I have a set of .45 Colt dies from a few years back. Never have owned a .45 Colt, but wondered if they would work for the .45 ACP? Seems to size O.K. My buddy needs them if they'll work. He's on the verge of starting up a reloading bench.

Short answer: I dunno.

My two concerns would be getting the bullet seated to the proper OAL (will the die adjust down far enough?) and getting the taper crimp right (same issue).

Based on the similarity to loading 38spl with 357 dies, I'd be willing to try it just out of 'satiable curiosity, but I wouldn't bet on it working.

It ain't gonnna work... There's a big difference in the two cases, and the crimp, well most .45 Colt dies have a roll crimp. Look at the diagrams in your loading manual...

One thing's for sure, a .45 ACP case will never reach the crimp ring in an unmodified .45 Colt seater die, 'sides the crimp would most likely be a roll crimp and not a taper as commonly used for the .45 ACP. Same would apply to bullet seating. Might be able to make do with the expander die if it will reach the casemouth. Your friend's best approach would be to obtain a .45 ACP die set. Would suggest he go with the carbide sizer while he's at it.

I was under the impression that crimping was optional on the .45 ACP. Anyway, I think I'll just sell the .45 colt set and get myself some components I've been wanting. I looked at the price of die sets and they have certainly gone up since I bought my last set. Thanks for the replies.

[QUOTE=unclepaddy;420369]I was under the impression that crimping was optional on the .45 ACP. QUOTE]


Greetings,

You'll find that you do need to crimp the .45 ACP. There are two types of crimp: A roll crimp, and a taper crimp. The roll crimp is like with the .45 LC and other revolver rounds: It rolls the metal at the end of the case over into the bullet.
A taper crimp basically squeezes the cartridge to a certain size along the sides. It doesn't affect the end of the brass like a roll crimp does.
For a .45 ACP and other cartridges that depend on the brass at the end of the case to headspace on, you need the taper crimp. A roll crimp may and probably will allow the cartridge to not headspace or function correctly.
I'm with folks on the .45LC: It is a LONG cartridge compared to the ACP: Most likely, you won't be able to get the dies to work correctly on the much shorter .45 ACP even if you could taper crimp them in that type of die set.
By all means sell the set and get the proper one.
+ 10 points for wondering if you could economize by using the .45 LC die set.

Happy Shootin'! -Tom

Noooo don't sell your dies.

You need to buy a new handgun in .45 Colt!
Or a lever gun in .45 Colt.

That is how we solve your problem!

Buy gun, no problem. :D

Hey UnclePaddy....Mr. MMichaelAK is dead righ on there, go find yourself a .45 LC sixgun, you won't be sorry....and a lever in the same is a hoot.... :)

The nominal dia of a 45LC case is .480 dia, while the 45ACP is .473, according to the Speer manual. Unless you have an exceptionally tight LC sizer, its an iffy situation. I have a LC and an ACP and just now, out of morbid curiosity I tried a sized LC case in my ACP chamber checker and it fit! Snugly, but it did fit. It is at the upper end of the tolerence range for the ACP. Sized dia of the LC is .475 in my Lyman carbide sizer and in the ACP is .469 in a Lyman carbide sizer also. Unless oversize cast bullets are used, lack of sufficent neck tension might be an issue plus an occasional failure to feed if there is a speck of fouling in the chamber.
Issues as bullet seating and crimping that were raised in previous responses would still hold true. As you wisely deceided already, getting the proper die set is the way to go. Just adding my 2 cents. Good luck!