45-90 cases to 405 winchseter

[Von Gruff]

Anyone done this. I have 50 405 cases but they are scarce here and I can get another 50 45-90 cases for a good price and I wondered how difficult it might be to size right back to the rim . I had thought that running them into the 405 die with a good smear of imperial then doing it again using a smaller shell holder so the rim sits on top and so the case would size the last very little bit and could be tapped out of the die using a length of brass rod.
I do know about the difference in length but I have a chamber in my Lee Enfield that I cut to 2.410 so the 2.4 length of the 45-90 case would be just fine for plinker loads so I can keep the405 brass for full loads.

[bob208]

.444 marlin would make good plinking brass. I think .45-90 would too much sizing at the head and rim.

[Von Gruff]

The Marlin case is too short at 2.25 and the 30-40 case comes back to that length so is not suitable as I don't want to be shooting too many with the short case in my 2.41 chamber length. The 444 and the expanded 30-40 case would be like a diet of 458 win mag in the Lott chamber or the 44 spcl in the 44 mag. A few dosent hurt but continuous use can erode the chamber mouth the same way the throat can be over time

[EDG]

I don't think you can make .405 Win from 45-90.

The head of the .45-90 is about .500 ahead of the rim. The .405 is about .457 ahead of the rim.

[taco650]

Isn't the rim diameter greater on the 45-90 than it is on the 405?

[Von Gruff]

45-90 case shows a .608 rim and .506 case head while the 405 shows a .543 rim and .462 case head.
The rim can be turned back so is no problem. It is just whether the case dia can be reduced that I wonder about.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

In the Midsouth catalogue, Hornady has listed new 405 cases (a box of 50) for around $50. They are properly dimensioned. I bought several boxes of them a few years ago and they have given me good service. Why go to the trouble and expense of tracking down 45-90 cases and then get involved with reforming them to 405 if new cases are available. Before they were available I tried making 405's out of 30-40 Krag cases, by fire-forming them (blowing them out to straight) All the dimensions were correct except the length which was around 1/4" too short. Other than that they worked very well. LLS

[taco650]

Is 303 British too short when blown out?

[Von Gruff]

Yes, I cut my chamber to 2.410 and while I have not tried the 303 case, the 30-40 krag brass which starts out longer than the 303 case is only 2.2 when expanded so the brit case might only go 2.1 at most and possible not much more than 2"

[Von Gruff]

In the Midsouth catalogue, Hornady has listed new 405 cases (a box of 50) for around $50. They are properly dimensioned. I bought several boxes of them a few years ago and they have given me good service. Why go to the trouble and expense of tracking down 45-90 cases and then get involved with reforming them to 405 if new cases are available. Before they were available I tried making 405's out of 30-40 Krag cases, by fire-forming them (blowing them out to straight) All the dimensions were correct except the length which was around 1/4" too short. Other than that they worked very well. LLS

You might notice that I am in New Zealand and some things are not as readily available here as they might be in the US. The 405 win is a very rarely (if at all) rifle here and so the reloading components are simply not available. I saw some 45-90 cases advertised and so asked the question here. If my posts are read, the length of my chamber is noted and the reasons for wanting full length brass are also given.

[taco650]

In Handloader magazine a couple months back there was an article about the Win 1895 rifle in 405 and 40-72. Evidently the cases are almost interchangeable. The 405 has a thicker (not wider) rim than the 40-72 but otherwise they're the same outer dimensions. So... if you could find some 40-72 cases, you'd be in business. I realize that you being in NZ, you may never see 40-72 brass but one never knows.

[Red River Rick]

Von Gruff:

Is it legal for you to import brass into NZ?

RRR

[Von Gruff]

Von Gruff:

Is it legal for you to import brass into NZ?

RRR

No legal restriction this end. I got a call from a guy here last night who has 2 boxes of win 405 brass so am hoping I can get them. That would give me 90 cases and would do for now. Will advise if sale does not go though.

[Red River Rick]

Von Gruff:

If the deal falls thru, I have two boxes here that I can part with.

No restrictions here either, sending or receiving brass cases. I can ship or import up to 5000 pieces without any paper work.

RRR

[Von Gruff]

I should know by the weekend and thank you.