doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Purdey 450 reloading problem

Hi guys, need your help! I have a .450 3 1/4" BPE Purdey top lever hammer double rifle in excellent condition. Here is my problem. I bought Hornady dies, Jameson .450 cases. I full length resized the cases, they will not fit by about 1/4" in the rifle. I have a couple of boxes of original .450 BPE rounds (not the early coiled brass)and they chamber fine. The base diameter is not the problem as the Jameson is smaller, it seems to be part way down the case the Jameson is bigger, even after resizing. thanks for your help! The island lock Purdey was built in the early 1890's and has steel barrels.

Start with a chamber cast, but I bet you knew that, once you know what the chambers look like you can make the appropriate changes to your case. Might need a custom die.

Thanks Steve, I did a chamber cast with cerrosafe and the problem seems to be in the taper of the chamber. AT 1.5 inches from base, the chamber mikes .5140 and the full length sized case is .5155.

Gary, If you want a stopgap measure, you you can try putting a wrap of Scotch tape around the case where it's over-size and then running it through the sizing die. This makes for slow loading, but it might suffice until you get a proper die.

That is a good idea Rocky Mtn. The plot thickens, however, as I tried the sized cases in my early Holland hammerless double rifle made in 1888 and they will not go in the chambers by about 1/2". Makes me think the Hornady sizing die is too large, or are chambers cut for .450 nitro's a little larger than the black powder cases? Again, the original BPE rounds fit perfect.

OK, taking a stab a this,
Do you have 450 3 1/4 inch Nitro Express Dies or do you have
450 3 1/4 BPE dies?
I know dumb question but had to ask
The NE case is slightly bigger than the BPE case and that could be the concern.

Mike

p.s. And I did not see the BPE die set as a choice on the Hornady webpage.

I have had the same type problems with older obsolete cartridges as many did not conform to the latest dimensions. The answer
to the problems is to Have Dave at http://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/
make cases to your chamber.

RCBS used to make dies that were custom fit from cases that worked in your chamber. I've done that on several vintage doubles and it worked great.

I'm going to guess that you will neck size only once you have fireformed cases for your chambers. Rather than a full blown custom die, I'd suggest you find a machinist who will chuck up a 7/8-14 bolt and bore a section of the needed taper into it. This will shrink your cases sufficient for fire forming. It should be a good bit cheaper than a custom die. If you are really lucky, you might find someone with a chamber reamer that has the correct taper - that makes this a very easy job.

Also look here

Sherman Bell's article in the DGJ V 10 Issue 3 Express Rifle

and here

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/453506/...point-box-of-50

But I would be using cast bullets

These may also help

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/161900/...-point-box-of-5

Mike