Fireforming .400 Whelen - 05/04/19
This is my first post--so hello everyone!
Jumping straight into it...
I have an old sporter built on a Springfield 03A3 action, rebored/chambered to 400 Whelen by JES Reboring (Jesse Ocumpaugh ). Really nice work and FAST!!!! I'm sending him a nice old Mauser in 8MM to transform into a 9.3x62.
But I digress...
I asked Jesse what "size" of Whelen he chambers for, and he replied "standard 400 Whelen". He further advised me to neck up 35 Whelen, trim to 2.455, then fireform and full-length size, trim to 2.450.
Easy Peasy
However, when I called CH4D they said I had to have the dimensions, chamber cast or fireformed cases (they also said they've no 400 dies on the shelves and I'd have a 24 month turn around--yes TWO YEARS). I'm gonna ask Jesse again, but what I can do now--which is more fun--is to fireform some cases. On Jesse's advice, I got some 35 Whelen ammo which I'm about to pull the bullets on (I had a 35 Whelen, so I got the toys;-). I have some 300 Grn .412 cast from Buffalo Bullets, I'll poke around and see what charge I should use to make sure the shoulder sets.
I read somewhere the correct die was a Ch4D 400 Whelen H (the H I assume stands for James Howe, who built the first guns for Col. Whelen according to Michael Petrov using a .458 shoulder). But CH4D doesn't have an "H" die. I was a little blindsided by all this, as Jesse is the only person I know reboring/chambering in 400 Whelen and CHD4 the only place for dies-- I thought surely they'd know of each other.
SO, to ask the most obvious question, how should I proceed? My experience with reloading is entirely centered around RCBS and Lee dies that supply me with everything--so not having the 400 Whelen dies has me at a bit of a loss. What do I need to expand the neck to receive a cast bullet, other than a 400 Whelen die?
Thanks in advance!
Ronn
Jumping straight into it...
I have an old sporter built on a Springfield 03A3 action, rebored/chambered to 400 Whelen by JES Reboring (Jesse Ocumpaugh ). Really nice work and FAST!!!! I'm sending him a nice old Mauser in 8MM to transform into a 9.3x62.
But I digress...
I asked Jesse what "size" of Whelen he chambers for, and he replied "standard 400 Whelen". He further advised me to neck up 35 Whelen, trim to 2.455, then fireform and full-length size, trim to 2.450.
Easy Peasy
However, when I called CH4D they said I had to have the dimensions, chamber cast or fireformed cases (they also said they've no 400 dies on the shelves and I'd have a 24 month turn around--yes TWO YEARS). I'm gonna ask Jesse again, but what I can do now--which is more fun--is to fireform some cases. On Jesse's advice, I got some 35 Whelen ammo which I'm about to pull the bullets on (I had a 35 Whelen, so I got the toys;-). I have some 300 Grn .412 cast from Buffalo Bullets, I'll poke around and see what charge I should use to make sure the shoulder sets.
I read somewhere the correct die was a Ch4D 400 Whelen H (the H I assume stands for James Howe, who built the first guns for Col. Whelen according to Michael Petrov using a .458 shoulder). But CH4D doesn't have an "H" die. I was a little blindsided by all this, as Jesse is the only person I know reboring/chambering in 400 Whelen and CHD4 the only place for dies-- I thought surely they'd know of each other.
SO, to ask the most obvious question, how should I proceed? My experience with reloading is entirely centered around RCBS and Lee dies that supply me with everything--so not having the 400 Whelen dies has me at a bit of a loss. What do I need to expand the neck to receive a cast bullet, other than a 400 Whelen die?
Thanks in advance!
Ronn