Sizing 44 Mag Brass
- Thread starter gunbug
- Start date
i always wondered about that too, but when they fail, it has always been from case mouth splits, which is a fuction of how hard you crimp, so the 'over-re-sizing' of the body doesn;t seem to harm anything. If anything it helps grip the bullet and reduces the amount of crimp needed
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Hi Dan. My original sizing die and my TC sizing die, both RCBS, both resize to 0.450". I don't think it's a problem, at least it's never proven to be so for me. I agree with rgv's statement concerning the interference of fit and it's grip on the bullet. In addition, the following is an exert from the old Lyman Handbook of Cast Bullets, and one of my bibles
;
Note: "Use expanding plug smaller than the diameter of the bullet so as to seat the bullet with plenty of friction on the 44 Magnum".
Note: "On all calibers I size my brass full length each time".
Summary: " I use heavy crimp in all loads in the beveled crimp groove on my bullets.
Elmer Keith's Recommendations
What can I say.
;Note: "Use expanding plug smaller than the diameter of the bullet so as to seat the bullet with plenty of friction on the 44 Magnum".
Note: "On all calibers I size my brass full length each time".
Summary: " I use heavy crimp in all loads in the beveled crimp groove on my bullets.
Elmer Keith's Recommendations
What can I say.
I always full length resize with a RCBS carbide die. 44 brass seems to last forever, with the split in the mouth when they do wear out, which is the normal way a case ends its life.
I am presuming everyone is talking about cast bullets, so the mouth of the case must be opened up a bit. This is very critical to case life. Bell the mouth the least amount you possibly can, to make the brass last. I do it just enough so when the fingers are slid over the case, a slight ridge can be detected at the mouth.
If the bullet fits real tight a light crimp will suffice, which is also a brass saver.
I am presuming everyone is talking about cast bullets, so the mouth of the case must be opened up a bit. This is very critical to case life. Bell the mouth the least amount you possibly can, to make the brass last. I do it just enough so when the fingers are slid over the case, a slight ridge can be detected at the mouth.
If the bullet fits real tight a light crimp will suffice, which is also a brass saver.
