I recently bought a set of Redding 454 csull / 45 colt dies with the intention of loading both calibers with the same dies.
Today, I read this on the Freedom Arms website.
What do you guys think. Does anyone else here use the Redding dies with or without problems?



TIP #3: Reloading dies?
The use of dies other than specified for the 454 CASULL IS NOT RECOMMENDED! Reloading dies manufactured for the 454 CASULL 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.

Is it possible that Redding designed the dies around the .454 and they just happen to be suitable for the .45 Colt also?

I have a set of Dillon 45 LC dies that Dillon recomended to use loading the 454 casull. I have shot a lot of 454 casull reloads out of my Tarus Raging bull and have not experienced any problems.

Thanks for the replies. I'll just go ahead and start making them.

I have heard that some folks had problems with Hornady 45 colt dies not sizing the case down small enough for retaining jacketed bullets effectively. Hornady sent them 454 sizer dies, and that solved their problem. When I was ready to buy a set of dies for 45 colt, I checked the part numbers for the individual dies in the set for 454 vs 45 colt. The 454 set has a different sizer, but the same seater and expander, plus it comes with a separate crimp die, for the same cost as the 3 die 45 colt set. So I bought the 454 set, and it has worked great. I also bought a 45/454 Lee FCD die, but it is not worth the hassle of crimping in a separate step; I just seat/crimp in one operation.

Long story short: any 454 set should work fine for 45 colt, but some 45 colt dies won't work for 454 (too short).