Pacific Durachrome 45-70 Die Problems?

[glowe]

This is off the standard S&W topics, but I thought some reloading experts out there would have experience with this cartridge. I have been reloading 45-70 for a year now and have always had the finished cartridge come out too large for my Uberti Sharps. I fully seat the bullet and allow for a slight crimp on the brass. The ammo will not load into the chamber of the Sharps.

My standard load is .459/405 grain LFNPB, with 3031 powder. I have also loaded .457/340 grain RNFP and have the same problem. I use a 3 die set; depriming, resize w/neck expander, and a seating die.

What I have done to correct this is to run all loaded cartridges through the resizing die w/o the expander a second time as a last step. The ammo then loads perfectly in my Sharps.

Do I have a bad set of dies or is there a problem with my Sharps chamber? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Fkimble]

The Uberti likely has a chamber in spec but on the minimum side. The lead bullets are a little larger than jacketed bullets and are swelling the case out a couple thousands causing it to be larger than the chamber. You are squeezing the bullets and the brass down a little more when you run the loaded round back though the die. I am assuming a sized case will fit before a bullet is seated.

[arjay]

Sounds like you're getting a bulge during the seating and crimping stage.Some guys divide that into two steps.Another option would be to make a dummy round of the right length with no crimp,make sure it chambers and slowly add crimp in small steps and checking to be sure it chambers after each adjustment until you reach a point where it has a good crimp and it fits.If the round wont chamber even with no crimp ,your solution may be the best one.

[kenny s]

I agree about the buldge. I've been loading for Sharps 45's for years and Winchester too. I load my paper patched 50's by running them up the sizing die without the depriming plug too. BUT. you should try the .458's instead of .459's, and seat them to the proper debth. do a dummy round, and keep seating the bullet until it just clears the lands. that is your seating debth. I think the 459 is causing a buldge trying to sink in the case. luck...Ken

[glowe]

Thanks guys for the comments.

Slugged the bore and find it to be .452" and groove diameter is .457/8". What would be the recommended bullet diameter?

Now on to the dies. I find that the bullet seating die is a Pacific No.. 3B. That turns out the finished casing is .475. I use another die No. 1B, without the bullet seater and get .470. That is the cartridge that fits into the chamber.

Now, I do not know what the difference is between 1B and 3B. Anyone out there still using Pacific dies in this caliber that might be able to tell me the difference?

[ArchAngelCD]

Sorry, I don't have those dies. My 45-70 dies are made by Hornady. I got them at an auction for a VERY good price!

[glowe]

That is exactly the basis for my problem - I bought them used and of course they came without paperwork or identification of the die numbers. They were also cheap and do work, just would like to know what I have and maybe that will help me figure out my problem with finished case diameter.

[kimporter]

sounds like arjay figgered it out,i had the same thing happin loading 38spls,had too much crimp,by the way i also use 3031 in my uberti sharps, with a 405 rem jsp,it will almost 1 hole em at 100yds