CH4D .470 Die Question

19 February 2007, 05:27

Yesterday I had an odd experience when reloading for my .470 NE. I was using CH4D dies and after full length sizing, my Woodleigh bullets could be inserted by hand in the neck -- there was basically little to no neck tension -- on a number of the rounds. It is a three die set and the full length die does not have an expander plug in it. The brass was Norma brass. It was strange, some of the brass had neck tension and some did not. If the sizing die is working properly it would seem to me that all the rounds would end up with neck tension. Is this a function of CH4D dies? I generally use RCBS dies, but did not have any in .470. And by the way, I did not use the die that expands the neck, straight from the full length sizing die, the bullets could be inserted by hand. The bullets mike at .474 just like they should.

19 February 2007, 07:36

vapodog

I suspect yours is the same as mine for my 404 Jeffery
the first die resizes and pierces out the spent primer but does not have a typical neck ID expander.

The seconddie expands the neck ID and flares the case and the third die seats and crimps.

If the neck ID is too large after running thru the first die then either the die is bad.....worn out (still bad) or your brass is way too thin.

I remember Ray Atkinson bitching about these dies.....mine are fine and I like them.

20 February 2007, 03:44

N. S. Sherlock

You may wish to consider that if your brass has been fired and reloaded before it is work hardened and some will spring back after sizing down enough to hold a bullet loosely or not at all. Typically you really notice it when bullet seating effort with the press handle is all over the map. I've seen it in 25-20 and especially 22 hornet and in cases as big as 43 Mauser. I anneal to fix it as soon as seating differences are noted.

20 February 2007, 03:49

N. S. Sherlock

You may wish to consider that if your brass has been fired and reloaded before it is work hardened and some will spring back after sizing down enough to hold a bullet loosely or not at all. Typically you really notice it when bullet seating effort with the press handle is all over the map. I've seen it in 25-20 and espec

20 February 2007, 05:41

Bill Cooley

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Yesterday I had an odd experience when reloading for my .470 NE. I was using CH4D dies and after full length sizing, my Woodleigh bullets could be inserted by hand in the neck -- there was basically little to no neck tension -- on a number of the rounds. It is a three die set and the full length die does not have an expander plug in it. The brass was Norma brass. It was strange, some of the brass had neck tension and some did not. If the sizing die is working properly it would seem to me that all the rounds would end up with neck tension. Is this a function of CH4D dies? I generally use RCBS dies, but did not have any in .470. And by the way, I did not use the die that expands the neck, straight from the full length sizing die, the bullets could be inserted by hand. The bullets mike at .474 just like they should.

Hi Mjines,
Have you ever used these dies before? I know you know this but was the full length sizing adjusted all the way down to the shell holder? I like to feel a slight resistance with my set up. I think Norma brass should be good brass and is usually quite uniform. Can you measure it and compare it to once fired factory?
I feel like if you havenâ€™t used these dies before than it is the sizing die. I donâ€™t by into the work hardend theory all bras except new has ben fierd and is â€œwork hardenedâ€ I understand about really thin and fragile 22 hornet and 25-20. That isn't the problem hear. The problem I have had is the sizing die over sizing the neck on some guns and having to lap it out. Hope you can find a different sizing die to try.
Good luck
Bill

20 February 2007, 07:52

MJines

I bought an RCBS set of dies to try. I feel that it has to be the dies, hard to imagine that it is the brass.

20 February 2007, 08:22

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
I bought an RCBS set of dies to try. I feel that it has to be the dies, hard to imagine that it is the brass.

21 February 2007, 00:20

mstarling

Have not had this problem with BeLL (now Jamison) and Federal brass in .470 NE with CH4D dies.