Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 13 of 13

Thread: Problems with Magtech .45 acp brass?

  1. #11
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,854

    Default

    Hi Kaj,
    I just got in from the shop. I did some sizing and measuring and this is what I found. First I sized the Magtech brass in my Lee carbide sizer, then I checked it with a .451 cast boolit. There was plenty of neck tension and no problems. Then I dug into my stash of range brass and got out the calipers to measure the actual thickness of the brass at the necks. This is what I found:
    Military case .014"
    Fed +P case .014"
    Fed case .012"
    Magtech case .012"
    R/P case .012"
    Rem/UMC case .011"
    Rather than discovering answers, I only found questions. So, I sized one of each and checked them all with the .451 boolit. There was no problem with any, including the thinnest Rem/UMC case. While I do not personally own a set, I have never heard of anyone with a complaint about Hornady dies, presses, or other tools. (I am not and never have been a big fan of their bullets, but the issue there is one of accuracy relative to Sierra's in my rifles). I don't know if your problem is the dies, or if you just got a bad lot of brass. See if your thickness figure agrees with mine. If it does, I think you're going to have to try another set of dies to be sure. Is there another reloader near you so you can borrow his set? I'd say come on over, but it would be a hell of a long drive for you, and some of it would be pretty wet going...
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

  2. #12
    GunLoad Trainee
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Thanks again,Versifier.
    I measured some Magtech case necks and they came 0.007"-0.008" .
    Looks like my brass is bad.Iīm going to check some other brands of sizer dies,and if that wonīt help,I will make my own small base sizer die.One way or the other,I will load these cases .I did visit US in -97,but it was just two weeks.I came to US with one small suitcase,and I left with two BIG suitcases full of reloading stuff .


    Kaj

  3. #13
    Gunload Grunt kg42's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    BC
    Posts
    510

    Default

    KTN,

    I've got to add to Dale's post...

    My dies are from LEE and they have successfully reloaded even the very thin HP (Hirtenberger) brass as well as CBC and S&B; sorry I am without a calliper at the time and cannot measure much.
    However, with several combinations of components and OAL, it was obvious that the neck tension wasn't enough to keep the bullet in place when the cartridge hit the feed ramp.

    It is very easy to extract a cartridge which cycled normally through the gun at the range, and check its OAL. Sometimes you just need your eyes to see the bullet was kicked back in the case...
    This hasn't stopped me from shooting 452 lead bullets in thin brass, as long as accuracy doesn't suffer, but only with target loads... the bullets would bottom in the expanded part of the case at worse.

    Keep heavy loads for brass which can keep a firm hold on their bullets. I know you are caught between the brass problem and a very tight Norinco (mine is...).
    I ditched Remington and IMI brass in 44 because it was too thin for my dies; it seems that your Magtech was picked at the range so don't loose sleep over it... (I know it hurts more when the stuff was free... )

    kg
    Last edited by kg42; 04-18-2006 at 10:14 PM.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check        

Gunloads.com Sponsored Links