ive got nickle plated federal brass in .458 win mag.... will the regular sizer die be enough?? or do i need the case forming die from rcbs???...i'll order some .416 brass later on, just need a few rounds (10 or so) for the time being..

Can't really help you. I never had much luck fireforming or reforming nickle brass. Hope it works for you.

would i be better off using regular brass???

quote:

Originally posted by jimatcat:
would i be better off using regular brass???

Try the nickel and see what happens.....it's quite a ways to shrink nickel from .458 to .416

I'd guess you'd be better off starting from non-nickel .338 brass.....or even .358 Norma brass.

I just recycle my 300 Win mag, plain jane brass Rem cases, through the full length sizing die. After that I trim them, clean off the lube, and load them up. Works for me.

I have used 458 WM nickel plated brass just to see if it would work (normal sizer die), and it was fine. I have had enough "flaking" from nickel plated brass over the years that I generally avoid reloading it.

I generally use 458 WM "plain jane brass" for my 416 Taylor. It sizes down in one pass very nicely thank you.

I have re-sized 50 rounds of 338 WM brass (a few years back when it seems everyone was out of 458 WM brass for a little while). It worked fine in one pass too, but the neck is a little short.

Cheers,
Canuck

I have had the same "flaking" problems but, only with Remington brass. The Winchester .280 Remington cases I have had no problems with. The Federal may be a "cut above" Remington's.