Have you tried these guys yet ?

https://www.vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=23&cat=Uberti+1873+Cattleman+SAA+and+Target

Dawg
Thank you Sir, They arrived yesterday and are just what I needed.I hope to start loading them next week.
Macon Due 29445

Rather than the typical 200 grain flat point CAS .44 Russian loads, I used Bear Creek's 246 grain, conical round nose .44 Russian/Special bullet over 5.3 grains of Unique.  That is listed in Lymann as a factory duplication load.  That should smack the plates with authority.

When I shot in NCOWS I used the Lyman 429251 bullet with BP for my 44 Russians in the '72 OP.  Did that only because I never could put my hands on the Lyman 429184 bullet mold listed as the 'regular' 44 Russian bullet.

Have fun with those revolvers.  I will own one someday, just not this soon.

Mako,
...The problem I see with modifying an allready built collet is holding it while machining,
they want to spread on you because of the slits but this can be overcome.
AntiqueSledMan.

Sledman,
Yep, I already had a plan to stabilize the collet while machining, my buddy and i who collaborate on machining projects had already come up with a plan to hold the collet by forcing a core of aluminum in to the center of the collet and then machining a hollow aluminum cylinder (to fit around the outside of the collet body) and splitting it in half to go around Lee collet.  Of course the secret is that you can't spring the collet open more than about a half a thousandth and you can't run your core plug up into to the area where the machining will take place.  To further complicate matters the bore of the Lee collet is not perfectly cylindrical on the one we took apart.  My friend insisted we would have to true the bore up a bit first. probably run a reamer in it and then lap it.  The problem there is I would have to buy another reamer and lap (not too expensive but it keeps adding up) , nether one of us had one close enough in size (I can't remember what it even was now). I had suggested the I.D. tool post grinder instead of single pointing it on the lathe since you can limit the deflection of the pieces we would be grinding because there is so little pressure. Also the hardness of the collet wouldn't be a factor, it probably would be while reaming and I'm not even sure we could do that and clamp the collet firmly even with the split halves.  It just kept getting more complicated.  I can see why you chose to make a collet.

I have another problem though, I "started" this project at least 15 years ago.  My buddy has moved and is extremely old now and I have moved 3 times since then and am just now getting my shop in order.  I still don't where half of the things are, I had a shipping container full of just my shop and office items not counting furniture.  I'm not even sure where that collet is, I might just buy another.

I really appreciate your picture and creativity.  I'm sure if I showed the pictures to John (my buddy) he might think it was my set up with the RCBS and everything.

I have one last question...what were you doing with that .22LR cartridge in the picture with the tube cutter?

I also believe the Per'fesser had the right of it above about the rotary crimpers.  Factory products often use things like that because they are faster and many times more uniform than what we do on our own loading benches.  I toured a Federal plant once and they were putting cannelures on .38 Spl cases intended for wadcutters, they were FAST and didn't cause any imperfections on the surface.  However that one photo definitely has the evidence of a slip collet being used to crimp it.

~Mako

Ah, nothing better than new leather, Mako. Trailrider makes some first class holsters. If you can, post a photo or two after you get them.