the  company where I bought my ammo would not take the shells back ... it seems that they would no longer fit in an M1911 'cause they said the shells had expanded to .455 ...

So I have a guy (another SASS man) who has already agreed to load the .45 Auto Rim with cowboy loads ... and leave the 'expading' to the first time they are shot (my words and thoughts). Is there a problem that I have not thought out?

[Virginia Gentleman]

Just make sure with the cut for .45 ACP Webley that you down load the .45 Auto-Rim to near .455 specs as a factory loaded .45 ACP or .45 Auto-Rim is near proof pressure levels and will stress the old girl to the point of loosening or even breaking.  It has happend more than once. Typically I load my .45 Auto-Rims for the Webley down to about 650 fps using .455 Lee dies and use them exlusively in that revolver since the chambers are larger and fire form when shot.