45 Colt COL

[Big Mak]

Howdy,
just picked up a Lyman 452374 mould.
Can I run the COL longer than 1.60 to get a proper crimp? Bullet on the left is 1.60, bullet on the right is 1.660

The longer COL bullet chambers just fine in my Cimarron Colt 1873....

2nd photo shows the cast bullet (bottom one is a re-melt, mould wasn't hot enough)

[Coffinmaker]

This is TWO points.  First point, the bullet you show doesn't have a "crimp" groove.  It only has a lube groove.  Loaded as shown in your photo, you run a high risk of "turtles" in a tube magazine rifle.  You would need to crimp into the lube groove to prevent that. 

Second Point.  Your best bet for acceptable overall length is not a caliper.  For a Toggle link rifle, your gage for overall length are the Carrier Block and Carrier Block Mortice.  The ENTIRE round must fit inside the dimensions of the Carrier Block and not hang up on the bottom of the Barrel Breach.  The actual clinical dimension is ....... who cares, so long as the round fits the rifle parts.

THE BIG CAVEAT!!  There are many arguments on both sides of this point.  Round Nose bullets in a tube magazine are a NO NO!!  Very bad Joss.  I have two acquaintances whom are missing body parts from magazine detonations caused by round nose bullets.  One gentleman is missing his pinky finger, ring finger and most of his middle finger (off hand) from round nose bullets in a tube magazine.  It would appear, the bullets you are casting are intended for 45 ACP or similar.  NOT FOR a tube magazine rifle.

We're a Lighthouse.  Your Call.

Coffinmaker

[Big Mak]

Sorry, not sure if communicated it right...this is for a SAA revolver.
Not a rifle.
Yeah, Flat points only in lever rifles for sure.

[Scattered Thumbs]

If it's all inside the cylinder and doesn't peek out at the font end I see no problem.

[Coffinmaker]

Well ....... Schucks.

Obviously I didn't read your quest completely ....... correctly.  OOOPS!!  So long as you bullet slides into the throat and doesn't peek out the front of the cylinder, your just fine.

Coffinmaker

[Big Mak]

Thanks fellas! They are not peeking out of the cylinder at 1.660 so I'll go with the longer bullet. 

[rickk]

If you want to add a crimp grove on those bullets (or any bullets), this will do it...

http://www.bulletswage.com/hct-1.htm

[Yakima Red]

Just put a taper crimp on those. Coffinmaker is right, keep those out of the rifle!

[Scattered Thumbs]

Just put a taper crimp on those. Coffinmaker is right, keep those out of the rifle!

There are rifles in ,45 Colt!!???

Oh! The blasphemy! 

[Sagebrush Burns]

This is TWO points.  First point, the bullet you show doesn't have a "crimp" groove.  It only has a lube groove.  Loaded as shown in your photo, you run a high risk of "turtles" in a tube magazine rifle.  You would need to crimp into the lube groove to prevent that.  


Coffinmaker

Actually, with lead bullets a crimp groove is not necessary.  A good roll crimp will actually crimp into the lead enough to work reliably in a tube magazine rifle.  I run them all the time in a '73, a Spencer, and an 1860 Henry.