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45-70 dies

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Hunter2678
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45-70 dies

Post by Hunter2678 » Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:30 am

So I do alot of benchrest shooting and varmint shooting...and have been handloading for quite some time. As far as the 45-70 goes..what die(s) sets would be a good starting point?. Most of my dies have been either from whidden or redding with Wilson or forster micrometer seaters. Are plain jane rcbs or hornady good enough for this ol thumper?
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Re: 45-70 dies

Post by Mistered » Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:37 am

Are plain jane rcbs or hornady good enough for this ol thumper?
yep - and they have been giving good service to reloaders for quite some time - however...
I really like the 'benchrest' style die sets that have a seating die with a spring loaded 'follower' that supports the bullet and keeps in in a vertical position while being seated.
I only have one right now (.223) but I plan to replace my other seating dies with this style.
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Re: 45-70 dies

Post by BigAl52 » Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:53 am

I would highly recommend a Lee Factory crimp die also or some sort of a taper crimp die. Redding makes a good one in the taper crimp.
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Re: 45-70 dies

Post by Hunter2678 » Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:00 am

BigAl52 wrote:I would highly recommend a Lee Factory crimp die also or some sort of a taper crimp die. Redding makes a good one in the taper crimp.
So crimp dies for cast bullets and non crimp for jacketed? FYI I have some nosler 300 gn jacketed bullets coming with no cannelure.
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Re: 45-70 dies

Post by Mistered » Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:07 am

So crimp dies for cast bullets and non crimp for jacketed?
For used In a lever action rifle ALL bullets need to be crimped.
A bullet without a cannelure still needs to be crimped but a Factory Crimp Die (collet style) creates a better crimp with them.
Read up on the Lee Factory Crimp Die on their site.
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Re: 45-70 dies

Post by BigAl52 » Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:10 pm

If you are to use copper plated bullets in the future some of those also do not have a crimp groove. You also need to crimp those
as mentioned just be sure not to crimp them so much that you damage the plating
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Re: 45-70 dies

Post by Steve51 » Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:36 pm

I use the Lee .45-70 four die set (crimp die included). I use the factory crimp die on cast and jacketed bullets. All of my reloading dies are Lee, so I cannot give input on other brands.
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Hunter2678
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Re: 45-70 dies

Post by Hunter2678 » Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:34 am

Ended up getting the lee 3 die set...
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Re: 45-70 dies

Post by Flinch » Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:12 pm

I used RCBS Cowboy Dies for 45-70. The belling die used after the resizing die helps a great deal when loading cast bullets.
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