45-70 Case Resizing

[tractortad]

Saw a U-Tube video the other day on 45-70 case resizing. The jist of the video was that it isn't necessary to do a full case re-size with 45-70 and that only a "neck sizing" is needed to reduce the inner diameter on the top third or so of the case to about .452" for follow-on expansion and bullet seating. The benefit is less working/stress of the brass which should lead to longer case life. I tried this on a couple of rounds and found that they chambered just as easy as fully sized rounds on once fired Winchester 45-70 cases - small sample, I know, but it worked. All this kind of makes sense to me. Will have to see if this method still works as the number of firings goes up on the brass, but for now, I think I'll keep doing the "neck size" technique for 45-70 case resizing.

Any of you 45-70 reloaders out there ever hear of this technique?

[Greyhawk]

Saw a U-Tube video the other day on 45-70 case resizing. The jist of the video was that it isn't necessary to do a full case re-size with 45-70 and that only a "neck sizing" is needed to reduce the inner diameter on the top third or so of the case to about .452" for follow-on expansion and bullet seating. The benefit is less working/stress of the brass which should lead to longer case life. I tried this on a couple of rounds and found that they chambered just as easy as fully sized rounds on once fired Winchester 45-70 cases - small sample, I know, but it worked. All this kind of makes sense to me. Will have to see if this method still works as the number of firings goes up on the brass, but for now, I think I'll keep doing the "neck size" technique for 45-70 case resizing.

Any of you 45-70 reloaders out there ever hear of this technique?

I do a full re-size but just neck sizing does make sense.. The only thing that I can think of that may be a drawback to neck sizing (I have read) is that your rounds may or may not work in other firearms than the one that the rounds have been fired through.. But, if you only have one 45-70 rifle then you should be good to go. Let us know how it turns out for you.

[Ojaileveraction]

I neck size 45-70 brass. Just enough to cover the length of a 405grain fn.
I only use Trapdoor loads. I bell as little as possible and use a light crimp with a Lee factory CD.
Been doing it almost two years now.

[fortyshooter]

Haven't tried that on .45-70 but I do neck size on some of my .45 Colt brass.

[BigAl52]

I havent done it on 45-70 Tad but I have before on other calibers. I never had any issues while doing it.

[Ramjet]

I have never wore out a 45-70 case other than the case mouth cracking but thats after 12 reloadings. In a lever gun I want to assure cycling and so I full length case resize. Especially if I use Marlin rifle level loads. trap door loads are so easy neck sizing is good. I also stopped using the bell die as I taper ream the case neck instead that greatly reduces the working of the mouth of case. The bullets slide right in and neck tension is much better and more consistent.

[mrguvna]

Everybody has a way of doing things. I usually full length re-size all my 45-70 brass and then trim prior to tumbling. Just want all my brass the same size and dimensions before I load. Seems like more of an effort to only neck size.

[Steve51]

I've never heard of doing that on .45-70 cases. I don't consider myself an expert hand loader but I think I will continue to resize the case like I have been doing. The top of the case is what fails first for me with .45-70 brass.

[JEBar]

I've never heard of doing that on .45-70 cases. I don't consider myself an expert hand loader but I think I will continue to resize the case like I have been doing. The top of the case is what fails first for me with .45-70 brass.

agree .... almost all of the failures I've had with straight wall casings have been cracks in the wall near the open end ....

[Pitchman1968]

I have never heard of neck sizing straight wall cases, but I will try it on a few cases the next tine I reload .44 Mag and .45-70 rounds. Over the years, I have been getting about 15 reloads per case from .44 Mag and 12 from .45-70. with f/l case sizing. Since 2000, I have neck sized all my bottle neck rifle cases - .30-06, .303 Savage, and .308. using Redding collet dies. I do this primarily for accuracy, and secondarily, for increased case life. The Redding dies provide enough neck tension so that I do not have to crimp the finished cases. With the exception lever action feed mechanisms, I am a proponent not crimping because I get significantly better long range accuracy by not crimping.

[220]

I am another who has only ever lost 45/70 cases to case mouth splits and even then it always after at least 10 reloads.
I think the thing that extends case life the most is minimising case mouth flaring to the minimum you can get away with.

I think the benefits of neck sizing are greatly over stated and much prefer the security of knowing my rounds will chamber and cycle 100%.
Even with bottle neck cases the majority of failures I see are neck splits, unless you are using collet neck dies or bushing dies neck sizing works them just as hard. I full length size everything apart from the few calibres I have collet dies for.

[Ojaileveraction]

even with bottle neck cases the majority of failures I see are neck splits, unless you are using collet neck dies or bushing dies neck sizing works them just as hard. I full length size everything apart from the few calibres I have collet dies for.

Straight wall caliber dies don't use an expander ball. Is that the same as you are talking about. Collet or bushing?

[220]

[Straight wall caliber dies don't use an expander ball. Is that the same as you are talking about. Collet or bushing?

Yep exactly the same, collet dies use a mandrel the neck is sized around. Bushing dies interchangeable neck bushing in the die, neck thickness has to be consistent to get consistent tension, so really you need to be neck turning or at least skimming them to get them uniform.
I think most of the neck hardening and stretching in bottle neck cases is due to the expander ball being dragged back trough the neck.