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Author Topic: which brand of dies for the 45-70?  (Read 1432 times)

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Offline cudatruck

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which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« on: October 01, 2012, 11:51:12 AM »
Which brand AND types of dies are you guys using for your .45-70 and WHY? Please don't go into this is cheaper or thats better because it costs more. I don't even care about warranty. I want to know about the mechanical function of the different dies and what bennefits are to each style. is one brand/type better for sizing? Why? or expanding? Why? or bullet seating? crimping? Just searching the internet i think i found about 100 different possible combinations if i bought each die seperate. do you use a rcbs for sizing and lyman for expanding a redding for seating and lee for crimp? Please share the bennefit of your experience. Brand loyalty not needed. Thanks, Mike.
Again i want to know about the features of the die you like, NOT the brand, cost, warranty, or your perception of quality!
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Offline Swampman

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2012, 01:13:18 PM »
I would find a set of Lee or RCBS dies.  I would not buy Lee dies....I've owned a bunch of them.
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Offline tacklebury

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2012, 02:35:35 PM »
I'm the opposite.  I own nothing but Lee Dies.  I really don't know that it matters for basic straight wall cases like .45-70.  Just saying I have Lee, they work and are not cost prohibitive.  I currently own 15 sets of Lee dies and have yet to have any issues.  ;)
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Offline Swampman

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2012, 02:38:59 PM »
Lee dies oversize all cases and the unthreaded decapping rod is easy to yank right out of the die.  The are the cheapest and for good reason.  I used to like them until I tried quality dies.
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2012, 02:50:11 PM »
For smokeless and blackpowder loading with cast bullets I like the Lyman dies, the RCBS legacy dies work well also.
 For strictly smokeless and jacketed bullets I like the Hornady dies.
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Offline Savage

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2012, 03:55:59 PM »
I use Lyman, Hornady, RCBS, Redding, and Lee.  If I HAD to pick a favorite for bottle neck cases it'd be the Hornady. My second choice would be the Lee. Actually any of the aforementioned dies will do the job. Generally, these days I buy Lee, I think they are the best value overall.
Savage
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Offline keith44

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2012, 07:56:12 PM »
I doubt there are any truly bad dies on the market these days.  I use Lee for the pour through expander die.  I also use RCBS seater dies for certain cast bullets (the nose profile dictates which die I use)


I like the Lee Dies through powder expander  cause it holds the funnel in place and actually speeds up the operation.  On a single stage press this can mean saving several minutes on each box loaded, without the expense and complexity of multi stage, semi-automatic presses.
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Offline cudatruck

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2012, 06:30:42 AM »
Thank you Keith for stating WHY you use a certain die! Ranch13 can you please explain lyman for cast and hornady for jacketed? i'm trying to get information on why you use a particular die option! I don't need info about costs. what features have you found to be usefull? I know any die set will work, just follow the instructions and the round will function. if you have tried multiple dies and learned one WORKS better for a job thats what im looking for.
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2012, 07:03:48 AM »
Quote from: cudatruck on October 02, 2012, 06:30:42 AM
! Ranch13 can you please explain lyman for cast and hornady for jacketed? i'm trying to get information on why you use a particular die option! I

The Lyman (and the rcbs legacy) have the M die type expander. That expander insures the case mouth should provide equal tension around the seated bullet. It can also be used a a powder compression die when loading blackpowder. The seating plug in the Lyman dies is also a better shape for most cast bullet noses.
 The Hornady dies the seating plug does not fit most of the cast bullet nose profiles that I shoot in the 45-70's. Plus the collet in the seating die has a tendancy to collect lube and will at times not only seat the bullet , but pull it from the case when you lower the handle.
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Offline cudatruck

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2012, 07:36:14 AM »
Thank you Ranch13! thats the kind of info im looking for. plan to shoot cast and jacketed so knowing hornadys seater can be an issue is helpfull! I have ordered the lyman M die. goin to find out for sure if it helps.
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Offline tacklebury

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2012, 02:51:42 PM »
Sorry I guess I should have added a picture.  My Lee dies produce ammo that shoots sub MoA groups consistently.  This is a .87" group c-c with my .45-70 and Lee die loaded ammo.  Cannot get much better than that with an iron sighted gun.  ;)
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Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.

Offline Swampman

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #11 on: October 02, 2012, 03:48:22 PM »
A Lee Loader will do that too.  As soon as I used my Lymans for the first time I was done with the Lees for good.  Spending about 30 minutes trying to get the Lee decapping rod out of a case will help you to lose the love too.
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Offline Grumpybear

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2012, 09:41:40 AM »
I use an old set of pacific dies for resizing and decapping had em for 40 years and they work as long as u lube the case. (don't ask why i know the lube is necessary)  ;D
 
I use a Lyman for neck expansion because i cad feel and set the expansion better. Just seems to work better for me.
 
