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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) 40-65 (0.4094 groove) new to me revisited? (Read 435 times)
bohemianway
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40-65 (0.4094 groove) new to me revisited?
Oct 24th, 2025 at 1:50pm
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What's new is that the barrel is marked BADGER 16 twist  .4094  which begs the question about the responses I received. The Shiloh dies are listed as .408 and the reamer shows .4085 so I assume I will need to cast the chamber and find die set to match?

I promised myself "No New Calibers" but I acquired a 30 year old CPA (needs stock fitting) kit Paul Shuttleworth fitted and finished Badger 1:16 #4 barrel. So during this winter I plan to finish the rifle and start loading for it. Since I do not have that caliber I could use some guidance relative to the tools needed (I have bullet molds for the .40 cal and all the usual tools needed for BP and smokeless).
Items:
1) Die set (Redding, RCBS, specific dies) for both BP and SL.
2) Compression die I can figure out.
3) Brass (I have a ton of 45-70 new Starline if forming is the way to go but then need to know if the dies above can handle it) or Newly available Starline 40-65?

I guess it just boils down to Brass and Die recommendations.

Thank you (in advance),
Charles
« Last Edit: Oct 27th, 2025 at 5:45pm by bohemianway »  
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bpjack
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Re: 40-65 new to me caliber what tools?
Reply #1 - Oct 24th, 2025 at 2:32pm
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Do yourself a favor and buy the RCBS Shiloh die set.  I had to also buy a Buffalo arms expander plug in a smaller size since my moulds drop bullets that fall into a .410 expanded case not a bid deal with BP though. 

I am still exploring that chambering in my heavy barreled coil spring high wall   

Jack
« Last Edit: Oct 24th, 2025 at 3:24pm by bpjack »  

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1Hawkeye
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Re: 40-65 new to me caliber what tools?
Reply #2 - Oct 24th, 2025 at 2:55pm
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Plus 1 on the rcbs shiloh die set and for brass you can either get starline or make your own from  .45-70 brass if you make your own I've found the hornady brass works great because you don't have to trim very much like when you are using the full length cases. If you can find one noe made a great mold for the .40-65  number 412-400 it's a 400 gr money shape.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: 40-65 new to me caliber what tools?
Reply #3 - Oct 24th, 2025 at 4:05pm
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With some Imperial sizing wax you can size down .45-70 brass easily. Might begin by not trying to do it in one pull on the press handle though. I usually do about 3 steps, backing the press up each time before trying again. Never stuck a case, or ruined one either.
  

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cheatin_charlie
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Re: 40-65 new to me caliber what tools?
Reply #4 - Oct 24th, 2025 at 4:21pm
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Best do a chamber cast to make sure what 40-65 you have.  I built 3 rifles years ago with a 40-65 Ron Long reamer and had to get RCBS Ron Long dies to form cases that fit.  Normal dies would not work.  Charlie
  
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rkaires
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Re: 40-65 new to me caliber what tools?
Reply #5 - Oct 25th, 2025 at 5:18am
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If CPA chambered it this should be the reamer they used. 

  
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bohemianway
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Re: 40-65 (0.4094 groove) new to me revisited?
Reply #6 - Oct 27th, 2025 at 6:01pm
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BTT for added info
  
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gunlaker
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Re: 40-65 (0.4094 groove) new to me revisited?
Reply #7 - Nov 1st, 2025 at 5:22pm
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I use the RCBS Shiloh dies.  I've always made my cases with Remington 45-70 brass and do it like Marlinman says.  It works great.  That brass is softer than Starline so it might take a little more care with the Starline.

My 40-65's are Shiloh's so your rifle may have different preferences, but mine like the Saeco #740 bullet at the Buffalo Arms 409400M4.  I've only shot mine with black powder so can't say about smokeless, but with Swiss 1.5 it is extremely accurate and both have won a good number of the matches they were used in. 

I'm sure you'll love the cartridge.  I plan to have mine buried with me  Grin  Cheesy
 
Chris.
  
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Re: 40-65 new to me caliber what tools?
Reply #8 - Nov 2nd, 2025 at 8:20am
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bpjack wrote on Oct 24th, 2025 at 2:32pm:
Do yourself a favor and buy the RCBS Shiloh die set.  I had to also buy a Buffalo arms expander plug in a smaller size since my moulds drop bullets that fall into a .410 expanded case not a bid deal with 

I am still exploring that chambering in my heavy barreled coil spring high wall   

Jack


Jack,
What’s the deal with the RCBS Shiloh dies? Why are they different from others?
I’m currently collecting tools and components for a new 40-65 scheduled to be finished in January. I have a collections of dies but no RCBS Shiloh. 
Have you had good results with the Lyman Snover bullet? 
  
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bpjack
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Re: 40-65 (0.4094 groove) new to me revisited?
Reply #9 - Nov 2nd, 2025 at 11:26am
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I only have the Shiloh dies as that was the recommended set to get.  Gunlaker is a better resource than I am.  My chamber is tight and I can’t seat rounds unless I size the bullet to .408 to make fixed ammo.
  

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Re: 40-65 (0.4094 groove) new to me revisited?
Reply #10 - yesterday at 7:52pm
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The RCBS dies squeeze the case down above the web just a tiny bit more than the regular dies, maybe 0.001".  I have those and the RCBS Cowboy dies.  With the chambers in my Shiloh Sharps the brass is a bit too tight if I use the sizer in the Cowboy dies.  The Cowboy ones also say "0.410 bore on them". I just checked the expander diameter on mine and both sets are the same at 0.407".  I don't use those anyway.

Chris.
  
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Re: 40-65 (0.4094 groove) new to me revisited?
Reply #11 - yesterday at 7:59pm
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Wasn't it because Shiloh had a reamer that made a tight chamber?
  
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