A buddy of mine wants to recycle some of his .378Wby. brass for use with his new .416Wby.

Using Hornady dies, he is unable to size the cases down far enough at the web above the belt to chamber the cases easily. The cases are a real crush fit. (The dies work fine with new .378Wby. and new .416Wby. brass.)

I suggested a light charge of Unique or Bullseye, and a case packed full of corn meal topped by a wax, soap, or tissue to try to create some brass springback.

Does this make sense? Any pitfalls? Anyone have a better way to do this?

George

George,
I have seen a collet die advertized that will resize any .375 H&H class belted magnum clear down to the belt. I think it was "Lee" that made it. They might make one for the .378 Wby. class cases as well. It works similar to the Lee Factory Crimp Dies that squeezes with a collet. They will make the crimp dies custom for any caliber, so they might be able to make you one to resize the lower part of the case on a .416 WBY. as well.
Try e-mailing them on their web site. They respond promtly.
Hope this helps, Ghost

George,
If you know someone with a 5c collet set up on a lathe it's really easy. Not too pretty but it works.
Just adjust a 5c collet to size the case up to the belt. If you go too much you'll crush the case. You will leave 3 lines where the collet is split but these will all but go away once its fire formed.
I actually use this method for crimping the bullet place for odd cases. I don't like the crimp you get from the dies.
John

Thanks, TG. I know the die you are referring to, it is not made by Lee. I think my friend is looking for a more economical solution.

From what my friend told me in the past (when he inquired about dies for his .378), Lee was not willing to make custom dies for the big Weatherby cases.

George

sorry, i read that as can't expand the neck...



are the dies hitting the belt?



has he tried running the unsized cases in his 416 to see how they fit?





jeffe

If the .378 brass was "one time fired", the loads were excessive and it is often that the belt itself mic's larger at the front edge, than at the rear, a condition that is incorrectable with any die. If the mic readings on the belt are close, one might consider cutting a FLS die to allow sizing down past an expansion ring, or nearer the forward edge of a belt. I've done this with various varmint rounds and 7mm Magnum brass but the cost of FLS die in this chambering is higher. How much use one would get out of it would determine how worthwhile.

Pop,
if these were factory loads, i would bet they are HOT like Nick said.

i bought 416 brass on ebay, new for like 75� 3 months ago

jeffe

Only a few possibilities come to mind that might produce this condition: a too hot 1x loading, a series of hot loadings or an outsized chamber. If the round can be force-chambered, as stated, it's likely that only a touch more sizing will make it right. With a cut-off die, without benefit of a built in stops at case mouth or shoulder, it's still quite easy to acquire a feel for it and finish up with a final run through the standard die.