Lee 454 casull dies....do 45 long colt too?

H

hulley

New member
I'm buying a Ruger Alaskan 454 casull soon and am working on getting the items needed to reload for it. I plan on mainly shooting 45LC and will reload for it first but I would like to be able to do 454 casull also.

Lee dies list separate numbers for both cartridges but neither say they will do both. I would like to buy one set of dies for both rounds.

Will one Lee die set do both calibers? Anybody load for both of these rounds? I'll probably get me a lever gun to match also.
 
Yes they will work for 45lc. The 454 is just a lengthened 45 case. Kind of like. 38spc/.357 mag or .40/10mm. Lee's dies are set up for both.
 
I just went through this..

The note is the same on the 3 die set, and the 4 die set

Works for both, there is a info tab on the lee site that posts this info.

The dies were 45 colt, that I got.

Note was expander die needs to be screwed out 2 turns to work with casull.
 
Last edited:
The Lee 454 might not load 45Lc if you check the parts for the 454 die set all the parts are 45 colt parts except the seater crimp die.You might not be able to crimp the 45s.This question comes up a good bit you can load the longer shell 44 mag in 44 spc die, 357 in 38 die, 32 H&R,327 in 32 S&W die but sometimes you can't load the shorter shell in a die for the longer shell.The sizer works fine.the expander and seating die don't always work.Get the 45 colt die set.
 
The Issue will be with the Expander

Wild Willy is correct - you need the dies specified for the shortest case to load all of the different lengths. Other brands often sell just one die set for all the calibers in the same family, but Lee complicates it a bit by selling different sets for each. The big issue is USUALLY the length of the floating expander plug in the special powder through expander die, as well as the length of the die body. Proper adjustment of the Lee expander to limit the amount of case mouth flair is done by backing out the entire die, not adjusting the expander plug.

Since that plug is not fixed to a screw like most other brands, if you buy the set designed for a longer case, there is no way to crank it down lower to reach a shorter case mouth. Keeping the exact amount of internal vertical movement of that expander plug is critical for proper operation with Lee's through-die auto powder measures. That is why you make the adjustments by screwing the entire die body up or down.

It is possible the crimp die could also be an issue as he said, but I know more details about the expander problem above.

Strangely enough, while everything I said above is true for the .38/.357 dies and the .44Spl/.44 Mag dies, a check of the part numbers for the pieces in the .45/.454 dies shows that the only different part is the bullet seat and crimp die body! But that still means you need the set for the shorter case, just like has already been stated.
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys, I'll go for the 45LC and work the 454 when I get to that point. The main reason I asked was my Lee 38spl dies do state they do 357mag also, but when I look at the Lee 45LC, they do not mention being able to do both. I kinda figured but wanted to make sure. I've seen stranger things.
 
Do you guys recommend different dies? I've had good luck with Lee but that's all I've ever used with the exceptions of a set of 9mm Dillon dies I have on my 650. I will be using a single stage to do the 45/454 as well as my 38/357.
 
Same dies work fine

I do not find any need for different die sets when loading sister calibers such as .38/.357 - the .38 dies work perfectly for both.

If you are asking about different BRAND dies instead of two sets - no, I absolutely recommend Lee dies for pistol calibers. Other brand dies work fine too, but only the Lee gives me the easy capability to use their fine through-the-die auto powder measures that is a REAL benefit when loading large numbers of rounds. You do not have to use their through-the-die powder feature, but it is always an option that you do not have at all with other types of dies. (I do not use that feature at all on a single stage press, but on a progressive or turret press, I would not live without it.)

Where a second die set gives you value is in not having to change the adjustment settings if you use a turret system or when you switch between calibers in a single stage press. With a different set of dies for each caliber, you can adjust them one time and then leave them all locked in. It is a relatively minor issue, but if you switch back and forth a lot, the convenience is nice.

By the way, if you are only going to be using a single stage press without a quick-change bushing (where you have to always screw the full die body in and out between each stage), you will probably want to buy a set of locking rings to replace those o-ring locks on the Lee dies. A lot of people find the standard Lee o-ring locks easily change adjustment when spinning in and out.

I personally love my Lee dies with the o-ring system in my turret presses, but for single stage use I would always use a split locking ring for absolute security of holding the adjustment. Do not buy the Lee Lock Ring eliminator unless you have a Lee press that specifically needs that system. I prefer the split lock rings from either Lyman or Hornady. RCBS lock rings are just fair in my opinion, since the lock is only a set screw instead of a split ring that clamps on the entire body.

