The Accurate Reloading Forums
Standard dies used for wildcats
14 January 2006, 01:21
ConStandard dies used for wildcats
Guys,
Who shoots a wildcat that can be reloaded using standard dies modified slightly or a combination of standard dies? What is that wildcat and how do you go about loading it?
Example:
458Lott. Before 458Lott dies where common, I used 458WinMag dies, whilst Norbert on this forum used a cut "tubular" 458WM die (to allow FL sizing)and a regular 458WM seater.
Published in an Australian magazine;
270 Hog Hunt (270/223 Improved): Cut standard 270 FL die (to allow neck sizing) and universal seater. Cant FL size but it got the author shooting!
257EGGS (257/221 Improved): 256Winchester dies adjusted accoringly, again no ability to FL size.
One I'm considering to make use of an 8mmRemMag take-off barrel is the 8mm/338. A cut and shortened 8mmRemMag FL die should allow me to do the neck and shoulder, a cut 458WM die should allow me to resize the base, then seat with my 8mmRemMag dies adjusted accordingly.
Anyone else??
Cheers...
Con
14 January 2006, 02:38
ramrod340I've had numerous wildcats that I just loaded with a Neck sizer from a larger case. Then if I decided to keep it I had dies made.
As usual just my $.02
Paul K
14 January 2006, 04:57
jeffeossoone of the joys of wildcatting is scrounging...
take the 458 AR...
I have a set of 470 AR dies, so FL is easy
neck em with a bored out set of 45/70 ...
and set with a 458 lott set...
the 416 AR is nicer...
full length with 470s
rest is worked over 20$ lyman 416 rigby dies
jeffe
14 January 2006, 05:30
CheechakoCon
Whenever I go to a flea market and I see a loading die or a set of dies for a couple of bucks I buy them even though they may be an odd caliber that I will never load for. I have a drawer full. And I'm never at a loss to cobble up something to see what that new wildcat might look like or to figure a way to load a few rounds to test it. Half the fun of wildcats is doin' stuff like that IMHO.
Ray
Arizona Mountains
14 January 2006, 06:54
338guyOne of the handiest dies are the old Saeco stubby dies. You can load virtually anything in that caliber. They are also fantastic for case forming. I have some in 270 and 6mm that I use to form 210 Donaldson Wasp cases. You can find them on eBay on occasion and usually go pretty cheap.
14 January 2006, 21:36
Jerry EdenHere's what I have done for the 6mm-06. I size 30-06 cases down to 270, using a standard 270 Win Die, then I neck size the now 270 size 06 brass to 6MM, using a 6MM Rem Neck Sizer, Viola!
I have to confess though, I now use 25-06 cases, and run them into the 6MM Remington neck sizer, and I am done.
Jerry
NRA Benefactor Life Member
17 January 2006, 20:13
handcanon458Check out Mike Bellm and his wildcats he uses standered dies and .444 Marlin brass.
7mm Bellm
.308 Bellm
.358 Bellm
Mike Bellm18 January 2006, 02:11
skb2706My 6mm 30-30 AI I can load using slightly modified dies from a .243 Win and thats all.
18 January 2006, 04:30
ConI've personally been wondering whether a Lee 416Taylor FL die with its expander removed would size a case small enough to hold a 0.411 projectile. Then open the case mouth a little with a Universal expander and seat with the Taylor seating die. Pretty cheap way of shooting a 411Bowman type wildcat. That would open the use of .41 pistol projectiles for plinking, Hornady's 300gr projectiles from the 405Win and a 400gr Woodleigh (would you need to be careful with a 0.412" in a 0.411 bore???) for the serious stuff.
Cheers...
Con
18 January 2006, 07:50
Lar45The Lee dies are only about $13 for the RGB set.
I made a 30 Erin pistol, 30-38 special. I used an extension to push the cases up into a 30-06 die to form the neck, then seated with a 357 die, no crimp though. I cut down a 300 savage die for neck sizeing. Then I bought a set of 7.62x25 dies for a new project and found that they work perfectly. The sholder is also in the exact same spot. I should have looked closer for a similar round before jumping though all of the hoops.
The long gradual expander on the Lee dies is also nice. I necked up some 30-30 brass with 375 H&H Lee dies in one pass to try in my 375 win Mod 94.
I'm also wondering if 357 sig dies could load 357 Herret? I already have Herret dies, but they look like they might be close enough.
Lar45
White Label Lube Co.
www.lsstuff.comCarnauba Red high speed cast bullet lube.
19 January 2006, 11:25
45LCshooterI have thought about using 400 Corbon dies to make a 38-40 improved....small change, maybe; but perhaps worth looking at.
All that's gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost.
--J.R.R. Tolkien
Never express yourself more clearly than you can think.
--Niels Bohr
Kind of a combination, but in reloading my 222mag improved, I use the 223 improved dies. Much cheaper.
19 January 2006, 22:46
BohicaI have used old dies like the 257 WBY cut off on my lathe with a carbide cutter to neck size many smaller cases. As long as you do NOT alter the shoulder angle you`re fine.
Aloha, Mark
When the fear of death is no longer a concern----the Rules of War change!!
19 January 2006, 23:37
MuleriderI use shortened 204 Ruger dies for my 222 Rem based 20-222 wildcat. The fireform loads shoot as well as the formed brass ( mainly the shoulder going from 23 to 30 deg).
It was not my idea, but I sure like it!
One benefit of this case is the long neck of the 222 allows for minimal freebore if using a 204 chamber. Just a throat reamer is needed to allow for the longer neck, but now you're near the rifling.
21 January 2006, 21:52
MoreBSI shortened a .405 die and can now use it to resize my .41 x 240 Weatherby that is 2.170 long. [handgun]
Get Close and Wack'em Hard
22 January 2006, 06:44
jb747For the 6*47 I use a Redding 223 bushing neck die and a .265 (or so) bushing to do my neck sizing. I tried a 223 body die and it worked reasonably, though it did size the neck a bit as well. I've now got a 6*47 FL die, so that problem has gone away.
6/250; I use a 22/250 body die and bushing neck die. I seem to recall using a 243 seater in the early days, but I've got the Redding 6/250 seater now.
Needed to reload some 30/06 recently, and I don't have dies for it, so I used a 308 bushing neck die and seater. Stuff shot really well, so I guess it worked ok.
I've got a 338/06 being made, and I have a set of the Redding dies for it, but I may buy a 30/06 bushing neck die....might even try the 308 die with the right bushing too.