Need help with .44-40 Cowboy Load

[paulsnapp]

I have been reloading for many years but now my first attempt at .44-40 Win Cowboy Loads. I have read many cautions about the thin necks and the problems when seating the bullet. The instructions that came with my RCBS .44-40 Win Cowboy Dies says "The case mouth should be expanded and Flared (belled) just enough to accept the bullet when placed on top of the case." So I have a couple of questions. How far below the mouth of the case should be belled? How far should the bullet go into the mouth of the case before it stops and is ready for the seating die? (Just barely or maybe up to the first ring at the base of the lead molded bullet?) The bullet has lubricant at the second ring from the base. Do I need to lube the bullet or the mouth of the case before seating or is lube not necessary? If someone who has had good luck loading this round without deforming the thin neck could give me an actual dimension for the depth of the "bell" I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

In my 44/40's I bell it just enough that if I set the bullet (a lead round nose) on the case it wont fall off if you jostle it. It is just a very light bell. Better to go too little than too much early on.

It sounds like you are going much greater bell then you need. I probably only bell it enough to get to the chamfer on the base of the bullet. Certainly no where near the lube groove.