.45 ACP brass from cut down .308 cases????

[Robert McNamera]

I know that .45 ACP cases can be made from cut down .308 and .30-06 cases. I read somewhere a long while ago that all you gotta do is cut them to length and then ream to where they'll take that .45 bullet. Anyone else tried this or heard of it? Can anyone point me to a post about it perhaps? Just need to find out what size and type of reamer might be needed.


Thanks in Advance

BobbyMac

 

[canucklehead]

All I know is the shellplate on my Dillon 550 is the same for .308 and .45ACP... I would think it's possible.

You'd have some pretty strong 45 brass!

 

[Rugerman]

I have a friend who makes me .45 acp shot shells with cut down .308 cases. They are cut down slightly longer than the actual case because he has a special die that rounds out the top of the case so it feeds like a regular .45 round. He puts a drop of clear silicone on the very top to keep the shot in. They work quite well in my Colt 1911's. They're fun to shoot but I wouldn't count on them for head shots on grouse.

 

[(((Echo)))]

Gunnar at Armco used to do this and sell it from his site. The 45-08 brass. Took a quick look see, couldn't find it. Give him a call.

(E)

 

[Gatehouse]

I've used the 45-08 bras form Armco. To make your own I assume you would need a lathe or a super accurate drill press and the proper cutters etc.

 

[mudgunner49]

When I owned a .45 Detonics (in another life) I had to go through this hassle to get brass. You can now buy .45 Super from Starline and there's no need.

Now if you just have a truckload of .308/06 brass and a ton of time on your hands, that's another story...

 

[medicstimpy]

Yea you can do it. I do that for 8mm Mauser from 30-06.

But with 308 being hard to get and 45 once fired being plentiful... why would you want to?

 

[RUPZUK]

Gunnar did quite a bit with what he called a 45-08.
I don't remember all the particulars, perhaps he can chime in but as I recall he modified 1911's with a heavy recoil spring ( 22lb?), used his modified 45-08 brass and had 230 grain bullets coming out at alarming velocities ( 1200-1400 fps?IIRC)
He called it a wilderness carry gun or something like that.
I saw one once at the range, worked fine as I recall.

 

[Robert McNamera]

.45 ACP from cut down .308 Win

Thank you gentlemen.

I am scouting out what size reamer I need for the job now. I'll keep y'all posted on the results. I have a boatload of .308 cases that are once fired...that would be why i wanna make at least some of 'em into .45's.


BOB

 

[mbogo3]

I believe they used to make 44 Auto Mag from .308 win way back when after the Mexican ammo plant stopped making it............................Harold

 

[Wally]

I've used the 45-08 bras form Armco. To make your own I assume you would need a lathe or a super accurate drill press and the proper cutters etc.

I believe you can get self centering reamers. That would probably work. You could square them with an endmill in a drill press. A case trimmer could work though, couldn't it?

 

[joe-nwt]

A case trimmer would work for shortening the 308, you need to ream the inside of the case to make room for the 45 bullet as the rifle cases are considerably thicker in the web area than a pistol case.

 

[relliott]

That's where the original .45 winmag came from.

 

[DaveGP]

Much easier to cut down 45 Win Mag brass, or use 45 Super.....

 

[Canuck44]

I have shot and often load Gunnar's .45-08 cartridge in my Norincos. I believe he still sells the cases for $1.00 a piece. The case, as others have pointed out, need to be reamed out down to the webbing in order to seat a .45 bullet. I use hard cast 200 gr LSWC in my .45-08 cases. I get around 1350 fps with the load Gunnar shuggested and it is only at the bottom of what he suggested for a load. I use Longshot powder.

I put a 22# recoil spring in the gun and use a Shok Buff. Great load for bear defense. Recoil is similar to a .357mag revolver.

You don't need a lot of cases and I certainly don't shoo the load often.

Take Care

Bob