Why do you use die x instead of die y on your .45-70

[cudatruck]

Ok tried this on the reloading forum, but maybe more info from you guys here. Im interested in learning WHY you use each die in loading the .45-70. NOT BRAND. TYPE. do you use a different die for cast vs jacketed? do you use an expander from company x and a seater from company z? WHY? I know any set will load functional ammo. but what features of individual dies work for you and WHY? I have loaded a few thousand rounds in other calibers. i started with complete sets of lee dies and a .38 special. works as advertised. my curiosity is about all the other types of dies and the different ways to skin a cat. double ring sizing dies, M dies, taper crimp, roll crimp, collet dies for crimp and neck sizing, micrometer seating dies, the list goes on. If you are using different dies for certain things i would like to know why? Trying to increase my learning curve. Thanks in advance for the help. Mike.

[thejanitor]

I use the only set I have, and with cast I always use the expander die a little but with remingtons 405 gr jacketed I can just use them as long as the brass has been dechamfired/deburred.  Thats all I can tell you. they are just a lot of fun with Trail boss.... and if you have any stray elephants Petemi has a load for the remingtons that will get you and the elephants attention.     (thanks Pete)
thejanitor

[LaOtto222]

I do not load for the 45-70, but I do load for other straight walled cases. The same principals apply. For a straight case, you usually have 3 dies. 1 is the sizer/decapping die. 2 is the expander die and 3 is the bullet seating and cripping die. I run the case all the way into the size die. I then run the case into the case mouth expansion die for cast bullets, I skip it for jacketed bullets ( I just make sure the case mouths have an inside chamfer). I then seat the bullet and have the crimping part adjusted so there is a light crimp. This needs to be adjusted from bullet to bullet, because they are all different in length. In some cases, I have made special plugs for odd shaped bullets. Most companies will make custom plugs for a small fee, if you send them a bullet or two for samples. Some die sets separate the crimp from the bullet seater. Most bullet plugs are made for a flat point bullet (straight walled) or a pointed bullet (bottle necked). If you use a pointed bullet with a bullet seater made for a flat pointed bullet, you will need to make a change or flatten out the point. If you are using a round point bullet with a flat point plug, you may deform the point a little, but not enough to hurt anything.

You were asking about the 45-70, which is a straight walled case. To me this is pretty straight forward as I have described. If you get into bottle necked cases, then the process is much more varied. Depending on what I am loading and what it will be used for. I use a vast array of die types from full length sizers, neck sizers, collet sizers and bushing neck sizers. I even have a full length sizer with a bushing neck sizer. I also have a Lyman type "M" die to straighten out necks that are dented for any .224 size case mouth. That is just doing sizing, bullet seating is a whole 'nother set of dies and ways of doing it. "Rifle" dies usually come in two die sets, but some times deluxe sets will have an extra die or two in the set. Or you can put together your own set from different manufacturer's.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[quickdtoo]

As LaOtto mentioned, having a seater plug in your seater die that fits the bullet well is important in seating with minimal runout, a dead give away the bullet isn't seated true is the bulge in the case at the base of the bullet won't be even all around, it will be heavier on one side. I found that seating 45-70 bullets, specially the short, fat lighter bullets this was more critical, those seating die plugs that are hollow and allow the bullet to self center work the best as opposed to those than actually fit the entire nose profile.  I always seat the bullet in steps, starting the bullet in the case just a little, lowering the ram, then rotate the entire round 180º, then seat it all the way to the final COL. Sometimes I take it a step or two farther and seat in multiple increments to allow the die to do its job insuring the bullet is seated as straight as possible with no more than .003" runout, on the 50-140 300gr Barnes bullets, it's barely longer than it is wide, I seated it in 4 steps rotating it just 90º each step, it worked out well with all bullets seated with <.003" runout.

A little tip I learned when I first started loading the 45-70 was using the Lee Classic Loader body to align cast bullets, just use it as you would normally load a round, but once the bullet is partially seated straight, knock the round out of the die and finish in the press, this worked well for the 45-120 also.

Other than the seating die, an expander die such as the Lyman "M" die is essential for loading cast bullets, it will open up the case to accept the bullet in addition to belling the case mouth slightly so the bullet wil be seated without resizing it or removing any lead. 

Tim

[rdlange]

I got an M die and use it.  Then I use Lyman 310 for the rest, and taper crimp with the sizing die.  Been using Alox on 400gr lead PB over 4198 with dacron fluff per Lyman book.  Will try some LBT blue soon.  That's what I've got.  I also realign a couple of times just because it's said to help.  I load longer so closer to the rifling.

So far my reloads shoot a little better than factory because I reamed the throat for the long ones, and trying paper patch.  But they are trapdoor level, and I just haven't had time to really get it up to hot yet.

Just to let you know that some of us are also still experimenting.

[wileynet]

size my cases with carbide  rcbs dies, mouth expander use lee universal, seat my bullets with different dies depending on the bullet have a rcbs for 300 grainers, custom ground lee for 405 fp , and another lee custom ground for my 500s these have a extreme olgive and almost pointed, crimp my bullets with lee loader i like the feel.

[cudatruck]

than you guys! thats more like what im looking for! sounds like alot of experimenting is in my future. first bullets i have are hunters 345 gr lead round nose. i have a rcbs three die set coming and a lyman m die. have a few starline cases to try. new rifle , new caliber to load should be fun with all the variables in play. I don't want to waste money on factory ammo. im in no hurry. I was told on this forum "can't really be a handi-holic without a .45-70" so the adventure begins. I load for my 7mm-08 and have three different sets of dies. have not found any advantage to any of them. Im thinking my shooting ability isn't good enough for it to matter! perhaps it will be the same with this one. the rifle will shoot better than i can. the different designs in dies just fascinate and perplex me. Im a mechanic by trade and all this machinery do this to me. i would like to assemble the best rounds i can so i would be able to concentrate on the rifle and my shooting skills. need more practice with the 22