I have never used the Hornady quick change bushing system, but it looks real nice to me. If I was setting up a new set of Lee dies to use in a single stage press, I think I would buy their "Hornady 44099 Lock N Load Conversion Kit" instead of new lock rings - with those bushings, the Lee o-ring lock will be just dandy.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Mauser69,

I'll stick with Lee and I'll look for some split locking rings or maybe the bushing set-up. I'm planning on purchasing a Rock Chucker but the Forster Co-axe looks pretty sweet. Still researching the Forster.
 
Love the Rock Chucker

I've never seen a Forster, so no comment there, but I have used my Rock Chucker for rifle and magnum pistol calibers since the mid 70s, and I cannot imagine a finer single stage press. I do all the high-volume pistol stuff on either a Lee Pro 1000 or Lee Turret press, but since I rarely load more than a couple of boxes of magnums at a time, I just stick with the single stage for those.
 
When I got my 454 in 1989, nobody had 454 Casull dies so I bought Hornady 45LC titanium dies, and have been loading both with them ever since.

Of course, after successfully reloaidng them for years, I did find this warning on the Freedom Arms website.

The use of dies other than specified for the 454 CASULLTM IS NOT RECOMMENDED! Reloading dies manufactured for the 454 CASULLTM have different internal dimensions than 45 Long Colt dies. The two main differences are: 1.> The crimp die is different than the standard crimp die in a way that allows a tapered roll crimp to retain the heavier bullets at the higher velocities. 2.> The sizing die is smaller in diameter to help in the retention of the heavier bullets. Also the longer length allows full length sizing of the longer 454 case.
Click to expand...

I had never had any issues whatsover and continue to use my Hornady 45LC dies, but I do see their difference in the tapered roll crimp as opposed to the standard roll crimp.
 
Well, I'm gonna pick up some 45LC dies this week and go from there. Heck, I haven't even gotten the gun yet, but that should be soon too.
 
I'm confused.

I have a Ruger SRH Toklat in 454 Casull. I have the Lee 45LC 4-die set and have been loading 45LC for about a month now. Very pleased with the Lee dies.

In the next week, or so, I will be looking to start reloading 454 rounds too. Lee sells a 45LC die set (which I have) and it also sells a 454 Casull die set. I assumed that to mean the 45LC would not work reloading 454 Casull.

Is this wrong?

By the way Hulley, I have been using the Forster CoAx and love it. I heard some negative comments about priming on it. To the contrary, I really like the way it primes and it saved me $50-$60 for a hand primer. It's not clumsy at all for me. The only other negative comments I'd heard is that some people don't like the ergonomics of the center-aligned handle and the non-open access from the side. I don't find either an issue at all.

Take a good look at YouTube videos regarding the CoAx. They are extremely informative.

Rex Roach. He has three and they are the best ones on YT. His latest one addresses the two issues above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEzVZe7f6G0

FortuneCookie45LC has two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzpLwDBWI28

Get the CoAx.
 
All my dies are Lee. I load lots of .45 Colt and just received the .454 dies.
The only one marked .454 is the seat crimp die. I use the factory crimp die for all my loads and it is for both .45 Colt and .454 Casull.
Hope this helps.

Dana
 
Just found this one the Lee website:

http://leeprecision.net/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/129/0/interchangeable-dies

Interchangeable dies
Posted by on 19 October 2011 03:01 PM

Frequently, dies from one caliber may be used to load other calibers. Due to the locations of crimping shoulders, the operation may only work for dies of the shorter caliber to the longer. You may notice a label depicting the shorter die in your set for the longer version of the cartridge, we do this to reduce costs.

Even though some dies are interchangable, in many cases, different shellholders are necessary. You can see a complete list of shellholders under "Case Preparation" then "Shellholders and Calibers".

32 H&R Mag - 327 Federal Mag
45 Colt - 454 Casull *
44 Special - 44 Magnum
38 Special - 357 Magnum
30-30 Winchester - 30 Remington
357 Magnum - 357 Maximum
38 Super - 9mm Largo
44 Russian - 44 Special
40 Smith & Wesson - 10mm - 41 Action Express
32 Smith & Wesson - 32 S&W Long - 32 H&R Magnum **

*The 45 Colt expander die will also work for the 454 Casull by backing the die out approximately two turns to compensate for the difference in case length.

**Our dies allow the use of .308 bullets in the 32 H&R Magnum. The other bullet diameter commonly used is .311 and that is the expander that comes with the set. To use .308 bullets, it is necessary to purchase an additional expander and turn it down to .308. This can be done using a drill press and emery cloth or if you buy the additional expander from the factory, we will do it for $10.00.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top