.45-70 Neck Expander

[rexherring]

Was loading some .45-70's for the first time and have a used set of Lee dies. The inside neck expander measured .452 so I'm thinking it's the wrong one because it definitely does not expand the neck enough to seat a boolit. I was thinking that a .457 would be enough to work with .458-.459 boolits using a Lee universal die to flare the neck slightly to seat. My 340 grain drop at .458 and my Lee 405 HB drop at .459.

What are you guys using?

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

not for 45-70 (yet) but I've made expanders that fit in the LEE flaring die just like the flare button.
Make'm what ever size you want, ie universal M die :)

[EDG]

To me Lee makes the sorriest expanders in the business. However Track of the Wolf offers many expanders that fit the Lee die body. Buffalo also offers some custom expanders.

The type of rifle that you shoot should be kept in mind. I shoot a single shot so I use an expander that is either the same size of the bullet or .001 smaller. I have Track of the Wolf expanders in .458, .459, and 460. My ammo only has to be able to withstand handling at the bench.

Ammo fired in a tube magazine repeater should have more grip. However that grip cannot be so great that it damages the bullet bases. Try .001 to .002 smaller than your bullet and use a Lee factory crimp die to crimp as required.

[oldfart1956]

Rex you can buy just the little expander part for your die. Titan had/has them...if they go big enough. Unfortunatly I don't think the Lee expander goes deep enough for the longer (405) boolits. What I did (trapdoor .462 dia) was get the expander plugs from Track Of The Wolf and make them the size I wanted. I also bought the powder thru expander body (Lee-Die-45-EX) from Track. I think Lee part # is 90040. Keep in mind the Track expander plugs are solid...no hole for powder thru drop. But...you can fix that as well. :) I used the one for .43 Spanish to make a correctly sized powder thru expander for the .44 mag. when using the longer boolits. As a plus the service from Track is exemplary. Audie...the Oldtinkerer..

[rexherring]

I've ordered from Track of the Wolf before so I did order a couple new Lee expanders, pretty cheap and another mold and factory crimp die from them too. I was lucky enough to find a bag of 100 once fired .45-70 brass online for $42. Nice shape and tumble polished already. They are Hornady so I think they are a little shorter than standard but should work ok.

I never use the powder through part of the expander so no problem with that. I have in the past polished some of my Lee expander plugs due to rough machining.

[MT Chambers]

Most good die sets in 45/70 come with the proper expander and it bells as well.

[troyboy]

You have the wrong expander. Mine starts at 454 and tapers to 470.

[rexherring]

Got the .457 expander fro Track of the Wolf, works perfect, Not to tight and still enough tension on the sides. Then, I had to grind off a good 1/8th off the bottom of the seat/crimp die to roll crimp the Hornady shorter brass.

[Char-Gar]

Your post made me curious and I had never measured the expander in my 1977 RCBS 45-70 dies. I pull it out and measured it and it is .4565 spot on.

[buffalo brad]

Trying to get the right expander also. Loading a .459 510gr. Creedmore cast bullet. It will not fit the case expanded with the regular 45-70 RCBS expander. Have a Buffalo Arms expander on order. It is .458 then steps up to .460. Will see if that works!!!???