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KWK
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turned brass
Sep 30th, 2022 at 1:03pm
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We're having a 450/400 3-1/4 BPE made up from a little used Ruger No.1. Getting drawn 450 brass is proving to be a problem these days.

Any experience here with either of the turned brass makers, namely RMC (Rocky Mountain) or RCC (Roberson)? It's pretty pricey stuff!
  

Karl
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RDBallard
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Re: turned brass
Reply #1 - Sep 30th, 2022 at 1:47pm
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I've used RMC brass in the past and had no problems. Top notch.
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: turned brass
Reply #2 - Sep 30th, 2022 at 3:24pm
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A turned case is brittle compared to a drawn case.  Nonte described it as the difference between a casting and a forging (doubtless without the alloys now available).

I use RMC brass.  It does not handle full-length resizing, or even normal neck-sizing well.  Annealing might help, but I notice the mouths tore open when sized and expanded after a very few reloadings.

One of those custom neck dies that minimally sizes necks and needs no subsequent expansion will save you those expensive shells.  That, or breech seating, using full charges of black powder, or whatever method keeps the bullet in the case without neck tension.

Aside from that, the brass is very well made dimensionally and very usable.
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: turned brass
Reply #3 - Sep 30th, 2022 at 4:20pm
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I've only used (and still use) RMC turned brass. I was told to anneal it every so often, and not sure how often? But I don't full length size mine, and anneal the necks about every 4th-5th loading. So far I haven't lost a single case.
  

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axman
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Re: turned brass
Reply #4 - Oct 3rd, 2022 at 12:01am
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I have some SMT turned 50-90 brass that never gave up.
I think it’s the predecessor of Red Willow.
Always full length sized it.
Probably 15 loadings.
  
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oneatatime
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Re: turned brass
Reply #5 - Oct 3rd, 2022 at 12:51am
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If you get desperate I can fix you up with some fired Kynoch brass and the correct Berdan primers. FWIW, my standard load for the 450-400 3 1/4 NE is 80 grains of IMR4350 under an old 400 grain Barnes heavy jacket.
  
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Spud
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Re: turned brass
Reply #6 - Oct 3rd, 2022 at 1:12am
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KWK, Hornady made .450/.400 3 1/4" cases and I fireform these for use in a .450 BPE. If I can still find these out here in Oz you should be able to get them in the USA!
Spud
  
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Fred Boulton
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Re: turned brass
Reply #7 - Oct 4th, 2022 at 12:08pm
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I have a 300 Sherwood rifle with some turned brass cases and some Bertram.
All my cases have been reloaded many times. After three firings, I anneal the cases. I can detect no difference between the turned and the drawn brass. Interestingly, both case capacity and case weight are identical.
Fred
  
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KWK
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Re: turned brass
Reply #8 - Oct 4th, 2022 at 12:39pm
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Scrounging around internet reloading forums, my son found a guy selling some pulled Hornady 450 brass. Who bought such pricey cartridges and pulled them apart? Regardless, my son has paid for 50 of them. We'll see how it goes.

A while back, Hornady said by phone they planned to make a run of 450 brass early this fall, but none has shown up at retailers. I'll keep an eye open.

The big retailers (eg. Graf's and Midway) seem to be dropping Bertram. The place selling Bertram cases in the US replied the lead time for this cartridge case is over a half year.

Thanks for the replies. If this rifle works as hoped, I'm sure I'll get some RMC just to have a few with the correct head stamp.

Lead time on dies (18+ months!) caused us to use the modern CIP Nitro Express case shape for this rifle (off the shelf dies at CH4D). The drawings I have suggest the original BPE cases were a bit narrower in the shoulder, just like the old cartridge sample I own. Oh well, this won't be an original BPE anyway. The rifle's twist will be correct for BPE, and the chamber leade will be for paper patched bullets. This should be fun.
« Last Edit: Oct 4th, 2022 at 12:47pm by KWK »  

Karl
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oneatatime
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Re: turned brass
Reply #9 - Oct 4th, 2022 at 1:29pm
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Is your plan to use black powder also? Should be great.
  
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KWK
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Re: turned brass
Reply #10 - Oct 4th, 2022 at 2:21pm
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Yes, BP as the propellant, a real BPE. We suspect we won't be quite as E as the original UK rounds, but it should still be a hoot to shoot. We've tested BP with both MC and PP in a 9.3x74R and think we'll be lucky to get within 150 fps of the originals, modern BP being a bit short of the long departed Curtis and Harvey.
  

Karl
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ndnchf
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Re: turned brass
Reply #11 - Oct 5th, 2022 at 6:22am
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I have .58 Roberts turned RMC cases. They are at least 10 years old and been reloaded many times. No problems.
  
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ndnchf
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Re: turned brass
Reply #12 - Oct 5th, 2022 at 6:25am
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Also, just for fun I machined my own reloadable .41 rimfire short case. Its been relaoded probably 8 or 9 times with no problems.

  
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ISS
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Re: turned brass
Reply #13 - Oct 5th, 2022 at 2:57pm
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20-something years ago, I had Roger Green build me a 450-400-4.25" on one of Steve Earle's Wesson #1 LR actions.  Hornady was offering brass, so I bought a hundred.  I was hoping to get back to RSA and hunt Eland with it.  Also bought several boxes of their excellent bullets and loaded ammunition.  It shot right at 1.5" for five rounds at a hundred yards.

Rich
  
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KWK
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Re: turned brass
Reply #14 - Oct 6th, 2022 at 4:56pm
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ISS wrote on Oct 5th, 2022 at 2:57pm:
... on one of Steve Earle's Wesson #1 LR actions.


Great minds think alike: While this build will be on a Ruger 1-S which I own but never shoot, if this goes the way we hope, the Wesson L.R. is currently our next step. (Pity Earle doesn't have the slightly more compact A.Henry side hammer!) However, my son has indicated some ancient double in 400 might be in the running against the W.L.R.
  

Karl
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