My 425 Express journey so far...

Badboymelvin

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Hey guy's

I posted a little while ago that I have purchased a rifle from NT Firearms Gove and l thought I'd give an update.
To refresh everyone's memory the rifle is a Zastava M70 chambered in 425 Express.
The rifle was posted several weeks ago but l still haven't got it! It's still sitting at my LGS awaiting a permit. You see the Licensing and Regulation Division haven't heard of a 425 Express before and it's not on their list, so they have to do it manually and they are taking their sweet time about it...

So while l'm waiting for the rifle l thought l'd use my time wisely.
While l was waiting for the rifle, a package from NT Firearms Gove arrived. And inside was this...

12738-220523173941-355512077.jpeg


Awesome. 100 cases and some dies. Now these dies weren't mine, mine were still coming so Farmboy lent me his until mine arrived - which is an awesome gesture. Thanks mate.
The cases were unformed virgin brass and looked like this...

12738-220523173921-355471913.jpeg

12738-220523174002-35555964.jpeg


But what made them really cool was this...

12738-220523173950-355541445.jpeg



This was all organised by NT Firearms Gove.
Now l had 100 cases to form.
First step was running one through the FLS die. I removed the expanding rod from the die and then ran a well lubed case into the die. I did this in steps - not one pass.
The brass then looked like this...

12738-220523173933-35549680.jpeg


So l then sat down and formed 50 cases. The funny thing about this was that l had just moved house and haven't yet set up a reloading bench, so l formed all these cases using my Lee hand press. What a workout that was!

12738-220523173914-35545453.jpeg

12738-220523173937-355501977.jpeg

12738-220523174033-355571618.jpeg

12738-220523174015-355561635.jpeg


I then had to trim the cases. To make this step easier, l went to a mate who has a workshop and we machined up this case length gauge that screws into my cutter. It looks like this...

12738-220523173947-35553279.jpeg

12738-220523173943-355521256.jpeg


So the process I use is to trim the cases roughly so they are about 1mm too long, then use the case length gauge to trim them precisely. To roughly trim them, at first l used a small pipe cutter but l had mixed success with that method so l now use a belt sander to roughly trim, followed by the case length gauge.
Here's what the case looks like trimmed...

12738-220523173927-355482488.jpeg

12738-220523174002-35555964.jpeg


While all this was happening l received another package from NT Firearms Gove. Inside was this... awesome...

12738-220523184116.jpeg


So that's where I'm up to guys. I have the cases formed and trimmed and I'm going to call NT Firearms Gove to chat about load data.
So next thing on the shopping list will be projectiles, powder and primers - so keep posted as l'm starting to get to the exciting part!

To be continued...

Russ
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I might reccomend a glove
 
Hey guy's

I posted a little while ago that I have purchased a rifle from NT Firearms Gove and l thought I'd give an update.
To refresh everyone's memory the rifle is a Zastava M70 chambered in 425 Express.
The rifle was posted several weeks ago but l still haven't got it! It's still sitting at my LGS awaiting a permit. You see the Licensing and Regulation Division haven't heard of a 425 Express before and it's not on their list, so they have to do it manually and they are taking their sweet time about it...

So while l'm waiting for the rifle l thought l'd use my time wisely.
While l was waiting for the rifle, a package from NT Firearms Gove arrived. And inside was this...

View attachment 535700

Awesome. 100 cases and some dies. Now these dies weren't mine, mine were still coming so Farmboy lent me his until mine arrived - which is an awesome gesture. Thanks mate.
The cases were unformed virgin brass and looked like this...

View attachment 535696
View attachment 535704

But what made them really cool was this...

View attachment 535703


This was all organised by NT Firearms Gove.
Now l had 100 cases to form.
First step was running one through the FLS die. I removed the expanding rod from the die and then ran a well lubed case into the die. I did this in steps - not one pass.
The brass then looked like this...

View attachment 535698

So l then sat down and formed 50 cases. The funny thing about this was that l had just moved house and haven't yet set up a reloading bench, so l formed all these cases using my Lee hand press. What a workout that was!

View attachment 535695
View attachment 535699
View attachment 535706
View attachment 535705

I then had to trim the cases. To make this step easier, l went to a mate who has a workshop and we machined up this case length gauge that screws into my cutter. It looks like this...

View attachment 535702
View attachment 535701

So the process I use is to trim the cases roughly so they are about 1mm too long, then use the case length gauge to trim them precisely. To roughly trim them, at first l used a small pipe cutter but l had mixed success with that method so l now use a belt sander to roughly trim, followed by the case length gauge.
Here's what the case looks like trimmed...

View attachment 535697
View attachment 535704

While all this was happening l received another package from NT Firearms Gove. Inside was this... awesome...

View attachment 535708

So that's where I'm up to guys. I have the cases formed and trimmed and I'm going to call NT Firearms Gove to chat about load data.
So next thing on the shopping list will be projectiles, powder and primers - so keep posted as l'm starting to get to the exciting part!

To be continued...

Russ
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@Badboymelvin
Russ sounds like fun but magnum primers are unobtanium at the moment unless you luck onto some. Sounds like it's an awesome round. How does it compare to the old 425WR.
Bob
 
Yep, it was tough going!
@Badboymelvin
At least it saves on gym fees mate.
Great for upper body and shoulders
HA HA HA HA HA
The hand press is great if you only have a few to do or take to the range for load development.
Bob
 
A-Squared made 425 Express brass and loaded ammo.
 

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