445 Accessories

[pjbjr]

Does anyone have excess 445 dies and/or brass?  Also, new or old style bbl nut wrench.  Can you use 44 mag dies for the 445?

Thanks,

Pat

[David Carey]

I use a set of Redding 445 carbide dies, but you only need 44mag dies pay the extra for the carbide. The difference in the length is not a factor because you do not need to full length size the case when you always load for your gun. Starline is the only supplier for brass.

 http://www.starlinebrass.com/


There has been many discussions on which primer to use. I have reamed out all my brass and use large rifle primer, but many use the magnum pistol primer with the same success.

This is what Starline says about thier brass.

445 Super Mag - Built for use with large pistol primer. Must be reamed to seat larger rifle primer.

I only have the old style barrel wrench if it ever breaks the new ones are much sturdier.

David Carey

[pjbjr]

Thanks David.  I was wondering about the length.  I use starline for everything else (45, 454, 475) and it works fine for me.  I shoot H110 or WC820 surplus and large pistol primers work fine. I've never had an ignition problem.   PJB

[RollTide]

UPDATE

Starline 445 brass is now size fro large rifle primers, or was the last time I ordered them anyway.

Roll Tide

[unspellable]

Why rifle primers?  The 445 is supposed to work at exactly the same pressures as a 44 Magnum.  (Not that anybody would EVER consider a hotter load is such a flimsy revolver as a DW)

I have some brass made by PMC.  Bought it some time ago and wouldn't recommend it.  Sticks badly in the chamber no matter how light the load.  DW told me they had the same problem and steered me to Starline.

[RollTide]

The rifle primers are a touch hotter, and therefore give more consistent ignition on the LONG powder column in the 445.  It seems that most loads for this round that do well are slow burning, high volume powders.  You can still use large pistol primers if desired in the new Starline brass.  Making the primer pocket just a fraction deeper allows the option for either primer.  People used to have to ream just a little more metal out of the pocket to use the rifle primers.

Roll Tide

[David Carey]

This question about the primers comes up every now and then in the sites that I visit. Here is the information that I found by researching it.

     My question about the primers came up because the I decided it was time to replace the original 1000 “445 GATES” brass that I had purchased from Silhouette in Idaho in 1991. I am a casual shooter, I probably only have shot 4000 rounds through my gun since I purchased it new in 1991. I cut the primer pockets then. When the new brass came from Starline I was surprised and confused that they were only cut for large pistol primers. The quest started to find the answer rifle or pistol.

I contacted Hodgden and D.J. Bushman at (580) 362-1003 (from the Dan Wesson site).

This is the answer I got from Hodgden.
Originally, this cartridge was designed for use with rifle primers to better prevent primer deformation. This is still the SAAMi standard today. If you do not use a rifle primer, you should at least use a magnum pistol primer. Mike Daly

When I talked with D.J. Bushman.
He said cut them and use Large Rifle primers. The cartridge was designed for them and only them. He is and has been working with Starline Brass to have them manufactured with the large rifle primer pockets.

I encourage all that shoot the 445 Supermag to go to the Starline Brass web site and fill out a response form on the left letting them know that you want the 445 brass made the way it is supposed to be.

See more about D.J. Bushman.
http://www.hodgdon.com/stories/bushman.htm

Starline Brass
http://www.starlinebrass.com/

Thank you,
Dave

I also have available in .PDF form the original test article for the 445 Supermag from American Handgunner March/April 1989.
and
John Taffin article Taffin tests the 445 Supermag from American Handgunner September/October 1991 also in .PDF format
e-mail me if interested in a copy
davidcarey@verizon.net

[RollTide]

David,
Thanks for updating the info.  You are absolutely correct.  The last several hundred rounds of brass I got was Starline brass from Midway, and it was sized for large rifle primers.  I just checked with both places and they are back to large pistol primers again.  I don't know if Midway was reaming the pockets or what, but if they were, they stopped.  I am glad I got a few hundred with large rifle pockets while the getting was good.

Roll Tide

PS  I would be interested in your PDF files at mgsdrs@yahoo.com

[unspellable]

Does SAAMI have anything to do with this cartridge?  It started out as a wildcat and only recently has reached proprietary status.  I'd be surprised to see it listed at SAAMI.

SAAMI's word is not gospel either.  They list 28,000 cup as the maximum working pressure for the 7.65 Parabellum (30 Luger) which is too low.  Their max OAL for the 9 mm Parabellum is actually the minimum length.  (The REAL reason behind all the stories about the Luger being unreliable.)