Another brass question 45 ACP this time

[Vortec MAX]

You guys talked me out of nickel plated cases for the 9mm. I bought un-plated. Now I am going to buy 1,000 45 ACP cases from Starline. They make two versions - regular and "+P."

Starline describes the +P version as follows:

The 45 Auto+P is a strengthened version of the 45 Auto with the same external dimensions. A thicker web and heavier sidewall at base strengthens the case in potentially unsupported areas. This case has approximately 2 grains less internal water capacity than the standard 45 Auto.

Does anyone have experience with the +P cases? I don't plan to make hot loads, just standard pressure loads. I guess I was wondering if the thicker cases would last longer.

Here are links to the two different cases:
https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cas ... uto-Brass/
https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cas ... o-P-Brass/

Thanks in advance for any insight you might have on this.

Mike

[Vortec MAX]

Nobody here has an opinion? I find that hard to believe



Mike

P.S. Thanks to Rapier for the tumbleweed smiley.

[jmz5]

I load whatever brass I can find, my last batch of brass I got was starline regular 9mm, its on its 3rd load for most of the cases.

[panzermk2]

Nobody here has an opinion? I find that hard to believe



Mike

P.S. Thanks to Rapier for the tumbleweed smiley.

There is no reason to get the +p Brass.

+P brass is for the custom ammo makers like me who are actually loading +p SAAMI rated ammo and the case needs to show that so it does not end up in an older gun that can not handle hot loads.

[Rapier1772]

Why did Federal make .45ACP with different sized primers? Some are large, some are small, & no apparent reason why. They're slowing down my reloading :wall:

[panzermk2]

Small primers are really old brass. It was done before LP Primers where settled on and before SAAMI specs existed.


Although unless some one is shooting vintage brass it's very rare. 45 Super guys played with them and you will find them in 45ACP-Auto rim.

You may have some auto rim brass.

[Rapier1772]

The brass looks "new" (or 1x). It's definitely not the auto-rim they show on wikipedia. They fit in the Dillon .45ACP shell plate. I suppose it could be that someone was just out shooting up old ammo that had been on the shelf

Actually, I noticed a couple of Blazer brass which also used the small primer. Blazer normally goes straight into recycling anyway so I don't care about those. I don't know why but their primers are more stubborn than others, I really have to extend the decapping pin to knock them out in one shot.

[panzermk2]

Blazer? The Aluminum or brass cases?

[Rapier1772]

Blazer brass has the small primers; I don't even bother picking up the aluminum cases.

[NLVMike]

My experience (FWIW) is that loaded to standard specs, you can load .45ACP brass until you can't find it anymore. I have loaded Detonics .451 magnum. It uses brass with a stronger web. It is 40 thousandths longer so that it won't chamber in a 45, and it is loaded significantly hotter. Detonics used to package their 451 with a case reamer so shooters could make brass out of .308 brass, cut down. I believe the .45 super was based on .451 brass cut down to .90. Sounds a little dangerous to me, as it would chamber in 45 with an unsupported barrel. I don't see any need for +P brass if you don't have a fully supported barrel and are making custom hot loads.

A big part of my reloading process is hand inspecting every cartridge for crazy small primer 45 brass. Throw them away. Blazer brass still uses them and they will really screw up your day, especially on a progressive.

[Rapier1772]

Yeah I just inspected my remaining stock, found about 8 more small primer Federals & another Blazer, hope thats it. Tossed them into recycle bin.

[Vortec MAX]

I think the small primers were a product of the shift to "lead free" primers. Some of the lead free loadings are using small primers now. I just sort them out and put them in a separate ziplock. Maybe I will use them someday, but probably not.

Mike