Lee responded, and wants $160 for the dies, and another $25 for the factory crimp die.
In all fairness, I don't think this is unreasonable on the surface, but unless Longbob is as care-free with cash as I am, it is over budget.
I'll look for a set at the next gun show, but I think we are going to stay with 458 win mag dies and just wing it.
If several of you are interested in a group purchase to offset the cost, let me know. The crimp die can be fashioned later to custom specs for each after they are set up to make the first full set. At least that is my understanding. So possibly, if 3-5 of us wanted Lee dies, we could do it for well under $100 each. I am not in a hurry. Just throwing that out there.
If you can get the cost down, it may not be such a bad deal. Hornaday factory loads are $80, Superior are $85 - $100 plus shipping. It seems like several have the Lott or would like to have one. The reloading would make it more feesable. I noticed that the Lott brass is much more reasonable than most from Midway.
I have just hit Don @ Lee Precision up with a group purchase idea. I am serious on this, so if anyone else is at least remotely interested, please stand up and be counted. No obligation.
Having used most manufacturer's dies, and knowing the quality from experience, I would go with dies from RCBS or CH4D before I would cough up $160 for Lee dies in 458 Lott.
I just received a three die set, in 416 Howell, from CH4D, for $120. Includes size die, case mouth flare die, and seat die. Good quality. And the dies have a nice large 9/16" diameter threaded stem instead of the smaller 1/4" stem as most dies have.
CH Tool & Die/4D Custom Die Co. P.O. Box 889 711 N. Sandusky ST. Mt. Vernon, OH 43050 Voice 740-397-7214 FAX 740-397-6600
Regarding the Lee Factoty Crimp die, you can use a 45-70 or 458 Win crimp die for the Lott if you machine the correct size spacer collar to sit on top of the shellholder, for pushing the crimp collet up in the die. Collar height should be .750" if a 45-70 crimp die, .300" high if a 458 Win crimp die.
Posts: 1055 | Location: Real Sasquatch Country!!! I Seen 'Em! | Registered: 16 January 2001
I'm not familiar with the crimp dies and how they differ from a normal crimp die. Can someone explain why you need a spacer? On my 45 win mags I used a normal 45ACP crim die and just didn't thread it into the press as far. I set it with the lock-nut, and all was fine. In fact, I got better feeding from my own ammo than any factory ammo. But that is mostly because of two different case styles for the round; Winchester's and everyone else's.
Is the spacer only for consistency between loading sessions or what? I do not set up my press like they say in the book; I have a ScottB method. But I stick to straightwall pistols from 9mm up to 454.
I will try and post a photo later today. The Lee crimp die uses a sliding hollow collet that goes inside a hollow outside "shell" that is threaded 7/8-14 to screw into your press. The cartridge, with bullet loaded, actually goes up into the collet, then the bottom end of the collet meets the shellholder when the ram is raised. The shellholder both pushes the cartridge into the collet, and pushes the collet into the outside shell. The outside shell has a taper at the top, this closes the collet at the top of the ram stroke and squeezes the case rim into the bullet cannulure. So, if you are using a 458 Win crimp die for Lott cartridges, the collet is 0.300" too short and you need an additional spacer collar to drop over the cartridge before raising the ram. This style of crimp die works much better than the crimp we get from a standard bullet seating die, as it does not push the case mouth "down" which can buckle a case if the trim length is not perfect. As the collet type crimp die pushes in from the side, it can put in a deeper crimp. The Lee Crimp Die is the only Lee product that I am impressed with. I have modified them for use on oversize and none-standard cartridges. I made a special crimp die for a 50 cal wildcat that has high recoil and uses a tubular magazine. Lee does not make a 50 cal crimp die, as the collet is too big to fit a 7/8-14 press. I made the die body 1-1/4 inches in diameter to fit a RockChucker press with the top threaded bushing removed.
