44 mag sizing die measurements ?

[hd09]

I have three different 44 mag sizing dies. The first is a lyman carbide I think from the 70s .445 second is RCBS steel 1987 .447 last is RCBS steel .450 all measured inside with a caliper. I'm wondering why so much difference and if it really matters.

[kweidner]

Depends on the boolit. Less size means less work harden. I run my 44s .432 so I would size with the largest. Caliper is not to accurate. Micrometer or pin guages might show different results.

[mdi]

You're measuring .445" to .450" inside diameter of the case mouth? I dunno, but my cast .44 magnum bullets are a tight fit in my sized brass and they, the bullets, measure .432".

[W.R.Buchanan]

If the calipers are calibrated accurately then they are fine for measuring something like this and I do it every day in my shop. For a bearing fit or something where it needs to be very close there are other more precise ways to measure a hole.

On the .44 dies. if you don't get any spring back after you size the case (and I don't want to argue this again) the figuring a .450 OD on the sized case, and .011 case wall thickness would yield a case mouth ID of .428 dia.

For a .432 boolit that would be a .004 press fit which is right about where you want to be.

+or - the .004 number for different loads and different boolits is to be expected, and must be taken into consideration depending on the particular circumstance.

This is all fine and good except for the fact that the Expander die is going to size the case after it is sized by the sizing die. The expander is what actually preps the case for the boolit. Obviously different size expander plugs for different sized boolits, so the fact that you have 3 different ones will eventually work in your favor.

Randy

[Bwana]

On my steel RCBS dies, and I'm sure you'll find your's this way too, the case mouth end of the die is smaller than the case head end. What you are measuring is the case head end of the die. Size a few cases and then check the dimensions at the mouth end of the case.

[hd09]

I measured on up into the RCBS dies and got .447 with both of them with a starrett small ball gauge. The Lyman is what it is at the carbide ring.

[mdi]

I measured on up into the RCBS dies and got .447 with both of them with a starrett small ball gauge. The Lyman is what it is at the carbide ring.
What exactly, are you measuring? The die ID? A sized case?

[1hole]

You're worrying about trivia. Brass cases spring back after sizing an that varies by the metal hardness, which gets harder each time it's cycled, so what you get not only isn't critical it varies over time even with the same lot of cases. And the different brands use modestly different brass alloys. All meaning nothing you can do is as highly precise as some writters might have you think.

All that really matters, especially with handgun ammo, is how well the cartridges chamber and shoot. My bet is you won't be able to tell any difference in effect using any one of your dies.

[hd09]

Measuring the die ID

[EDG]

I have measured a number of the dies and gotten the same results you have.
Based on the diameter of the case head my RCBS .447 dies size the case too much at the head.
My .450 Lyman die has a better lead in radius and does not squash the case head undersize.

[hd09]

Forgot to mention the last die which is RCBS that measures .450 at the mouth was made in 1972

[o6Patient]

You're worrying about trivia. Brass cases spring back after sizing an that varies by the metal hardness, which gets harder each time it's cycled, so what you get not only isn't critical it varies over time even with the same lot of cases. And the different brands use modestly different brass alloys. All meaning nothing you can do is as highly precise as some writters might have you think.

All that really matters, especially with handgun ammo, is how well the cartridges chamber and shoot. My bet is you won't be able to tell any difference in effect using any one of your dies.

+1 (at first I didn't know what we were measuring ... case mouth... case head OD...etc

[Taly01]

I have been measuring how much my dies resize the Brass - measuring the outside diameters on Starline Brass i get

Redding Steel Full Die #91186 Base=.454" Mouth=.445"
Lee Classic Loader #90260 Base=NONE Mouth=.450"
Hornady Custom Grade #546548 Base=.450" Mouth=.450"

My loaded rounds measure .452" at Neck with .429" Bullets

Does anybody know what dimensions the Redding dual ring die actually resizes brass to for Base & Mouth?

[country gent]

The only way to control Neck size is with an interchangable bushing these can be made in .001 increments/ case wall thickness X2 minus the bushing dia roughly gives you neck ID. Hence .010 neck thickness .469 bushing = .010 X 2 =.020 .469-.020 = .449 ID of neck. Other wise your stuck with what the dies gives with diffrent brass which can vary in neck thickness. Most dies can be converted to a bushing die with a lathe and knowledgable operator. Ive never seen them done for pistol rounds though. May be the new fad with everyone beating a path to your door.

[Taly01]

I found someone who tested the Redding Dual Ring Carbide Die (http://blog.vec.com/2013/03/19/teardown-tuesday-redding-dual-ring-carbide-die/)!

Redding Dual Ring Carbide Die #95186 Base=.455" Mouth=.448"