Making .45 ACP brass by trimming .308 Winchester

[sneaker]

Am I right that this can be done?

Cut a .308 Winchester case off at the right height and you've got working .45 ACP brass?

Just curious.

[valkyrie]

I dont think so. The primers are a different size and the ejector grooves are a lot smaller and a completely different profile

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[bunnybuster]

Why would you bother?

Look in the latest shooters mag,dealers selling once fired 45 brass for sixpence,the dimensions are very close I grant you that, but the extractor groove is different profile and probably won't engage the extractor.

The primers will be an issue also,rifle primers are very hard relative to piston primers.Awhile ago,a small volume pistol manufacturer based an auto cartridge on the 308,tell us who it was ?

Be Safe BB

[deye243]

Auto Mag Corporation in Pasadena California the 44 AMP ? IIRC

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

Yes, you can, and it's done in the States all the time to make .45 Super.

Be aware that you'll have a thicker case wall and you'll have to reduce loads to match. .45 Super is usually fired from 1911 pistols that have been modified with fully supported chambers and heavy springs.

The .45 Super and .45acp cases are almost the same, except that the .45 super cases are thicker. Remember that the .45 Super loads are fired from fully supported chambers and that you need to stick with reduced .45acp loads (keep in mind the thicker case; reduced volume!) in standard 1911 pistols (and any other pistol without a fully supported chamber) or you risk case head separation.

Regards,

Josh

[south]

Why would you bother?

He said why, just curious.

[Mich]

It's not something I do, but it's done.

Thicker case wall is a problem. Reduced loads is one option but a better one IMO would be to ream the inside of the case and this would prevent potential seating issues as well.

The brass would also be hard as hell given where it's taken from on the rifle case. Annealing would be beneficial.

[jays]

You'd have to be desperate to go through all this for some .45 brass eh?

[sneaker]

You'd have to be desperate to go through all this for some .45 brass eh?

Sounds like more effort than I was thinking.

If it was going to work I was imagining it as just lopping the top off and having the brass good to go. Not reaming and annealing for it to just be passable.

[Gregg]

Auto Mag Corporation in Pasadena California the 44 AMP ? IIRC

That's the one. .45 AutoMag

[Mich]

Sounds like more effort than I was thinking.

If it was going to work I was imagining it as just lopping the top off and having the brass good to go. Not reaming and annealing for it to just be passable.

No, for consistent reliable brass you'd need to do more than just lop the top.

[1290]

308win is ever so slightly smaller in size except for a little thicker rim....
Why would you bother? maybe you've got stacks of 308 brass and you're a bit tight or maybe you're in the outback, with loads of time and a 45 that needs feeding .

[Wobble]

Why would you bother?

Because you can? That's why most do things the difficult way