Can someBuddy give me a rough figure how much a die set for a 450NE 3 1/4 and the shell holders will be?

I had a look on CH4D and they state around $170 - sent a mail to RCBS but didn't get a reply yet - what are their prices for such a custom die set?

There where some advises against Ch4D I read recently - so I'm leaning more towards RCBS at the moment.

Cheers

Franz

These would be group "L" RCBS dies. The 3 die set would be $215.95. Shellholder would be $15.95. These prices are from Huntington Die Specialties. They probably do have them in stock as well. They may not be the cheapest place, but I don't know who else would stock those dies.

Cheers Ken!

Got the mail from RCBS today:

* 3 die set 450 Nitro Express 3 1/4 at $ 237.95
* Shell-holder is from the 450-400 3 1/4 at $ 16.95
* no trim-pro holder availabler; trim-die at $ 140,95

That are whopping $395,85! Without shipping cost!
Brass is around $ 5.0 here from Horneber.

Costs for the 450/400 3" are the same - not sure if there is a trim-pro shell holder for this, but doubt that is.

Anyway - cheers Ken!

With initial cost of around $500.00 for dies (shipping and customs in Europe) I'll have to think it over if it is worth it...

Franz

call www.ch4d.com, TALK TO DAVE, and tell him that you are in europe, and would like a perfect set of dies. Ask him to look after them when they are finished, with special attention to the crimp/seating die (this seems to be the most trouble).

make damn sure you get the bushing for your press

get 2 rcbs shellholders, one for the dies and one for the primer. cheaper, and frankly, better than ch4d's

I had to send my 500 jeffe seater back... it now works perfect.

jeffe

Jeffe

Thanks for the advice on Ch4D - had a look into that before I asked RCBS.... at $ 138 they are more reasonable than RCBS.

What about the bushing thing? I have a RockChucker - do I need something special here?

The triming is something I still worry about - is it better to get a trim-die or get the Ch4d trimmer with a custom shell holder at half the price???

Cheers

Franz

Jeffe

Thanks for the advice on Ch4D - had a look into that before I asked RCBS.... at $ 138 they are more reasonable than RCBS.

What about the bushing thing? I have a RockChucker - do I need something special here?

The triming is something I still worry about - is it better to get a trim-die or get the Ch4d trimmer with a custom shell holder at half the price???

BTW - what is the 3rd die in the 3 die set? The sets I have are 2 die sets with 1 sizing and 1 seating die - what is the 3rd for????

Cheers

Franz

[ 03-26-2003, 18:29: Message edited by: Daydreamer ]

Daydreamer-

Although I have no personal experience loading this cartridge, it is a straight (slightly tapered) case. Therefore the third die would be for expanding or "belling" the case mouth. Something like is needed for straight-walled pistol cases.

I am sure someone will correct any mistakes in the above.

Bob

An excellent trimmer for the large nitro express cartridges is the Forster Classic 50 trimmer. You can set it up for around $65. It uses certain collets for the head size of the cartridges and pilots based on bullet diameter. I use it for the 470 NE and it is great.