I have a 45-90 rifle headed my way, and I'm wondering if I can reload the longer 45-90 cases with 45-70 dies? I think I've seen something written somewhere along that line, but I wanted to verify before I start buying dies. :) The main reason I'm considering 45-70 dies is cost; I can purchase Lee 45-70 dies with shell holder for under $20, but the dies I've seen for 45-90 are $40 plus, without shell holder.

Thanks!

The 45-70 dies will work. Just make sure you start out with them up far enough not to crush the 45-90 brass.

When reloading once-fired cases in my 45-70 dies, I merely run them up into the dies enough to size the area of bullet seating, anyway. Sorta like neck sizing a straight walled case. Should be able to do the same for your 45-90 with the 45-70 dies.

I'm somewhere on the 22nd loading of the brass using this method and never had a problem with feeding, chambering or ejection.

You can probably get away with 45-70 dies but if it were me I'd spring for the 45-90 dies. They are two different cartridges and in the long run a good set of 45-90 dies sould be worth the investment. I would guess that a box of loaded ammo for 45-90 would run about $40-60 from a custom reloader. So they would still be cost effective.

I checked with Lee Precision, and they said I could use the 45-70 dies if my cases will rechamber after I shoot them. Otherwise I would need to buy 45-90 dies. I've decided I'm just going to spring for the 45-90 dies. The extra $20 or so for the dies plus the cost of the shell holder will be forgotten later, but any aggravation that comes from using the wrong dies will be felt for a long time...