Caliber informaion - The Firearms Forum

Gunfyter · 06-02-2003, 08:11 AM

I was at the loading bench yesterday afternoon loading .45 ACP's. I confess that I'm a range brass rat and pick up all cases for reloading. During the session I came across four cases that I've never seen or heard of before. The stamp on the case head was 11.25 x 23. I looked in all of my loading manuals and found nothing. They are just slightly longer than a .45 ACP case and go thru the dies with no problems. What made me catch them was they wouldn't hold a large pistol primer. Looking at the primer pocket, there is a distinct difference. Instead of the single hole, there are three and they are connected. Ok you experts, what do I have here?

JohnK3 · 06-02-2003, 01:45 PM

To begin with, my guess is that they're Berdan primed. that would explain the "three holes" for the primer pocket as opposed to one hole, such as used by Boxer primers.

Can't find much on the 11.25X23 designation, however. The 11.25mm seems to be the generally-accepted metric designation for the .45ACP, but I can't find a listing of cartridge length connected with the caliber.

How'd you get the primers out if they had three holes as opposed to one?

Gunfyter · 06-02-2003, 01:49 PM

They came right out at the first stage. Liike I said, the primer pockets are just big enough that a large pistol primer will just fall out. In each case, I ended up with a loaded round but without a primer.

Ross95966 · 06-02-2003, 02:08 PM

Gunfyter,
The .45 ACP has a case length of 23.29 mm.
Your odd flashhole is the result of creating a new hole with the decapping pin between the original vents.
The primer is likely 5.5mm, .217".
Cheers from Grayest California,
Ross

Gunfyter · 06-02-2003, 02:12 PM

That pretty well explains the whole shooting match. Thanks.

06-02-2003, 08:11 AM	#1
Gunfyter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,956	Caliber informaion I was at the loading bench yesterday afternoon loading .45 ACP's. I confess that I'm a range brass rat and pick up all cases for reloading. During the session I came across four cases that I've never seen or heard of before. The stamp on the case head was 11.25 x 23. I looked in all of my loading manuals and found nothing. They are just slightly longer than a .45 ACP case and go thru the dies with no problems. What made me catch them was they wouldn't hold a large pistol primer. Looking at the primer pocket, there is a distinct difference. Instead of the single hole, there are three and they are connected. Ok you experts, what do I have here? __________________ Anything worth shooting once, is worth shooting again. If it ain't broke, break it. Someone needs the work -->

06-02-2003, 01:49 PM	#3
Gunfyter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,956	They came right out at the first stage. Liike I said, the primer pockets are just big enough that a large pistol primer will just fall out. In each case, I ended up with a loaded round but without a primer. __________________ Anything worth shooting once, is worth shooting again. If it ain't broke, break it. Someone needs the work

06-02-2003, 02:12 PM	#5
Gunfyter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,956	That pretty well explains the whole shooting match. Thanks. __________________ Anything worth shooting once, is worth shooting again. If it ain't broke, break it. Someone needs the work

06-02-2003, 01:45 PM	#2
JohnK3 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,636	To begin with, my guess is that they're Berdan primed. that would explain the "three holes" for the primer pocket as opposed to one hole, such as used by Boxer primers. Can't find much on the 11.25X23 designation, however. The 11.25mm seems to be the generally-accepted metric designation for the .45ACP, but I can't find a listing of cartridge length connected with the caliber. How'd you get the primers out if they had three holes as opposed to one?

06-02-2003, 02:08 PM	#4
Ross95966 Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Darkest California Posts: 30	Gunfyter, The .45 ACP has a case length of 23.29 mm. Your odd flashhole is the result of creating a new hole with the decapping pin between the original vents. The primer is likely 5.5mm, .217". Cheers from Grayest California, Ross