Log In
July 14, 2016
Offline
That is a fine highwall! Thanks for sharing. A lot of Indian retailed Winchesters ended up down here. I am yet to own one though
A man can never have too many WINCHESTERS...
September 19, 2014
Offline
Chuck, I doubt you would find one worth having if still in Madras. MANY years ago I purchased a model 1895 in .405 that had been in India. Had been engraved and inlaid there. The highly figured butt stock had opened big cracks where it had been expanded due to humidity then dried. The barrel under the fore end had deep pits that went almost into the bore. Bottom line, the easy to get at parts had been wiped down some and were not overly pitted, but the hidden parts and the wood were left to their own and it didn’t age well! Cheers!
November 7, 2015
Offline
Chuck-
Madras, India? I’m still getting over my Cody trip!
All kidding aside it’s hard to imagine someone shooting a 45 EX much. I doubt ammo for that rifle has ever been cheap or plentiful. I’m impressed that the exterior is so nice.
Mike
April 3, 2018
Offline
Tim:
Did that 1895 Winchester in 405 have an express sight, along with a Lyman 21, and SGB/TD
and gold/silver inlays even near the muzzle? Outline of a tiger? We may have owned the same 95 in 405. My first bull elk was killed with that rifle
in Colorado-many years ago.
September 19, 2014
Offline
The engraving kind of rings a bell. Don’t recall the model 21 sight being on it though. Keep in mind I had it a very short time in 1977. That is a while ago!
Tim
March 31, 2009
Offline
Well, I said I wasn’t going to use any dies. I lied. I tried to use one. I was going through some die sets looking for a shell holder that would work. The 50-95 shell holder will work. Now I don’t have to mess with the jaws on my Foresters. But when I tried a 45-90 FL sizing die to just squeeze the neck I crushed the case. So, I will start over. If I mess up the second one I’ll have to turn the rim on any of the others. 1 down 19 to go.
March 31, 2009
Offline
Things have finally settled down since my trip to Cody. Got caught up on most of my projects. Not so much on the wife’s list. I am going to get after the 45 EX again. I learned a few things and will build a couple of jigs to keep the cases better aligned when squeezing them. I never did get the neck as small as I should have. So I’m going to work on that end first and get it a little undersized. The biggest concern is the last 3/4″ of the base. I need a better and more powerful approach.
November 7, 2015
Offline
Chuck-
I know you’ll figure it out but if it were me a set of dies would be looking pretty good right now. Good luck on those chores. I’ve somehow worked in three range trips since I got back south of the Red River but it’s been busy around here too!
Mike
March 31, 2009
Offline
I made some progress and got one cartridge to almost go in. Not quite enough to close the bolt. I really need to step back and figure out a way to squeeze the base. The last bit is solid brass except where the primer pocket and flash hole is cut.
There is a tool that may work but it starts out at about $1000. A lot of competition shooters use them to resize some brass that has been shot with hotter than normal loads that create hard bolt lift. I need to investigate this and see if it is feasible and maybe find someone that would squeeze it for me.
September 19, 2014
Offline
Chuck, Reference the newest “Handloader” magazine with an article of making ammunition from near fit brass. Showed a rotary swage but doesn’t say nor show if it is electric or manual, or other. If you have a die maker buddy he may be able to make varying dies to use with some rotary swage? You are in a realm I know nothing first hand. Tim
October 14, 2024
Offline
This is not a process that I’ve had to deal with in my reloading career. I’m just thinking out load. Could a machinist fabricate a hardened swaging die for the proper base diameter? Then use a hydraulic shop press to swage the brass to the correct bae diameter.
November 19, 2006
Offline
Chuck –
I’ve been following your project since you started this thread. What a project it has turned out to be! I have a few random thoughts.
Do you have any RCBS .45 basic brass to try? I understand it is 3.25 inches.
Also, it sounds like the right set of dies might do the trick. I saw these on Ebay. Unfortunately, while available immediately, you have to pay to play:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255826271348
If someone here has a set of dies, maybe you could send them your brass and they could run it through the sizing die for you?
On the topic of dies, you mentioned you tried a .45-90 die and it crushed the case. I was thinking the longest .45 caliber I load for is the .45-90. Then I started to think that isn’t true or at least didn’t used to be true. I loaded for the .458 Winchester magnum and also the .450 Watts (identical to the .458 Lott). The base diameter of the .45-125 has a base diameter of .533. The base diameter of the .458 Win. Mag. is .513, so possibly slowly working one of your case into that die will produce some squeezing action. The .458 Win. Mag. is of course shorter than the .45-125 but a .458 Lott has a longer case length and perhaps that die would have a better chance?
