Do I need a factory crimp die for 45-70?

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NorthBorder

NorthBorder

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In anticipation of my C Sharps arrival in a few months I am beginning to get my reloading dies set up.
I will be loading a 405 gr RNFP hard cast on top of a charge of H4198 using Lee 3 die set. Running a few rounds thru the press I set the powder charging die to the point that it opens up the case mouth just wide enough to seat the bullet (boat tail) inside the case mouth. Then I seat the bullet to its crimp groove. This makes the bullet seat a few thousandths of an inch further into the case than the suggested COAL in the Lyman 49th. I've tinkered with seating the bullet seating die a little deeper than what the instructions say to seat the die thinking this might sort of taper crimp in the same stage. I just raise the stem of the die to get the bullet to seat at the crimp groove. When done I can definitely feel the edge of the case mouth when I run my fingers down along the length of the bullet.
If I am doing anything stupid here please feel free to educate me. But what I have just said, would you suggest that I get a FCD and reseat the dies as the instructions suggest?
Thanks in advance
 
I use a two die set (RCBS) to load .458 Win Mag, I seat/crimp with the sizer. Works great.

No reason it wouldn't work on .45-70.
 
I crimp in a separate step, I keep the tapered portion off the brass. I like a really firm crimp and the collet style lee crimp die is excellent . you could probably get by with just the taper crimp but I load into a tubular magazine and I'm not taking any chances when the recoil starts to build . I use imr4198 under a 405 rnfp and have had excellent results.
 
The bullet manufacturer sets the proper seating depth for the bullet, that's where you seat the bullet. Yes, you should crimp cast bullets into the supplied crimp groove.

Have fun with your new rifle.

Edit: You guys are fast. Two posts while I was answering, wow.
 
...oh, if you've got some trailboss , 45-70 is a great cartridge to use it on. I like the same 405 grain bullet at about 950 fps using trail boss, that's still pretty darn powerful but won't beat you up at all.
 
A sharps is a single load gun crimp is only needed for complete burn of the powder, because setback is not possible. There is a ton of bearing surface on a 405 bullet, do you really worry about tension??? Are you using a powder that needs crimp for complete burn. My marlin keeps rounds in a tube mag so a good roll crimp is important
 
Before I suggest something about OAL (much less crimp type) in that Sharps,
- How hard is "hard" ?
- What lube type?
- How hot/what speed are you planning w/ that 4198 charge ?
 
AJC1 beat me to it... with the Sharps, you don't need to crimp. In fact, once you get your rifle, your best course of action is to seat the bullet as long as you can based on the chamber dimensions... that's what I do with my .45-70 Pedersoli 1885.

+1 for the 405grn bullet, IMR4198 combo... that's what I use.

If you are looking for load data, let me know... I have some suggestions for a starting load, depending on what you want the bullet to do.
 
NorthBorder said:
Not sure of lube type- probably Alox. The bullets are made by HSM. BRINELL 15. Not looking to hotrod it. Just become introduced to it, so maybe 1500+ fps.
Click to expand...

My general suggestion is to keep those bullets under 1500fps... unless you just like recoil.

Using the Montana 405grn FP/GC bullet, 30grn IMR4198 gives me just over 1300fps out of the 32" Pedersoli barrel, 35grn IMR4198 1550fps.
 
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