Author Topic: Anyone here load 45/70 using Redding Dies? (Read 1350 times)

zzzzero · « **on:** August 04, 2003, 10:25:17 AM »

Bought a set of Redding dies in 45/70 about a year ago. tried using them last week-end and when re-sizing the brass i noticed that the cases came out of the sizing die with a bottle neck shape. took the die apart and looked inside and noticed a ring like the crimping ring in the seater die. tried calling Redding but they are on vacation until the 18th of this month. so my question is, is this the design for the Redding 45/70 sizing die or do i have a defected sizer die. none of the cases are over length and i set up the die according to the instructions, die touching shell holder. luckly i only sized 20 cases. anyone here using the Redding 45/70 dies shed any light on this problem. thanks in advance.
Rick

hunt4570 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2003, 05:23:38 PM »

I don't know about the dies however........ On factory loads I noticed Winchester has a smooth straight wall case but Remington has a channel?groove? ring? around the case about 1/3 down from top .I don't know why.SGB

Bullseye · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2003, 05:30:50 PM »

I think what you are seeing is normal. Expand the case and then seat the bullet and it should look fine then. Reddings seem to size the neck of the case smaller than other brands of dies.

contendernut · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2003, 03:23:06 AM »

SGB,

The groove you are talking about is the cannelure. It is placed right under the end of the bullet to keep it from setting back in the case.

zzzzero · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2003, 06:52:28 AM »

Bullseye,
Went over to my friends house to compare this Redding sizer die with his Hornady die. the Hornady die does not have the ring in it and when you size a case in it, it does not come out bottle neck shaped. also after runnung the Redding expander in the case a jacketed bullet will slip almost halfway down before any resistance is felt. after crimping a dummy round with a reasonable amount of crimp, you can spin the bullet in the case. with the Redding sizer die leaving the case bottle neck shaped it seems to me that this die is over working the case. so if there is anyone out there using a Redding 45/70 die set can you tell me if your cases are coming out of the sizer die bottle neck shaped. TIA
Rick

Bullseye · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2003, 03:56:58 PM »

zzzzero,

I did some more checking for you since you now have added more information to the puzzle. Yes my 375 Win and 45-70 do come out of the Redding dies looking almost bottleneck. It is almost scary when you see them because you think they are over sized (compared to RCBS dies).

However, this gives a very tight fit on the bullet, not a loose fit as you described. I took the plug out of my Redding 45-70 sizer die. At first I thought there was a ring as you described, but upon further examination I found that it is just a reflection where the case stops in the die. There is no ring like a crimp die. I would say something is wrong with your die set and from my experience with Redding in the past they will take care of it quickly when they get back.

Sorry if I gave you bad info before, but the cases do come out of the dies with the end really sized small and I thought that was what you were talking about.

Good Luck.

zzzzero · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2003, 07:25:00 PM »

Bullseye,
Thanks for looking in your die. i'm posting a link to a photo i took of the sized cases and an un-sized one. you can see the shoulder more clearly with the naked eye than in the pic. still haven't figured out how to get better close-up shots with this camera.
Rick

http://www.picturefuse.com/picdetail.php?picid=29813

PJ · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2003, 07:35:38 PM »

Holy CRAP.....That's not good I use hornady dies for my 45-70 and never had a problem.

BruceP · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2003, 03:17:57 PM »

I have to agree with PJ. I've never had a case come out of my RCBS die looking like that either.
BruceP

rickyp · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2003, 03:30:55 PM »

now are you sure this is for a 45-70 government?
There has been several variations of the 45-70 over the years.
I think sharps made a 45-70 sharps and it was a bottle neck

zzzzero · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2003, 05:25:16 PM »

rickyP,
The die box label reads:
F.L. DIE SET
45-70 U.S. GOVT#80209

THE SIZER DIE READS:
45-7- GOVT FL WO
don't know what WO stands for, but yes these are supposed to be for the 45-70 GOVT. i can only assume that this is a deffective set of dies that somehow got past Reddings quailty control, as the Hornady 45-70 die set i gave to a friend did not size the brass leaving them bottle neck shaped with a shoulder. just have to wait til the 18th until everyone at Redding comes back from vacation, so can't do anymore loading until i get this resolved.
Rick

Bullseye · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2003, 05:42:56 PM »

zzzero

Something is not right there. When I size mine you can see a taper on the end, but it is a smooth transition without that look of a sharp shoulder. See what Redding says, I know they will take care of the problem.

Good luck.