Cutting 45 Colt down to Cowboy 45 Special?

[Begle1]

Is it wise to make one's own "Cowboy 45 Special" brass by trimming down 45 Colt brass?

Can anybody recommend a trimming tool that'd make the process easy?

[Abilene]

You might get differing opinions.  I have never messed with those little shells, Schofield has been fine for me for the lighter loads.  But I've read many discussions and understand why people like them.  As to cutting them down, some people will say no the brass will be thicker at the mouth if you do that, and others say they have cut a bunch of them and they work fine.  It was more common before the C45S became available.  Coffinmaker was one of those so he will have more input on whether it is worth it or not when new ones are available.  So it is subjective.

[Coffinmaker]

   Did I hear my Name?? 

Well, here I am!!  I are sorta a poster child for the Cowboy 45 Special.  For those wishing to shoot .45s with reduced recoil, it's definitely a winner.  OK, but now for the OPs question.

It depends (no not the depends inna plastic package).  Way back inna Wabac (Thank you Sherman & Perfesser), prior to the C45S be available, I made thousands, cutting down 45 Colt and 45 Schofield.  the Schofield cases were my own experiments paralleling AJ with the C45S.  Those that say the 45 Colt case is thicker as you go down are correct.  However, it still works just fine.  Same same if you start with 45 Schofield cases.  Both cases get thicker as you cut them back to C45S length.  they will still load, crimp and shoot just fine.

Now about making the process easier.  There isn't "easier."  I personally used two methods.  I put together a case holder, pilot and cutter for my Lathe.  It worked quite well.  However, yule be standing there for hours to make a useful amount.  Next up, was my bench top case trimmer, with a cutter assembly for an electric drill motor.  I used a 14V cordless.  Same same, your gonna be standing there for a LONG time to make a useful number of cases.

Is it worth it??  In my opinion, NO.  Some lustrum ago, before the C45S was available commercially, sure, it was the only way to get 'em.  Today, the Cowboy 45 Special isn't all that expensive and in that light, the hours spent to make yer own just doesn't make sense unless you just have a ton of 45 Colt you don't know what to do with (still ain't worth it).  Plus, the Starline C45S cases have a case mouth of the correct thickness for crimping.  At this point in time, I consider making yer own to be a wast of time (unless you have absolutely nothing else to do).  Burma Shave

[Coffinmaker]

  I forgot

As an addendum > The Cowboy 45 Special case coupled with AJs own designed Barnstormer bullets are absolutely the Bees Knees!!  those of us whom really like the .45 can shoot .45 handguns at the same recoil level as .38s which is SUPER KOOL!!

I understand "Slippery Bullets" is now casting the Barnstormer commercially.  Good On Ya!!