Reloading 45 ACP

phoenix4500 · December 29, 2011, 12:51 PM

Hello all.
How much variation in case length is allowed when reloading 45 ACP ammunition? I used to reload a lot of 223 and 308 and 38, but never
45 ACP.
Thanks for the help.
Phil

Adamantium · December 29, 2011, 01:16 PM

I've got around 3500 pieces of 45acp brass and I've never measured one of them, nor has one failed to chamber or fire due to case length. I get 2" groups at 25 meters with my current 45 and did the same with my old one as well. I don't need more accuracy than that so I just stick to my system of shoot my brass till it gets lost or damaged.

phoenix4500 · December 29, 2011, 01:25 PM

The length is supposed to be .898" and most are just a tad under, maybe .01 or so. This should be okay? Also, I have some silver shiney casings. Can't tell what they are made of. Tried a magnet on them and it does not attract the casing. Tried to scratch the coating to see if it was nickle covering brass, but no brass came through. Any ideas? Should I reload these?
Thanks again.
Phil

rg1 · December 29, 2011, 01:48 PM

I don't shoot a lot of .45 ACP's like a competitive shooter might but loading 45 ACP with various case brands I find most all measure from .890-.895 with some at the max length at .898". Since I'm not loading 100's of rounds per month I measure them all anyway. As yet I haven't found a case that was too short or too long to chamber and fire so you could say it's a waste of time. For taper crimping cases variable case lengths isn't critical like rifle loads or like .357 and .44 Magnum straight walled pistol cases.

Mike38 · December 29, 2011, 02:06 PM

I’ve been reloading a shooting the same batch of .45acp cases for 15 years now and have never measured the empty case length. I measure and trim everything else, but not .45acp. I used to shoot competitively, about 500 rounds a month. Now it’s about 500 rounds a year. No problems.

William T. Watts · December 29, 2011, 04:32 PM

Starline brass new case min-max case length for the 45ACP is .892"-.897", I have several loading manuals that list .898" as max for this cartridge. I have never needed to trim a 45ACP case.. William

Adamantium · December 29, 2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

I have some silver shiney casings.

Those are nickle plated brass. I reload those too but never pick up that much because most manufacturers only use those on the pricey self defense rounds.

phoenix4500 · December 29, 2011, 05:46 PM

Thank you one and all for your input. Looks like all the casings I have are just fine. Can't wait to re-load them and do some shootin'. A Happy New Year to all.
Phil

medalguy · December 29, 2011, 09:33 PM

FWIW I never check length of, not trim, any pistol brass. Never have in 45 years.

AFK · December 29, 2011, 10:16 PM

I never check the length or trim any brass for the pistols I reload for (9mm, 380 auto, 38 special, 45 acp) Pick 'em up, clean 'em up, load 'em up, shoot 'em up.

I actually prefer the nickel brass, cleans up easier, lasts as long as I would ever need it to, and has an almost "slick" feeling when clean. Looks cool too with CCI primers and FMJ bullet.

December 29, 2011, 12:51 PM	#1
phoenix4500 Junior Member Join Date: December 29, 2011 Posts: 5	Reloading 45 ACP Hello all. How much variation in case length is allowed when reloading 45 ACP ammunition? I used to reload a lot of 223 and 308 and 38, but never 45 ACP. Thanks for the help. Phil

December 29, 2011, 01:16 PM	#2
Adamantium Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 1999 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,021	I've got around 3500 pieces of 45acp brass and I've never measured one of them, nor has one failed to chamber or fire due to case length. I get 2" groups at 25 meters with my current 45 and did the same with my old one as well. I don't need more accuracy than that so I just stick to my system of shoot my brass till it gets lost or damaged. __________________ New gun, same ol' shot.

December 29, 2011, 04:32 PM	#6
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	Starline brass new case min-max case length for the 45ACP is .892"-.897", I have several loading manuals that list .898" as max for this cartridge. I have never needed to trim a 45ACP case.. William Last edited by William T. Watts; December 30, 2011 at 10:49 AM.

December 29, 2011, 01:25 PM	#3
phoenix4500 Junior Member Join Date: December 29, 2011 Posts: 5	The length is supposed to be .898" and most are just a tad under, maybe .01 or so. This should be okay? Also, I have some silver shiney casings. Can't tell what they are made of. Tried a magnet on them and it does not attract the casing. Tried to scratch the coating to see if it was nickle covering brass, but no brass came through. Any ideas? Should I reload these? Thanks again. Phil

December 29, 2011, 01:48 PM	#4
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	I don't shoot a lot of .45 ACP's like a competitive shooter might but loading 45 ACP with various case brands I find most all measure from .890-.895 with some at the max length at .898". Since I'm not loading 100's of rounds per month I measure them all anyway. As yet I haven't found a case that was too short or too long to chamber and fire so you could say it's a waste of time. For taper crimping cases variable case lengths isn't critical like rifle loads or like .357 and .44 Magnum straight walled pistol cases.

December 29, 2011, 02:06 PM	#5
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	I’ve been reloading a shooting the same batch of .45acp cases for 15 years now and have never measured the empty case length. I measure and trim everything else, but not .45acp. I used to shoot competitively, about 500 rounds a month. Now it’s about 500 rounds a year. No problems.

December 29, 2011, 05:46 PM	#8
phoenix4500 Junior Member Join Date: December 29, 2011 Posts: 5	Thank you one and all for your input. Looks like all the casings I have are just fine. Can't wait to re-load them and do some shootin'. A Happy New Year to all. Phil

December 29, 2011, 09:33 PM	#9
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	FWIW I never check length of, not trim, any pistol brass. Never have in 45 years.

December 29, 2011, 10:16 PM	#10
AFK Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2010 Posts: 151	I never check the length or trim any brass for the pistols I reload for (9mm, 380 auto, 38 special, 45 acp) Pick 'em up, clean 'em up, load 'em up, shoot 'em up. I actually prefer the nickel brass, cleans up easier, lasts as long as I would ever need it to, and has an almost "slick" feeling when clean. Looks cool too with CCI primers and FMJ bullet.