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Normal Topic Making .40-50 Sharps Straight (Read 431 times)
marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
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Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Mar 8th, 2026 at 5:14pm
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Some years back I bought a cheap Harbor Freight 2" mini chop saw just to save time shortening longer cases I reform from. One of the best tools I own when it comes to making brass quicker and easier!
Recently did a trade here of brass from a member so he could have some new .30-40 Krag brass and I got the .303 British he had to make up my .40-50 Sharps Straight brass. I cut the brass at 1.80" length with my 2" chop saw first. I can do 100 pcs. in less than 10 minutes with the tiny chop saw!

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Then after getting them all chopped of close, I do the final trim cleanup to 1.78" length to fit my chambers on my Schoyen Ballard and Rolling Block Creedmoor rifle. They don't need much once cut off beyond expanding necks to .410" to make them ready to prime, charge and load bullets.
  

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1Hawkeye
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #1 - Mar 8th, 2026 at 5:33pm
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I know what you mean about those little saws they are very handy. I used one so much for making 300 blackout brass that it needs a new drive belt and before my Dad passed I got him one for the pens he was making as a hobby. The saw was ideal for cutting the very thin brass liner that goes into the wooden pen body. It's funny when you read the reviews 98% of them are guys who bought it to cut cases with.
  
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bohemianway
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #2 - Mar 8th, 2026 at 6:21pm
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I cheated and took a 1" square piece of aluminum and ran the chamber reamer into it so that the aluminum can be clamped to the saw base and you just push the case in to the rim and cut. Pop it out and do the next one.
Charles
« Last Edit: Mar 9th, 2026 at 10:39pm by bohemianway »  
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oneatatime
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #3 - Mar 8th, 2026 at 7:47pm
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I use wood for that. One end drilled to center the neck area and the other drilled for the base to the rim.
  
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rkba2nd
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #4 - Mar 9th, 2026 at 4:03am
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Having near all the standard and wildcat Wilson trimmer shell holders collected over the years became a fairly simple solution to the problem. The first, a Donaldson Wasp built on a Ruger No.1 in 1968. A lot of work I am sure others will agree, but fun none the less.
  

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kootne
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #5 - Mar 9th, 2026 at 10:39am
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Those little saws are really handy, I don't need mine often but really appreciate it when I do.
Just in case you don't know about 40/50 straight, you may need to ream or outside turn the necks if you are using heavy (long) bullets. At least with 30/40 parent brass that is my experience.
  

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Chris W
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #6 - Mar 9th, 2026 at 11:57am
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I have one of those saws also, just for the same reason and also to trim arrow shafts. Don't need it often but definitely good to have around. I like the chamber reamer ideal also. If only I had one for every caliber I shoot  Grin
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #7 - Mar 9th, 2026 at 3:02pm
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kootne wrote on Mar 9th, 2026 at 10:39am:
Those little saws are really handy, I don't need mine often but really appreciate it when I do.
Just in case you don't know about 40/50 straight, you may need to ream or outside turn the necks if you are using heavy (long) bullets. At least with 30/40 parent brass that is my experience.


.30-40 cases wont chamber in my Schoyen Ballard barrel. The base diameter is a few thousandths too large, and all base diameters would require turning them down; a very tedious and time consuming task. .303 British is simply a case of chopping them off and they're good to go.

No problems with needing to turn cases thinner at the necks, even with my .410" bullets.
  

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Babydriver
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #8 - Mar 10th, 2026 at 3:33am
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I have a Hepburn, double set trigger in 40-50 SS. Always looking for load suggestions that others use. 
Thanks
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Location: Oregon
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Re: Making .40-50 Sharps Straight
Reply #9 - Today at 11:00am
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Got all the .303 cases cut to length, trimmed to 1.78", deburred and expanded from the .380" ID to .409" ID that both of my rifles use. 
The finished dummy round fits both rifles great with a 332 grain cast bullet I use. The body of the case is of course slightly undersized below the expanded neck, but fire forms out fine and doesn't need to be formed with a light charge first.

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