450Bushmaster.net

I am new to the 450b, but not to reloading. I load for the 460 Smith in my pistol and use carbide die to deprime/resize. I see all kinds of steel dies for the 450b, but not in carbide. Am l missing something? Also, may l be able to use my 460 die to resize/deprime and then use a regular die set to finish the process?

SecondChance wrote:I am new to the 450b, but not to reloading. I load for the 460 Smith in my pistol and use carbide die to deprime/resize. I see all kinds of steel dies for the 450b, but not in carbide. Am l missing something? Also, may l be able to use my 460 die to resize/deprime and then use a regular die set to finish the process?

no, the 450 case has a slight taper to it, about .480 at the moth and .500 at the base.

When I wanted to buy a "spare" 450BM sizing die from Hornady, they advised that it is the same as their 460 die. Since there was another opinion expressed about this, a quick call to Hornady can resolve this, but my experience is that you can use the Hornady 460 sizing die on the 450 BM.

I have both Hornady die sets, sizers are different, 460 has carbide insert that measures about .476 other 3 are identical.

IIRC the 460 S&W is a straight walled case @ .478 the entire outside length, whereas the 450b starts out (as you can see) at .480 and widens to .500 at the web. They both grow thicker but the 460 gets narrower internally and the 450b is parallel internally.
Its been a while since I mic'd the two side by side but that's what I recall.

Hoot

As an answer to your first question. The thing that you are missing is that the 450 BM is a rifle round. I believe that is why it isn't a carbide sizing die even though it has straight but tapered side walls. They may make carbide dies for rifle cartridges but I have never seen or used any of them.