480 Brass... rim thickness differences???

[magnumwheelman]

I ran into a situation, starting to reload for my new 480... I like to use a Lee hand prime tool, & while I like it, I'm not a fan of the special shell holders, though this far into the game, I have nearly everything I should need... however I couldn't find a shell holder that would fit my Hornady cases... the Lee shell holder that is supposed to fit, doesn't work... it was suggested to me by forum Member JUNEBUG, in another thread, that the Hornady cases have thicker rims than the Starline cases, which is why my cases did not fit in the shell holder for my hand prime tool... I guess I can use a 500 S&W shell holder, & those work for the Hornady 480 cases...

my question is, if the rims are thicker than they are "supposed to be" that should / could change the headspace on the revolver ( tighter in the case of the rims being thicker than spec... looser headspace, if the Starline case rims are thinner than spec... )

I'd assume Starlines are to spec, but I haven't checked yet...

another quandry, is the case capacity, if both cases are of the same length, but rims are different thickness???

I have been buying new Starline cases, but have about 150 once fired Hornady cases I bought a couple years ago... I had planned on starting out with my Hornady cases, but now am thinking about selling those off at the next gun show, just so all my cases will be the same, I had no idea there were these kind of differences... another thing... though, I'd guess then, that the Hornady cases have stronger case heads, if they are thicker... but maybe just the rims are

anyone played with this stuff already, & know whats going on here???

[joeb4065]

I have both starline and Hornady càses, and have noticed no difference, and I too use the Lee handprimer. She'll holder number 5 if I remember correctly.

[magnumwheelman]

I ordered a #5 on Saturday... I see it's listed as 480 on Midway's description... I have an old ( 15 - 25 years old ) master set of shell holders for my hand prime tool, & the #5 did not fit... makes me wonder if they altered the #5 over the years, perhaps after the 480 came out ( I'm hoping ) or if my Hornady cases are also not going to fit in the new #5 shell holder

hoping that they altered it as your post may indicate... Thanks

my Hornady cases, I assume are older since they were once fired when I bought them, & I've been sitting on them for over 2 years... they must be early cases... maybe Hornady started out with thicker rims, & their newer cases match the Starline cases???

[bulasteve]

The other shell holder is a #16. With some use of both, and some workings of the brass,Hornady, I find I can use either right now. It was obvious that the shell holder that came with the dies was too tight when I got it and the brass was once fired. Less obvious now. Hmmnnn. Still think its a good idea to just have both.

[magnumwheelman]

I also just ordered a #16 in case the new #5 doesn't work...

STEVE were you hinting that the rims are thinning through use??? & after a couple reloadings that the Hornady may fit into the #5 shell holder???

[bulasteve]

No, not hinting. Do remember one was very tight, barely usable. I bought both at the same time due to advice given. Fit-wise, tough to tell them apart now, but this with Hornady brass now fired several times. Not sure where to point the finger. Cost not worth worrying about now. Luck, gotta go find a snow covered white Subaru that was in my driveway yesterday. There is a big lump'a white out there...

[magnumwheelman]

those lake effect snow totals can be really amaizing... think you might have better luck finding a dark color 4 X 4 truck... but I've seen those burried just the same...

we get the colder temps usually in MN but not normally those kind of snow totals...