And a RCBS taper crimp for setting and crimping. The RCBS has 2 profiles a flat nose and round nose so I think it's a bit more versatile. The taper crimp I use because my handi has a short throat and sometimes I need to set past the cannalure. This way I can crimp em down some if the case neck is not holding em.
 
I usually pick dies for the job I need not the name.  Grumpy
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Offline muznut 54

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2012, 11:58:28 AM »
Quote from: Swampman on October 02, 2012, 03:48:22 PM
A Lee Loader will do that too.  As soon as I used my Lymans for the first time I was done with the Lees for good.  Spending about 30 minutes trying to get the Lee decapping rod out of a case will help you to lose the love too.
I don't know why it should take you 30 minutes to do a 2 minute job? When you get the Lee dies tighten the decapper collet because the factory does not tighten them very well.
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Online JustaShooter

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2012, 03:57:52 PM »
Quote from: muznut 54 on October 04, 2012, 11:58:28 AM
Quote from: Swampman on October 02, 2012, 03:48:22 PM
A Lee Loader will do that too.  As soon as I used my Lymans for the first time I was done with the Lees for good.  Spending about 30 minutes trying to get the Lee decapping rod out of a case will help you to lose the love too.
I don't know why it should take you 30 minutes to do a 2 minute job? When you get the Lee dies tighten the decapper collet because the factory does not tighten them very well.

+1

No reason it should take anywhere near that long.

Just a Shooter
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Online JustaShooter

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #15 on: October 04, 2012, 04:01:14 PM »
To answer the OP's question, I tend to use Lee dies because I like the powder-through expander die (and their lower cost doesn't hurt either).  However, for straight-walled cartridges like the 45-70 I don't think it makes much difference - as long as it is carbide so you don't have to fool with lube, they will all do about the same job.

Just a Shooter
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Offline flashhole

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #16 on: October 06, 2012, 10:04:40 AM »
Just to be clear, the 45-70 case is not straight.  It has a slight taper and there are no carbide dies made for it.
Hornady offers the microadjust option that has a flat profile seat stem that works well for flat nose bullets used in guns with tublar magazines.  The microadjust doesn't make more accurate ammo but it does make die adjustment easier.
Redding has a nice taper crimp die that I much prefer over roll crimp.  It's easy to adjust and provides a crimp on a significant portion of the bullet.  No experience with the RCBS taper crimp die.
As others have said, the Lee Powder Through Expander works really well with the Lee funnel for charging cases.  I use this combo along with Lee Dipper Cups.
You may find this of interest.
 http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/49
   
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Online JustaShooter

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #17 on: October 06, 2012, 04:53:41 PM »
Quote from: flashhole on October 06, 2012, 10:04:40 AM
Just to be clear, the 45-70 case is not straight.  It has a slight taper and there are no carbide dies made for it.

Thanks for correcting my misconception, I don't load for or shoot the 45-70 and have always thought it was a straight walled cartridge.

Just a Shooter
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Offline lrrice

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #18 on: October 09, 2012, 08:20:00 AM »
+1 for the lee dies, I use all brands and even mix and match sets to suit me.  I cant tell much difference in the sizing and seating but I love the lee powder through die.  You can mount your measure, powder drop tube or a funnel right on the die saves time and irritation (might have to modify you set up to fit).  Tighten the decap rod good and tight and you should have no problems.  You have to make sure you keep the adjusting rings from turning when you screw the dies in and out but if you use a turret, breech lock or LnL type set up, this becomes a non-issue as well.
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Offline wncchester

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #19 on: October 12, 2012, 01:20:43 PM »
I've been reloading for a very long time and have an assortment of dies from more than 15 makers, they all work fine for me. I find the controlling factor in the quality of output to be the user, not the color of the box.  If I were buying new dies for any cartridge I'd stick with Lee, RCBS, Hornady, Forster, Redding or Lyman. 
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Offline Greg B.

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #20 on: October 31, 2012, 08:17:24 AM »
I also use a variety of dies from different makers but for the 45/70 I chose Lyman "M" dies. This was for some of the same reasons that Ranch 13 specified. Also I have never managed to shave lead off the bullet with these dies.
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Offline mechanic

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #21 on: October 31, 2012, 08:23:52 AM »
I have the Lee, also bought the factory crimp die.  I've loaded hundreds of cases with no issues.  I also have some Lyman and RCBS.  All are good, all have little things I would like to be better.  The Lees seem to me in this type case to be the fastest to use, with the pour through expander die.
 
Lees do NOT work as well in bottleneck military cases, but I try not to fool with Mil cases at all.
 
Ben
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Offline keith44

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Re: which brand of dies for the 45-70?
« Reply #22 on: October 31, 2012, 07:09:50 PM »
Quote from: mechanic on October 31, 2012, 08:23:52 AM

 
Lees do NOT work as well in bottleneck military cases,
 
Ben


+1
I only use them for straight cases

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