.445 Super mag, Dies reloading

[northkid]

Been kicking around the idea of giving up the 45-70 and going to the .445 super mag.
 Most of my hunting would be anywhere from 5 yards to 200 yards max. What kind of dies are you guys using on the 445 supermag.

[quickdtoo]

I used a Lee 44mag die for sizing, but used a Hornady 444 marlin seater die to seat the 265gr FTX bullets since they're pointy. 

Tim

[petemi]

Kid, ya give up da .45-70 an I'm gonna havta disown ya    Whatcha gonna do when ya come up here an da Tirty Point Buck is grinnin atcha on da back forty?  About a half dozen years ago, at dark thirty, I passed on a buck that had to be ten or twelve points because he was a good 250 yards out and all I had was the .44.  It was only a magnum then,  Keep the .45-70.  The .445 ain't the same.  It's a great inside 200 caliber, and I love it, don't get me wrong, but I'm not letting the .45-70 go.

To answer your question.  I use the Lee .44 Special, .44 Mag dies also.  I'm not a huge fan of the FTX.  I've shot a lot of Hornady LE ammunition in three calibers at jugs and frequently found jacket pieces in the first one.  I only killed one deer with LE..  That was a spine shot at 220 yards with the .45-70.  The bullet went through less than four inches of meat and bone, so I can't tell you much about it.  There were no jacket fragments in the deer. that I found.  The FTX is not my first choice bullet in any caliber.  We ain't shootin leverguns and there are better Handi friendly bullets out there.  Even with my Marlin 336 .30-30, the chamber bullet is my Handi's 168 gr. Nosler Boat Tail and the tube holds Hornady RNs.

My .44 is one of the older over bored editions.  I use Montana Bullet Works .433 Dia. 240 gr. SWCGC and it shoots well.  Tim will know what I'm talking about.  I recently got in touch with Paul to see if he could make me a 240 gr. Pointed, Jacketed bullet for it similar to the ones we use in the .38-55.  He said  he couldn't.  If you do find a good pointed bullet, let me know.  Lee will make a seating stem for you for only about eight bucks.

Gotta go.....tacos tonight and I'm the duty chef.

Get rid of the .45-70 and I'm just gonna have ta come down and spank ya.

Pete

[quickdtoo]

Hawk makes .429"-.430" spitzers, I shoot the 275gr in my octagon 444, kinda spendy tho, but very accurate in the 1:38" twist barrel.

Tim

http://www.hawkbullets.com/Pricelist.htm

[8uck5nort]

Lee 44 mag dies. Dremel an indentation in the bullet seater to not crush the pointy bullets. Did same with the 357 max. Use Lee 38/357 dies and dremeled the bullet seat die to allow a pointy bullet. So far I have been using all Hornady bullets from 225 FTX, 240 HP, 265 FTX and FP. Have some speer 300 HP I have not tried yet. So far the most promising load accuracy wise was with 240 gr HP over H110. I'm posting the loads with some pics of targets and other trivial stuff over in the reloading section once I get time to do it. Turning into one of my favorite rounds to shoot. I think you should be fine out to 200 yards for deer size game. I am hoping to prove that myself this upcoming deer season.

[gcrank1]

Ya can always load the 45-70 down to 445SM specs, but ya cant load the 445SM up to top 45-70.

[petemi]

Ya can always load the 45-70 down to 445SM specs, but ya cant load the 445SM up to top 45-70.

Buddy, that's a well said mouthful.     That's why my .45-70 is staying home.

Pete

[LaOtto222]

The 445 Super magnum makes a lot of sense in my state. 445 SM = legal Deer cartridge;  45-70 = illegal deer cartridge. Every where you look there is a house not too far away or over the far ridge. Shooting 1/2 mile is asking for trouble, so it takes the shine off of a 45-70.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[gcrank1]

No such 'enlightened' restrictions here in Wisconsin so I never even think on it. I admit to there being good uses and reasons for the 445SM, and other like calibers, and that legality issue would be high on the list. Thanx for the reminder.

[YRUpunting?]

I don't own a 45-70, can't hunt with it here in IN.  Don't see a need for the 445 SM here in IN either and I can hunt with it.  I can see getting rid of a 445 SM to get a 45-70 but not the other way around.  I'd argue the 45-70 is the most versatile cartridge for hunting there is.  At it's lowest loading it's fine for deer sized game.  Randy Garrett proved the 45-70 is an excellent elephant killer.  Unless the T-Rex gets resurrected you're not going to need anything else.

[gcrank1]

At its lowest loading, a round ball, it is good for plinkin', varmints, some larger small game, etc, just like a light loaded 45cal. muzzleloader. I used to use my .43 longrifle for squirrels with a 25gr. BP charge and my 44M Shikari years back with a 440 RB sized .430 was similar and quicker to reload. You dont want to hit 'em in the meaty parts though or your meal will be thin.

[petemi]

This is a load I posted on "Cutting a .445 barrel". 

Montana Bullet Works .433 SWCGC   39.3 gr. AA1680   Federal Large Rifle Primer  1957 fps. from the 16.75 barrel

The large bullet diameter is because it is my older Handi.  A smaller diameter bullet in a newer bore should work as well.

I've come to think of the .445 as a ".45-70 Short"  I like it, but really haven't worked out all the possibilities with the .44 Russian, .44 Special, .44 Magnum and .445 Super Magnum.  I could spend a year or two just playing around in that neighborhood.

Pete

[northkid]

Tim and gang thank you very much for the replies.

I'm afraid to reply to this post after my whoopin` from Pete, I`m just finally recovering from the 1st one 
 I figured out how to piss off Pete though.   
 I HIGHLY recommend you don't do it. I guess I'm keeping the 45-70 And going to do some more research on the .445. I have a few 45-70 Tattoos from a barrel Imprinted into my skin.   

[quickdtoo]