Posts: 1055 | Location: Real Sasquatch Country!!! I Seen 'Em! | Registered: 16 January 2001
I just reieved my current issue of American Hunter and they have an article on new products, It says Hornady will stock 458 Lott as a standard in 2002. That should mean brass and dies should drop in price
Posts: 2305 | Location: Monee, Ill. USA | Registered: 11 April 2001
The only prices I have found so far for the .458 Lott is from RCBS. They want $215.95 plus $10 for shipping. Their dies are a 3 die set with a crimpere built in to the seating die. They last a lifetime (at that price they better). Any word when Hornady will actually be bringing out the Lott ammo? I hope to have my Lott up & shooting by the first of May.
I noticed earlier today someone had a RCBS 458 die set listed in the reloading section of ebay. Don't know anymore about it than that but thought I'd mention it.
Good luck, Joe.
Posts: 1372 | Location: USA | Registered: 18 June 2000
Try a search at www.auctionarms.com for "458" and a set of RCBS 458 Lott dies may come up. I'm dealing from memory from several days ago so if they're still on auction you may find they're 458 Win. I'm just too lazy to go look before posting here.
Anyway, just trying to help.
Reed
Posts: 649 | Location: Iowa | Registered: 29 August 2001
quote:Originally posted by Longbob: I placed a couple of bids for it and I keep getting out bid. The other guy has some automatic bid that keeps outdoing mine.
The reason he keeps outbidding you is because he has placed a max bid and the bid will only increase by the set increments that are stated on the bid (ie: $1.00). The best way to do e bay is figure out the max it is worth to you,put the bid in and wait, the other trick is on the bid page check the box "watch this bid" this way in the case of a "counter" that reveals how many times the bid was looked at you can keep an eye on the progress without the counter going up which makes the bidders think there will be a lot of last minute bids in the 2 or 3 minutes before it ends. The last trick is put your max bid in the last few seconds of the bid
Posts: 2305 | Location: Monee, Ill. USA | Registered: 11 April 2001
Lee responded that the tool-up will be $130, and beyond that the regular price applies ($30). Once they have the tooling in place the actory crimp will be $25.
Longbob, I picked up some primers and a pound of Reloader 7. Spent about $20 so far. No bullets, I'll pick some up at market hall on the 5th.
Gentlemen: You may be able to get .458 dies at a more reasonable price very soon. Ruger just anounced they will chamber the M77 for the .458 Lott. This should take the dies out of the "wildcat" catagory and put it into the standard realm. When this happens, the dies usually get cheaper. George
I just received some .458 Lott brass from MAST?bell Brass that I ordered for an outfitter friend in RSA (hes is coming over for the show season and doesn't know it yet but he will the mule for some of Gerard's bulleys!).
The brass is $25 per box of 20, and is in stock.
jim dodd
------------------ "if you are to busy to hunt, you are too busy."
Posts: 4166 | Location: San Diego, CA USA | Registered: 14 November 2001
"Thank you for your interest in Redding Reloading Equipment. We'll have 458 LOTT dies available in about 16-20 weeks. It'll be a three die set, including sizing, expanding and seating/crimping dies."
It looks like the will be available without special ordering.
I just talked to Al Straitiff of Competitor Corp. He said he has 4 sets of Lott dies at the heat treaters. He makes a nice die, at $55 a set. He has more blanks and can run any amount needed. 603-532-9483
Posts: 941 | Location: VT | Registered: 17 May 2001
I stopped at several booths, and found one with Redding 458 win mag dies. The woman helping me asked the man there what they were, he said $30. I looked them over, no shellholder, and looked a little dirty, and asked if she would take $25 or else throw in a shellholder. She said no, they were $45. I told her that the fellow just said $30, and she said no, he said $45. I handed them back. Really twilight zone stuff. I'm glad I did now.
I got some bullets though. 130 pieces total. Hows your retina?
I'm not sure as to whether DENEL's PMP (Pretoria Metal Pressings which is the small arms ammo division ) can supply Ackley Brass, they manufacture a wide variety of components though which I do use for all my reloading.
They can be contacted via these emails ; Info@pmp.co.za or Tech@pmp.co.za
I would use the CH-4D dies, as for the Factory Crimp, Lee doesn't make one in .458 Win, however we have used a modified .45-70 Fact Crimp for years. Modification is done by welding a collar on the sliding sleeve, and machining to the proper length.