In checking my copy of Nonte’s Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions, he suggests for the .45-125, using .450 3 and 1/4″ brass. Size full length and trim to 3.25″. He also notes that the rim will be too thin and need to be built up with shim stock or turn rim over and bush primer pocket to take boxer .210″ primers. Wow – that sure sounds like a bunch of hassle! It highlights the utility of the RCBS basic brass.
Some .45 Basic available presently:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1117743718
Keep after it!
March 31, 2009
Offline
steve004 said
Chuck –
I’ve been following your project since you started this thread. What a project it has turned out to be! I have a few random thoughts.
Do you have any RCBS .45 basic brass to try? I understand it is 3.25 inches.
Also, it sounds like the right set of dies might do the trick. I saw these on Ebay. Unfortunately, while available immediately, you have to pay to play:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255826271348
If someone here has a set of dies, maybe you could send them your brass and they could run it through the sizing die for you?
On the topic of dies, you mentioned you tried a .45-90 die and it crushed the case. I was thinking the longest .45 caliber I load for is the .45-90. Then I started to think that isn’t true or at least didn’t used to be true. I loaded for the .458 Winchester magnum and also the .450 Watts (identical to the .458 Lott). The base diameter of the .45-125 has a base diameter of .533. The base diameter of the .458 Win. Mag. is .513, so possibly slowly working one of your case into that die will produce some squeezing action. The .458 Win. Mag. is of course shorter than the .45-125 but a .458 Lott has a longer case length and perhaps that die would have a better chance?
In checking my copy of Nonte’s Home Guide to Cartridge Conversions, he suggests for the .45-125, using .450 3 and 1/4″ brass. Size full length and trim to 3.25″. He also notes that the rim will be too thin and need to be built up with shim stock or turn rim over and bush primer pocket to take boxer .210″ primers. Wow – that sure sounds like a bunch of hassle! It highlights the utility of the RCBS basic brass.
Some .45 Basic available presently:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1117743718
Keep after it!
I have some 45 basic brass but it is not 3-1/4″. I need a set of dies that will reduce a 50-125 case to a 45-125 case. I don’t believe such an animal exists. So I would need several dies to do the work in steps. I tried to use a set of 45-90 dies just to size the neck portion. I had not reduced the OD enough that is why I crushed it. The RCBS die set is for the 45-120 Sharps case. I have some of this brass but it is quite a bit smaller in diameter all along the body. I might try to fire form some of this brass but am afraid it may split. Thanks for the link for the RCBS basic brass. I will call them and see if this brass is in fact 3-1/4″. Almost all of the brass that is long enough has a head diameter that is too large or a rim thickness that is too thin. A couple of places have 450 Nitro EX brass for sale but the head diameter is too large.
November 19, 2006
Offline
JC said
Good luck with your project. I bought a set of 45-125 CH 4D dies from Buffalo Arms last year. Buffalo Arms also shows RCBS 45-125 dies on their website although both brands are on back order right now.
JC –
I recall we discussed your rifle almost three years ago:
Did you end up shooting it?
March 31, 2009
Offline
kevindpm61 said
This is not a process that I’ve had to deal with in my reloading career. I’m just thinking out load. Could a machinist fabricate a hardened swaging die for the proper base diameter? Then use a hydraulic shop press to swage the brass to the correct bae diameter.
I think you have a good idea. I have been thinking how I can rig up a hydraulic press. I already made a die with the correct diameter but just can’t get enough pressure to force the brass into it. I have a small bench press but it doesn’t have the power. I have a small hydraulic jack that may work if I can design a fixture to hold it.
March 31, 2009
Offline
Bert, I have lost the edit function icon???? When I open the tool set the edit function does not work here either.
April 15, 2005
Online
Chuck said
Bert, I have lost the edit function icon???? When I open the tool set the edit function does not work here either.
I am looking in to it now…
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
October 14, 2024
Offline
I have an el cheapo Harbor Freight 20-ton hydraulic press which has served me well for many years. I did end up ugrading to an old American made bottle jack several years ago.
March 31, 2009
Offline
I talked with Bert some time back about not using the 45-120 Sharps brass for this project. But, I think I might load one and see if the case survives the expansion. I’ll use a light load of FFg and filler if needed to keep the case full after the bullet is seated.
1 Guest(s)
