Custom dies are they worth it?

[savagedasher]

If your chamber happens to be standard in all respects you are likely to get standard dimensioned dies and the custom die maker can stick the extra cash in his pocket. You have not specificed anything custom and the custom die maker has not agreed to any specific changes.

If you want custom measure your chamber and specify what you want in your dies. Otherwise custom might get you nothing in particular.

If you want custom benefits you really probably need a custom chamber.
This custom chamber makes the rifle shoot much more accurately. The custom dies work with the custom chamber if they are really needed.

I have several custom chambers in a few benchrest rifles and I do not use custom dies made for my chambers. My dies are simply Wilson neck size bushing dies and Wilson type seaters. I do have several sets of "custom dies" but they are no different in function than the Wilson dies. Two of my chambers are tight neck requiring no neck sizing so the only die needed is a seater.

As far as custom dies go they probably won't be a advantage unless you have a custom barrel and gun. Larry

 

[BoydAllen]

I have had good results by doing a couple of different things. First of all, for your 6BR send some fired cases (stout loads) to Lynwood Harrell. His dies are cut to many variations on a CNC lathe, bored rather than cut with reamers. His prices are a bargain. For a seater, the Forster micrometer seater, or for an arbor press, a Wilson seater will give good results. For projects that are more custom in nature, start with well used, work hardened fired brass, buy your bushing FL die, size some brass, and then design your chamber reamer for the fit that you want. Properly done, this approach produces excellent results, both in terms of brass life, and concentricity. If you are working with a factory chambers, and unturned necks, using a two step process, first neck sizing with a Lee collet die and then sizing the body(and bumping the shoulder) with a body die has given excellent results for a number of shooters.

 

[ireload2]

As far as custom dies go they probably won't be a advantage unless you have a custom barrel and gun. Larry

Agreed. In my case the actions are 40XBR and the HV barrels are made by Hart and were chambered by the late TJ Jackson.
The LV barrels are the original factory 40XBR barrels made by Remington.

 

[savagedasher]

Agreed. In my case the actions are 40XBR and the HV barrels are made by Hart and were chambered by the late TJ Jackson.
The LV barrels are the original factory 40XBR barrels made by Remington.

Then get a custom . I like a straight line seating die rather then one you use In a press Larry

 

[Steveasba]

Then get a custom . I like a straight line seating die rather then one you use In a press Larry

Thanks guy's, this is all good advise. I plan on going custom build in a year or two when I learn more about long range shooting. This Savage is a very affordable option to get my feet wet in 600 yard. I know this gun will not compete with the customs, but I still want to ring all of the consistency I can out of it. I plan on contacting the long list of custom die makers I have compiled from this forum and see what the consensus is. I can't think everyone here enough for your knowledge that you share on this forum.
I would be totally lost without it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Youre gonna buy a die anyway no reason to not get a whidden fit for your chamber. It may even work on the next chambering

 

[Steveasba]

Youre gonna buy a die anyway no reason to not get a whidden fit for your chamber. It may even work on the next chambering

I have to agree. There could be a considerable difference between my chamber and a standard off the shelf die. I am sure this is the case with my 22.250. But, as Ireload2 mentioned, my chamber may fall within a standard die tolerance. That would be great if one I received matches, but you never know. I have 26 years as a machinist and 10 years now in engineering in the manufacturing industry and I know for a fact, that a custom fit is better then machining to industry standards. Now I have never machined a chamber or a resizing die and do not claim to know the intricacies involved in producing so. I must leave this to the pro's that specialize in this discipline. I would think that a custom die made to +/- .001-.002 to your fired brass would work better than something off the shelf made to a more open tolerance.

Please correct me if my thinking is completely off course as I am anything but an expert in this field.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Youre correct. Lots of off the shelf dies have -.001+.007 in some areas. Some size shoulders but not body or base and none do em all right

 

[Steveasba]

Youre correct. Lots of off the shelf dies have -.001+.007 in some areas. Some size shoulders but not body or base and none do em all right

Thanks Dusty. I'm closing this out and going with custom. As I mentioned earlier I will consult the die makers and will report back with my findings just for FYI.