Need help finding dies for 445 Supermag...

[cledford3]

Anyone know where to pick up dies for 445 supermag?  Any recommendations on a vendor?  Also, in his old 445 article JT suggests using a .44 UltraMag die - is that still good advice?  If so, any idea where to obtain?

UPDATE:  Checked Midway and the dies are $90ish dollars a piece and have to be custom ordered with a 90 day lead time

Anyone else have suggestions?

Thanks!

-Calvin

[David Carey]

Save yourself some money and buy a set of 44mag carbide dies they will work just as well as a set of 445 dies.
Dave

[gypsyman]

Dave is right.I've had a .445 for quite a few years. I use Redding dies, and as long as the full lenght sizing die is cut deep enough, all you have to do is back off the other dies. I would recommend the profile crimp die that Redding makes. Because of the recoil, it keeps the bullet from inching out, and possibly locking up the cylinder.-gypsyman

[Heavyhaul]

Luv my 445.  I use the old RCBS dies.  Resizer, bell/ decapper, and seater.  The only problem that I have had is the decapper pin needs to be way out and sometimes it slides back in and does not remove the primer.  I readjust it about every 40-50 rounds.  With the money saved by recycling dies, I have bought a lot of 300 gr XTP's.  Feel the power.  Congrats and enjoy.  Just a little sub-note, Mr. Carey must love his DWs, and he knows his stuff.

[unspellable]

I'd be leary of 44 Ultra dies.  I've heard of that wildcat but am not overly familiar with it.  There was a short lived wildcat called the 44 Rhino for the 357 SuperMag bored out to 44.  It used cut back 44 Marlin cases which have a wider base than the 445 SuperMag so the same sizing die wouldn't work.  The advent of the 445 SuperMag brought a quick death to the 44 Rhino.

I've jad no problems loading 445 with 44 Special dies, but one of these days I'll get a set of 445 dies just to avoid the hassle of readjusting them every time.  (I also load 44 Special.)