It's a 458 Lott, you don't need to weigh and segregrate brass! Well, accepting the stubby case.

I use a small lathe for trimming brass, so can't help on that end.

The one problem I've had with the Hornady dies is the neck expander sits too low in my co-ax press, as it is a "universal" 45 expander, and really designed for a 45-70 length case.

Other then that, load em and shoot em.

Paul:

Yea, I know...just old habit.. as to checking brass and just wanted to see what overall quality of the stuff is like.

I just have no experience with straight wall cases so please forgive my inexperience...

Is there a separate crimping die made for the 458 Lott?

Do you seat first then crimp? or crimp after seating?

Do your loaded rounds bulge where bullet is in the case?

Finally, what are you loading?

Thanks for your help...JJS

Straightwall cases are easy to load, really no different than a bottleneck, accept that the sizing die doen't have a parallel section for the neck, which they could have done, but that's an asside.

JJ Hack had Lee make a custom factory crimp die for his Lott. I plan to pick up one of the 45-70 dies, and add a spacer collart to it. I did that for my 35 whelen using a 358 win die, and it worked like a champ.

If you set the seater/crimp die too low, ie too much of a crimp, the case will accordian. So long as the round chambers, just shoot it, the case will straighten out I just seat and crimp in one stage.

So far I'm just shooting 350 speers over RL-7, I need to do some work to the rear sight, and some bedding work before getting back to the range. I'll probably only shoot 350's, and maybe some 400 gr X bullets, as this rifle was built for Alaskan game.

I'm pretty sure my shellholder is an RCBS in the hand primer, and I haven't had any problem with the 50 cases I got. I use a co-ax press, so no shellholder on the press.

A caliper should be able to help figure out where the problem is.

Just measured several of mine: 2.76". Seems like it should be closer to 2.8. Maybe it's cut short so it can stretch!

What length is the new Hornady Lott brass? Is it the 2.800" length cases or the longer 2.850" stuff?

Mine measure 2.784 for six that I measured.

Concerning brass that will not fit proper shellholder...

Recently bought a 1000 new WW 220 Swift cases for a varmint hunt. Found out the week before the hunt that the new brass would not fit any 220 Swift shellholder. Tried RCBS, Hornady, etc. Friendly gunsmith opened a Dillon shellplate to allow it to fit the brass.

The brass's extractor groove cut was improper. Brass had other problems too.

Hammer

Please let me relate a hard won peace of reloading advice.

NEVER Seat and Crimp in the same operation!

-every thing has to be just so to work right and you'll ruin too many good components getting there.......DJ

JJS,
To answer your question about trimming a straight wall .45 caliber case... I have a Forester hand trimmer and used a .451 pilot to align the case mouth on my .458 Win. The bullet forms its own "neck" when it is seated...hence the "bulge" in the neck when done. I flare the mouth a little to help the bullet start in and then seat the bullet. I then use a "Lee Factory Crimp" die in a seperate step to crimp. These dies are great. The standard rounds are around $8.00 if I remember correctly, but they can make one for any wildcat if you send $25.00 and a dummy case with the bullet seated. Look them up on their web site. They may make a .458 Lott standard by now? I had one made for my .450 Ackley and bought several standard large caliber crimp dies. I used the Hornady Basic Magnum brass for my Ackley and it works fine.
Hope this helps, Ghost

Ghost,

Thanks for the info. I called Hornady a couple of days ago and have not heard back from them yet. I did test fire a few 458 Lotts today...I am going to see if I can trim them after firing but before sizing. The Hornady Lott brass, I received mearsured about .435 before and after sizing...

I will see what happens tonight and I will call Hornady back in the a.m.

I use Forester trimmers as well and may have to get an undersized pilot...I also use Forester's press ...it is by far the best press I have seen...to bad Forester or Redding does not make a 458 Lott die...

I am definately going to get one of those Lee factory crimp dies!

I appreciate you help..

Best regards,

JJS

Do you get the egg before the chicken, or the chicken after the egg?

Not sure ... possibly you can solve that question...

Hart,

Thanks so much for your suggestion! I just got off the phone with a Lee representitive and confirmed that the washer concept to compensate for the case length difference, as you suggested, will work! Thanks again, JJS

JJS,
The crimp die is not bullet specific. It is hollow through the top so you can use any bullet at any seating depth.
The .458 win. die will work with a spacer but if you shoot many rounds, it will be a pain in the ass. Remember you are already adding another step to crimp. $25.00 is cheap compared to all the money we spend on hunting and shooting and they had my die to me in 1 week. If you have plenty of time on your hands, then use the 458 Win. die.
Just my humble opinion here. Do what works best for you.
Ghost