Sweetcorn wrote:shadowwalker wrote:
I'm in the same boat as you. After expanding the case mouth, I can seat a bullet by pushing the case and bullet against my bench top. Even after I crimp, I can still push the bullet in deeper by pressing it against my bench top (bench test). Right now, the sizing die is worse less.
I assume you are also using Lee dies.
It is a night and day difference between my Lee dies and my Hornady dies.
Yes, I'm using the Lee Precision die set.
The reason I bought the Lee die set, was I thought the sizing die had a carbide ring in it...since this is a straight wall cartridge. I hate lubing cases, then size them, then you have to clean the lube off the case before you charge the case with powder. When I start reloading for bulk ammo, I like the cases to be deprimed and cleaned. I use a Dillon 550B and a Redding T-7 Turret press for bulk ammo. For my precision ammo, I use my Forster Co-Ax press.
I'm not gonna write off these Lee dies just yet.
I'm going to buy a Lee sizing die for the 45 ACP or a 45 Long Colt (45LC). Reason being, the Lee full length sizing die for the 45 ACP or LC....has a carbide ring in it....so you don't have to lube the case before you size it. Then I'm going to have the carbide ring re-machined and sized for the 450 bushmaster casing.
I've already machined a new powder threw expander plug for the powder threw die. While I was at it (being machined), it's got the M style that Lyman has in there M style dies. The Lee plug had too much clearance and would rock too much in the die body. This clearance would cause excessive run out (concentricity) when seating a bullet.
Also, the powder threw expander die for the 450 bushmaster does not have hardly any crown on the entrance into the die body. The powder threw expanding die for the 45 acp has a rather nice crown. When running the 450 bushmaster casing up into the powder threw expanding die, you have to guide the casing into the die. Machining a new crown for the 450 bushmaster power threw die....I don't have to guide the casing into the die anymore. Why Lee didn't do this, pretty simple...too save cost since they don't sell allot of these 450 bushmaster die sets. Some reason goes for installing a carbide ring in the sizing die.
As for the bullet seating die. Going to continue using it while I'm working up load data for target shooting (plinking ammo). When I finely put the nail in the coffin for accuracy. I'll be talking with Redding tech about using one of there bullet seating dies for the 450 Bushmaster.
The crimp die....just my opinion. I'd like a longer crimp on the case mouth. Not sure if I'm gonna modify the collect or a shell holder. It's a simple solution and I have so much load data in my head right now...I'm not even gonna do the mod until I have some load data narrowed down.