Author Topic: .454 vs .452 bullets  (Read 10784 times)

Offline olered

  • Very Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 76
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
.454 vs .452 bullets
« on: June 09, 2015, 06:38:35 PM »
I have been loading .452 bullets in my smokeless rounds and want to load some bp. I ordered some
Big Lube 250 grain and they are .454. I measured  the cylinder on my open tops and they are .452.
Can I use the .454 safely or should I size them down? Sorry if this has been brought up before. I searched could find nothing.

Offline rickk

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1127
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2015, 12:03:27 PM »
You COULD have some leading issues and you MIGHT need a different expander plug.

If it were me I would just try it and see what happens. If a problem arises a LEE bullet sizing die is about 10 bucks.

Offline mehavey

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 152
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2015, 12:07:21 PM »
If the 454s will physically fit into the cylinders, no [safety] problem.

Advertising

  • Guest
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #3 on: Today at 04:00:49 AM »

Offline Jefro

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 726
  • know matter where you go, there you are
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2015, 12:51:12 PM »
Howdy olered, not sure why you got 454 in the first place if shooting 45LC. Mark has them in both 452 and 454, I size all of mine 452. Like the others have said, if they will fit the cylinders and don't need a larger expander plug they should work. Good Luck :)

Jefro :D Relax-Enjoy
sass # 69420....JEDI GF #104.....NC Soot Lord....CFDA#1362
44-40 takes a back seat to no other caliber

Offline olered

  • Very Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 76
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2015, 01:05:38 PM »
Howdy olered, not sure why you got 454 in the first place if shooting 45LC. Mark has them in both 452 and 454, I size all of mine 452. Like the others have said, if they will fit the cylinders and don't need a larger expander plug they should work. Good Luck :)

Jefro :D Relax-Enjoy

I spoke with Mark and he said that 90% of his 45PRS bullets that he gets orders for are .454 and if they will chamber they are fine. I am not sure what an expander plug is. This would size the case more to accomodate the .454? I have a .452 sizer already and may resize them depending how they chamber. I can resize them with out messing up the lube. Correct?

Offline Jefro

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 726
  • know matter where you go, there you are
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2015, 12:06:49 PM »
Howdy olered, this case mouth expander die, if it will expand the case mouth enough to load the 454 then I would load a few to see if they will fit the cylinders. If they fit then rock and roll and start shooting. Yes you could rezise them, if it makes a mess depends on the type of sizing set up you have. I have two Stars, one for BP and one for that other powder, so I wouldn't have any problems...Good Luck :)

Jefro :D Relax-Enjoy
sass # 69420....JEDI GF #104.....NC Soot Lord....CFDA#1362
44-40 takes a back seat to no other caliber

Offline olered

  • Very Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 76
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2015, 02:32:49 PM »
Jefro I tried to make up a couple last night and my die will not expand the case enough to seat the bullet. Not going to buy a different expander plug. I will just resize the 250 bullets to .452 and be done with it. If I order more I will make sure they are .452. My sizing die is a Lee. May be messy but I'll just have to deal with it. Another lesson learned but not too painful this time around.   :-[

Offline mehavey

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 152
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2015, 07:25:35 PM »
What make [expander] die are you
using that it won't bell the mouth?

Offline olered

  • Very Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 76
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2015, 06:35:40 AM »
What make [expander] die are you
using that it won't bell the mouth?


All of my reloading components are Lee.

Offline mehavey

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 152
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2015, 06:43:39 AM »
For $15, Lee makes a universal expander that's good up through 45-70/0.459"
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/140461/lee-universal-neck-expanding-die

Offline olered

  • Very Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 76
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2015, 12:14:19 PM »
For $15, Lee makes a universal expander that's good up through 45-70/0.459"
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/140461/lee-universal-neck-expanding-die

I orderd the universal expander and it will be here Saturday. I use Amazon for a lot. Checked their price which was a little cheaper than Midway with free shipping. Thanks

Offline Trailrider

  • CAS-L Ghost Rider
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 2366
    • Gunfighter Zone
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2015, 09:34:39 AM »
The first question concerning the .454" bullets is whether they will fit the case without shaving lead or seating crookedly. The expander plug should take care of that. The second question is whether the cartridges with the .454" bullets will chamber in you gun.  The final question is how do they shoot? Best of luck.
Ride to the sound of the guns, but watch out for bushwhackers! Godspeed to all in harm's way in the defense of Freedom! God Bless America!

Your obedient servant,
Trailrider,
Bvt. Lt. Col. Commanding,
Southern District
Dept. of the Platte, GAF

Offline rickk

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1127
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #12 on: June 15, 2015, 07:34:10 AM »
The universal expander will bell the mouth but it wont expand the case below the bell.

With RCBS dies you can get additional expander plugs. They made them in .452 and .454 .   If someone will sell you the expander that comes with the RCBS "Cowboy Dies", that one is .457.   Note that this is the diameter of the part that goes deeper into the case than the part that just bells the mouth.



Offline mehavey

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 152
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #13 on: June 15, 2015, 07:51:09 AM »
Quote
The universal expander will bell the mouth
but it wont expand the case below the bell.
I'll grant you that, but that may also be all the OP
 needs to use the .454 bullets in a .452 barrel.

Test and see....

Offline AWFUL CLOSE

  • Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 11
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2015, 05:14:53 PM »
I use .454 bullets in my Marlin to help quench the blowback.


Offline Buckingham

  • Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #15 on: November 08, 2015, 02:10:42 PM »
I cannot see why you are worried about using .454" dia bullets, the SAAMI spec for Colt 45 calls for .454" dia,(actually I think it is .456"), any gun that is bored for .452" is to Colt 45 ACP Auto spec. and should not be sold!

Offline AWFUL CLOSE

  • Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 11
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #16 on: November 08, 2015, 05:24:35 PM »
I bought a used 45lc Ruger Blackhawk that was mfg in 1976. It came from the factory with a .454 barrel. It shot way to the left and real high. You couldn't move the sights far enough to compensate. I sent the gun to Ruger, they put a new barrel on it, (free of course). The new barrel was marked .452; so if Ruger isn't concerned about the size difference, I'm not either. I loaded up some 300gr ,454 bullets with a "healthy" powder load. No problems in either of the pistols or the Marlin rifle.



Offline Jake C

  • Department of the Atlantic, GAF # 834
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 579
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: .454 vs .452 bullets
« Reply #17 on: November 08, 2015, 11:19:14 PM »
I cannot see why you are worried about using .454" dia bullets, the SAAMI spec for Colt 45 calls for .454" dia,(actually I think it is .456"), any gun that is bored for .452" is to Colt 45 ACP Auto spec. and should not be sold!

As I understand it, most .45 Colt guns made after WWII were made with .452 barrels.
Win with ability, not with numbers.- Alexander Suvorov, Russian Field Marshal, 1729-1800

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk

© 1995 - 2023 CAScity.com