Time To Order Dies for 450/400 3 & 1/4" NE

The Accurate Reloading Forums

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/760101804/m/7461095321

03 January 2010, 02:39

BigFiveJack

Time To Order Dies for 450/400 3 & 1/4" NE

I called www.midwayusa.com and the rep listed about 6 or 7 different types

of dies for my caliber. I have 240 pieces of new Hornady brass for my 450/400

3 & 1/4" NE D/R. Do I need all five of the following dies? Do I need others

as well?

1- Full Length Sizing Die / $283-
2- Bullet Seating Die / zero extra cost, part of 2 die set with #1
3- Trim Die / $170-
4- Neck Sizer Die / $170-
5- Neck Expander Die / forgot to notate price

Thanks guys

03 January 2010, 03:29

JBrown

quote:
1- Full Length Sizing Die / $283-
2- Bullet Seating Die / zero extra cost, part of 2 die set with #1

Those will get you going. You should not need the other three, but:

3- Trim Die / $170- might be nice if forming cases from basic brass.
4- Neck Sizer Die / $170- might make your cases last longer(if your rifle will chamber necksized brass). Also, the long neck of the 3&1/4" might make partial full length resizing(with the full lenght die from the set) problematic.
5- Neck Expander Die / forgot to notate price I am guessing this one will be $170 also. There are much cheaper ways to bell the case mouth if needed.

Jason

"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core."
_______________________

Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.

Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry
Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.

-Jason Brown

03 January 2010, 05:06

470Evans

Jack,

You just need this die set:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=713405

For trimming I use the Forster Classic, works great along with the correct pilot:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=491968

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=793887

If the pilot is a bit tight just chuck it in a drill press or drill and sand it down a bit.

I love the fact that RCBS brought down the price of their 470 and 400 Jeffery sets, wish they did it for the 3 1/4

You may want to put an add in the classifieds asking for the dies, that's where I found mine.

Good Luck.

ps. you need to get that double shooting!

03 January 2010, 06:07

400 Nitro Express

Jack:

Buy the RCBS 2 die set Jim linked to above. That's all you need - a FL sizer and a seater.

I have a .400 trim die that I never use. Poor substitute for a case trimmer. The two neck dies are up to you. I'd have no use for either.

The Forster Classic works fine with either .400. I would order a .400" pilot from Forster, rather than the .410" linked to.

What groove diameter is your rifle?
---------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

03 January 2010, 06:40

Rockrat

Grafs doesn't have them in stock, but check elsewherefor some Hornady dies. If Grafs had them, they are only $65. Check around, you might be able to save some $$

All you need is the Hornady set with 2 or 3 dies

03 January 2010, 07:17

BigFiveJack

Thanks guys for all the above info.

quote:
Originally posted by 400 Nitro Express:
Jack:

What groove diameter is your rifle?

I got the bores slugged at www.griffinhowe.com .

I'll try to detail what the document that I

received from them siting the measurements

indicates:

First he commented "7 grooves"

For the FULL BORE he reported

RIGHT- .4119 .4118 .4128 .4120 .4118
LEFT- .4110 .4119 .4125 .4125 .4123

For the MUZZLE he reported

RIGHT- .4134 .4138 .4134 .4126 .4134 .4136
LEFT- .4116 .4126 .4115 .4124 .4129 .4117

03 January 2010, 07:23

Biebs

Jack, I just scored on that set of RCBS dies (2-die set) in 450/400 3 1/4" for $103.55 + $6 shipping. They're all yours. If I get them before Dallas, I'll be over your way. There's a shop along the Delaware on the PA side that sells Black Powder? I need FFG and FFFG for a cool Leonard Meadows Kentucky Flintlock rifle I bought recently...45 caliber, 42" barrel, full stock...my new Whitetail BP rifle. I'm going way-retro!...Biebs

03 January 2010, 07:56

470Evans

Mark,

Good catch on the pilot. I just looked at mine and it's the .400.

Jack,

That's quite a detailed slug job! looks like a .411 gun to me.

03 January 2010, 19:24

BigFiveJack

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Jack, I just scored on that set of RCBS dies (2-die set) in
450/400 3 1/4" for $103.55 + $6 shipping. They're all yours.
If I get them before Dallas, I'll be over your way. There's
a shop along the Delaware on the PA side that sells Black
Powder? I need FFG and FFFG for a cool Leonard Meadows
Kentucky Flintlock rifle I bought recently...45 caliber, 42" barrel,
full stock... my new Whitetail BP rifle. I'm going way-retro!...Biebs

I appreciate that effort Biebs. I think that I undertstand you to

be west of me a bit, but I'm not sure how far. I takes me 20 min's

driving Rt. 80 WEST bound, to reach the state line. I am sure you'll
enjoy your FLINTLOCK, and I'm sure I'll enjoy reloading!

04 January 2010, 09:31

Nitrodave

Try: "buffaloarms.com" they are priced right and Dave is a good man to deal with...fast service, NE & BPE dies, lots of rare brass, good prices, tons of black powder supplies.
ND

04 January 2010, 17:01

BigFiveJack

Just to enlighten me a bit, why is the .410" pilot the

WRONG size, and the .400" pilot the RIGHT size?

04 January 2010, 18:32

Rockrat

If you are talking about trimmer pilots, the pilots I have are designed to use on sized brass, which is probably on the order of .406" neck I.D. A .410" would work fine on fired brass, I suspect

04 January 2010, 22:19

470Evans

Jack,

You want to trim after you re-size so .410 is too big. The .400 pilot works great.

04 January 2010, 22:55

Urodoji

Not that expensive for the 3" die sets.

http://www.grafs.com/product/260911

05 January 2010, 04:41

BigFiveJack

470 Evans, Thanks for that.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Urodogi,

Thank you for the info but,
Those dies are for the three inch caliber,
not my caliber which is 3 & 1/4 inch.

13 January 2010, 07:39

BigFiveJack

HOORAY!!!!! Thanks to Biebs my dies for my 450/300 3&1/4 NE

are in hand at the LOW cost to me of $110.00, about 37.5% of

what I would have paid buying new from MIDWAY USA. They

advertise this two die set at $283.00 plus shipping costs! I also

got an invite from Jon to come to his place and shoot too. A++
day for me today, for sure!

13 January 2010, 08:04

Honkey

Don't forget old Ebay.

I have got a lot of reloading stuff off ebay the last few years.

13 January 2010, 10:23

BigFiveJack

quote:
Originally posted by Honkey:
Don't forget old Ebay.

I have got a lot of reloading
stuff off ebay the last few years.

Biebs bought these dies, that he just put into my hands today, FROM EBAY

because he saw my thread saying that it was time for me to order! So yes

sir, I am with you on ebay!