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RemFan
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CNC cases
Nov 1st, 2019 at 10:34pm
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Would like  hear from anyone using cases that were made from solid brass stock.  I just received some 44-77 Remington cases that look to be made with a CNC lathe.  They look very good, and have the correct rim thickness for the original Remington factory chambers,  just wondering if someone on this site has some actual experience with reloading and life expectancy of cases turned from bar stock.
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: CNC cases
Reply #1 - Nov 2nd, 2019 at 8:46am
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So far, I’ve bought them in .22-15-60 SS, .32 Ideal and .25-21 Stevens, though I’ve only reloaded the first two so far.  All from Rocky Mtn Cartridge Co.

They are very well made, and shoot well.  However, the use of full-length sizing and expanding dies work-harden and crack the cases (generally upon expansion for seating) after only a few loadings.  Annealing and using them unsized preserves them for continued use, but after 4 or 5 reloadings, they do get tight in the chamber of the gun, and some sizing is necessary.  Also, in order for bullets to be held properly in cases, some mild neck reduction needs to be done, unless you fill the cases with black powder.

I’ve tried my hand at making simple bushing dies that perform these operations, but haven’t quite got the dimensions right to hold the bullets yet.  Maybe Redding or somebody would do a better job, but I need to hone my machining skills, so I’ll keep trying as time permits.

I do grudge the loss of every case, since they’re so expensive.  If I had it to do over, I’d order them a little thicker, in Everlasting style, maybe with a thinner neck section for the bullet to slip in and stop at the proper depth.  That should take care of both the sticking and the bullet retention.

So I guess the short version is that they work, but take some finagling to do so.  But for oddball obsolete cartridge  cases, they’re the only game in town.
  
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RemFan
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Re: CNC cases
Reply #2 - Nov 2nd, 2019 at 10:31am
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thanks for the input.  I don't know who made the ones i have.  They are 44-77 Remington.  They were about 25% cheaper than what RMC quoted me. I bought them through an online dealer, but they could still be made by RMC.  Pretty sure they werent made by the other seller who is doing CNC stuff because his are much more expensive then RMC.   I probably will go ahead and anneal the necks before i ever use them and measure the neck thickness to see if I need to thin them down any.

I am thinking i may load a couple and shoot  them then check if they actually need any sizing at all to reload using .446 greasers.
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
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Re: CNC cases
Reply #3 - Nov 2nd, 2019 at 11:09am
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I own RMC cases for my .44-100 Ballard, and .45-70. Haven't had enough reloads in the .44-100 to determine case life yet, but I did anneal all of them just to ensure they'd last longer. 
In the .45-70 I also annealed them, and I don't full length size them I've got probably 8-10 loadings on some, and still no sign of cracks yet.
The key is no full length sizing, and annealing them properly. I've even considered annealing my .45-70 a 2nd time, just to possibly lengthen their life span more.

You must have a very tight .44-77 bore! Both of my originals slug at .452" groove.
  

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RemFan
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Re: CNC cases
Reply #4 - Nov 2nd, 2019 at 12:16pm
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Marlinguy:

How often do you anneal your  cases?

Yes, I have read a couple of different articles that mentioned the 44-77s vary from .446 to over .450.
  
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JLouis
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Re: CNC cases
Reply #5 - Nov 2nd, 2019 at 12:44pm
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I haven't had any success with the lathe turned brass I lost four of them on the very first shot. They simply did not fit my chamber very well and then I went to RMC's web site and it stated when ordering one should also send in a chamber casting. And I then quickly realized why my cases all collapsed at the neck and do to poor fit. So it might be something you might want to think about doing when ordering the lathe turned cases for yourself. The cases I had were given to me by a friend to try. Now that I am aware of the proper way to order them I wouldn't hesitate to order these cases for myself.
  

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RemFan
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Re: CNC cases
Reply #6 - Nov 3rd, 2019 at 8:49am
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RMC told me the same thing about sending a case.  However, i had some backordered online from another supplier and they showed up in my mailbox this week.  they do appear to be very close in all dimensions to the chamber cast i made of my Remington Creedmoor, and they do have the .090 thick rims which is correct for my rifle.   Guess i will anneal a couple and load them up and see what happens.  Looks like others results are mixed.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: CNC cases
Reply #7 - Nov 4th, 2019 at 10:31am
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RemFan wrote on Nov 2nd, 2019 at 12:16pm:
Marlinguy:

How often do you anneal your  cases?

Yes, I have read a couple of different articles that mentioned the 44-77s vary from .446 to over .450.


So far I only annealed them when they were new. I'm contemplating annealing the .45-70 cases again, just because they've got a fair number of loadings, and I'd like to possibly extend their lifespan. As I mentioned above they've got 8-10 loadings now.
All my loads are smokeless powder, and only sized the first time I loaded them.
  

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