45 ACP brass shavings?

kam582

kam582

New member
I've been reloading .223 and 22-250 for a little while and decided to try .45 ACP. I got an RCBS 3 die set, read up on it from my manuals, and jumped in. Yesterday I loaded up a few rounds with a couple different weights of Unique. I was worried about the OAL and the crimp, as I know the .45 headspaces off the case mouth. The RCBS die manual leaves a lot to be desired as far as setting the taper crimp, at least in my opinion. I took the barrel out of my 45 and every round seems to fit well. I even took 5 rounds, went into the back yard and fired them into a dirt bank. ( I live in the country) They seemed to fire fine and the weapon functioned well. I'll worry about accuracy when it warms up a little. I have noticed however when I am seating the bullet I am getting some very small brass shavings. I would almost call them microscopic, but I can see them without one. I don't know if I didn't flare the case mouth enough, or maybe I should have chamfered and deburred the case mouth. I didn't because they didn't need triming. I loading 230 grain FMJ rounds. Any ideas?
 
A bit more flare might help but I think the brass is turning in as the bullet is seated.. Make sure that the crimp is not going in before you are finally seated. It is a very delicate balancing act of turning and not shaving..

It is always best to crimp as a separate stage to avoid what you are seeing. I don't know if CURRENT RCBS dies come with a taper crimp but the old seaters were roll crimped and I just use that to lightly turn the bell in. Then they go through a dedicated taper set up. It's an extra step on a single stage but nothing to do this on a progressive.

Greg
 
Thanks for the reply. I figured I'd be better off going to a dedicated crimping die. Does that mean I'll have to buy another seating die and a crimp die? I've only used RCBS dies, and I don't think, or know if they make separate dies. Any recommendations?
 
Just seat with the RCBS. Pick up a taper crimp die sold separately by most outfits. I use Hornady but that's what they had on the shelf in Oklahoma forty years ago.

Greg
 
While it's a balancing act .....the dies you have will do fine, and that shaving is inconsequential. Maybe sort your brass by brand, and make tiny adjustments per brand, but it's stupid to trim, debur or chamber this round. Straight walled cases don't stretch, like tapered or shouldered cases.
 
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Originally Posted By: Bigdog2While it's a balancing act .....the dies you have will do fine, and that shaving is inconsequential. Maybe sort your brass by brand, and make tiny adjustments per brand, but it's stupid to trim, debur or chamber this round. Straight walled cases don't stretch, like tapered or shouldered cases.


I agree with that no trim. I've never had one grow enough to make any difference in any auto. With revolver stuff at the rate I was shooting it it would have been a full time occupation if they grew like a good rifle case.

Greg
 
I use Lee dies for my .45 acp and don't taper crimp at all. As you stated it seats and expands on the case mouth. If you over crimp you can get blow back as the case mouth has to expand and seal around the chamber. I have never had any problem expanding and seating the bullet should swell the case slightly as it get seated.

I have shaved some plated bullets I just increased the amount of expanding I did and it did seem to fix it. Good luck the .45 isn't that picky have fun with it.
 
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