Can anyone recommend a "custom brass" maker?

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I have a need for some customized brass.   Basically, I want some .45-70 trimmed to .45 Colt length with no other modifications.   Don't care about the headstamp.

I've contacted a few folks I've found online whose websites indicate that they MIGHT do it, so I asked.  So far, no responses.  Except for Starline who said they can't do it right now.  Maybe in the fall.  Minimum order of 100,000 pieces.  

I don't need THAT much...

I am looking for 500 to 1000 cases.   I know that in some ways, that's not a lot, but it is just trimming an existing case that is easy to get.   Yes, I can do it myself, but it's a tedious process.   

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Have you looked at .475 Linebaugh brass? John trimmed down .45-70 to make that cartridge.

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Or maybe even .480 Ruger?

[Idaho Gunslinger]

Can I ask what these are for?

 

You could always get one of those electric case trimmers and do it yourself. Likely the most time consuming option but probably the cheapest. 

I wonder if this could be done with a Dillon press mounted case trimmer. 

 

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Looking at it, the .480 is already the exact length you need. 1.285”. The case body is the correct size but the rim is slightly smaller diameter.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

18 minutes ago, Idaho Gunslinger said:

Can I ask what these are for?

 

You could always get one of those electric case trimmers and do it yourself. Likely the most time consuming option but probably the cheapest. 

I wonder if this could be done with a Dillon press mounted case trimmer. 

 

Heh heh.   That's how I've been doing it.     But after a few cases, my wrists start to hurt....  

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Ah!   I had not considered the possibility that some other existing case might actually be what I am looking for.   I shall do the research!

Here's what I am doing.    I was trying to "develop" a sub load for use in my single shot .45-70 rifles.   Started out by trimming cases to ,45 Colt length, and loading them to .45 Colt pressures with a 300 grain bullet.   Works pretty good.  On a whim, I tried running them in my repeating rifles, and to my surprise, they worked!   They worked well enough in a vintage 86 Winchester, and quite flawlessly in a large frame Lightning.

I even had Lee make me some custom dies.

So, this is a kind of "project" for me.  It's 100% for fun and has no practical application, but it is something I am enjoying.    I have even toyed with the idea of trying to figure a way to get a revolver in caliber, (I was calling it .45-45) something other than those behemoths chambered for .45-70.    Yeah, I could obviously use the round in those, but the mind is a funny thing.

Thanks for all the suggestions.   New possibilities are opening up.

 

[Boggus Deal #64218]

The .480, other than the rim diameter, I think would do fine. You may have extraction issues.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

11 minutes ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

The .480, other than the rim diameter, I think would do fine. You may have extraction issues.

 

That's what I was thinking.   The .480 would give extraction problems.   The .475 would work, and while it would not have to be trimmed as much as the .45-70, it's a lot more expensive for the brass.

Still, it is something to consider.

[Flat Top Okie]

How does this compare to a .450 Bushmaster?

FTO

[Cholla]

RCC Brass used to be the company to make custom brass but they went bankrupt in 2022, right after declaring they had a way to get an extra 100-300 fps out of standard cartridges using their revolutionary brass design. I drove ten hours round trip to talk to the owner for a story (after he said he would give me the information) only to have his partner say they didn't want me to do a story on it. Two days of my life and an expensive hotel room were wasted. But I'm not bitter.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

1 hour ago, Flat Top Okie said:

How does this compare to a .450 Bushmaster?

FTO

 

Never heard of this one.   Looked it up.

Among other things, it's got no rim.   It uses .452" bullets, instead of .458" ones.   It just wouldn't work.

 

[Duffield, SASS #23454]

Have you tried a tubing cutter to shorten the 45-70 brass?  Cut it a rch long and finish with the trimmer.

[J.D. Daily]

Use a cheap Harbor Freight mini chop saw like used to make 300BO brass out of 556/223 brass.  Cut to slightly longer than 45 Colt.  Then trim to finish length. 

[Stump Water]

How are you dealing with the case wall thickness that far down vs. at the usual case mouth?

 

Or are you taper crimping?

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

FYI:

 

https://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/products.htm

 

quote from that page:

 

We do not supply any load data.

 

Still not cheap, but minimum 1 box, not 100K pieces. 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

2 hours ago, Stump Water said:

How are you dealing with the case wall thickness that far down vs. at the usual case mouth?

 

Or are you taper crimping?

Taper crimping.   It seems to work.

[Sedalia Dave]

2 hours ago, J.D. Daily said:

Use a cheap Harbor Freight mini chop saw like used to make 300BO brass out of 556/223 brass.  Cut to slightly longer than 45 Colt.  Then trim to finish length. 

 

There are jigs 3D printed jigs available on fleabay. Contact this guy ( Danger Leo Ballistics ). Several threads where he is making custom jigs. You might get lucky.

 

Cut to within a few thousandths of OAL. Finish in power case trimmer.

 

 

[Earl Brasse, SASS #3562]

Sedalia Dave has the right idea.

I just bought several jigs to cut down brass to do case forming of various calibers.

 

This guy on E-Bay will make custom jigs. https://www.ebay.com/sch/empoweredlearning/m.html?item=304125853547&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211

 

Item I bought was

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304125853547

 

Good luck with your project.