I am working with my Savage 425 Express and bought some 205 gr. 44-40 lead bullets to load some reduced loads for plinking. The 44-40 bullet is .427 and the 425 is .423. Will the extra 4/1000 keep me from reloading the bullet (I thought I'd buy a Lee universal "belling" die), and then run it thru the regular seating die.

How can I reduce (swage down) the diameter?

Could I use a gas check for a .429 or .410 if I cannot find one for the 44-40?

What powder(s) and charges would you use in working up loads for this plinking load? What velocities could I use with the gas checks? Without the gas checks?

I'd welcome any comment or suggestion. Kudude

I find the .425 Express an interresting round..If I am not mistaken it is a 300 Win necked up to .423??? or is it a 425/338 Win.???

Is brass available or factory ammo, I know its a caliber that Savage produces...

Ray,
I thought there were only two ways to make a case: Fire form a 300 Win Mag case or neck down a 458 case (makes a short necked version of the case), but my son found a third way: shoot a 375HH in it! Fortunately, no one was hurt, but it sure produces an interesting case with a "double" shoulder. At 25 yds, he even hit the target.

A Square made cases and understand they still can be obtained from them with head stamp. The 425 Express easily duplicates 404J performance albeit at higher pressures. I hold my 400 grain loads to 2300fps. Mine puts two Lion Loads within an inch of one another and within an inch of the old Barnes 400 grain solid at 100 yds. The Barnes 350gr X bullet shoots just at 3" high with the same settings.

Although not pretty in the traditional sense, my Savage Safari has turned out to be a nice rifle. It will see Tanzania in July, along with my 9.3x62 and 30-06, consecutively numbered English Mark X actions. The fourth rifle may be my 416/404 or a .375HH, or I may throw a shotgun in for the fourth firearm in our two cases.

Anybody got a starting low power load for a 200gr pistol bullet? The 425 Express is essentially the same set up as the 416 Taylor. Kudude