Whidden custom dies?

[TrxR]

Are whidden custom dies worth the money? Im putting together a 30br right now and am debating doing custom whidden fl bushing die and seater or a harrels fl bushing die and a wilsons seating blank cut with my reamer.

Thanks

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Pretty is, as pretty does.
The best die is the one that works best with your chamber, regardless of price. A sizing die has one very basic job to do. If it's properly sized...it will do it.

 

[Bob L.]

I have used a custom Whidden bushing sizing die and a Wilson seater blank cut with the chambering reamer with good success.

 

[Snuggie]

I have used a custom Whidden bushing sizing die and a Wilson seater blank cut with the chambering reamer with good success.

I can attest to Bob’s success!

 

[Bill K]

I feel they are worth the money, I like the Whidden dies I have. go with the bushing die.

 

[swd]

If your using off the shelf target quality dies I haven’t found them to be any better than Redding or Forster. Good yes but worth more money, no.

 

[1shot]

All of the calibers that I compete with (5) are sized with Whidden f/L sizers w/bushing. All the seating dies are Wilson arbor dies cut with the same reamer as the chamber.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[rkittine]

All my precision rifles have had multiple fired cases sent to Whidden to produce custom dies. I also have Wilson Neck Sizing and Seating Dies with an arbor press for quick reloading at the bench. For the balance of the calibers I reload, I still use Whidden dies, but just the ones they have off the shelve. They are great to deal with too.

Bob

 

[mikeeg02]

Are whidden custom dies worth the money? Im putting together a 30br right now and am debating doing custom whidden fl bushing die and seater or a harrels fl bushing die and a wilsons seating blank cut with my reamer.

Thanks

This most prominently depends on the specifications of your reamer.

If you buy a die first, and properly measure it and get a reamer made from your die (since you have to give them every spec on a reamer anyways) it doesn't much matter who's die it was, the reamer will be made so that the die is minimal sizing where it needs to be.

If you get the reamer first (like I did) and you have it spec'd a little funny (like mine is lol) you can try an off the shelf die and see if it's over sizing or you can get a custom die (again like I did) and be sure you have proper sizing.

Hind sight is 20/20. If I was to do it again, I might have gotten a standard die, and spec my reamer to match the die and save a little money. Maybe $50? But since I didnt, I am using a whidden custom to my reamer dies and they are perfect. Perfect minimal sizing where they need to be.

Thinking about it again, I wouldn't change a thing. What's an extra $50 for a die that's perfect. Don't get me wrong, money isn't growing on my trees here, but I've spent more on dumber things before.

 

[shoot4fun]

Two thumbs up for the click adjustable FL sizer from Whidden! I'm using this die for 6BR and 6 Dasher and it works as advertised.
I would think 30BR dies are a regular in-stock item for Whidden.

 

[carlsbad]

How many firings do you expect to get from your brass? Custom dies are fit to the chamber so that you work your brass less extending brass life. If your brass will get loose primer pockets after 4 firings and have to be replaced, then you won't gain much benefit.

 

[rardoin]

I can attest to Bob’s success!

Me too!!!

 

[D-4297]

Let's see ...Dave Manson did the reamer for my chamber . Whidden did the die from three ( 3 ) pieces of fired Brass . And my average score went up eight points to mid 190's since I started using the Whidden F/L Bushing die ......Uh ....What was the question ?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Let's see ...Dave Manson did the reamer for my chamber . Whidden did the die from three ( 3 ) pieces of fired Brass . And my average score went up eight points to mid 190's since I started using the Whidden F/L Bushing die ......Uh ....What was the question ?

Doesnt matter- you summed it all up.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I just got my first last week. I can tell you they're some of the best machined sizing dies out there; they're absolute works of art. As far as seaters though, I'd probably go with an in-line seating setup, or a Forster.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I just got my first last week. I can tell you they're some of the best machined sizing dies out there; they're absolute works of art. As far as seaters though, I'd probably go with an in-line seating setup, or a Forster.

What's not to like about the Widden seater?

 

[MikeMcCasland]

What's not to like about the Widden seater?

Nothing 'not to like'; it's a good seater for sure. I just prefer Forsters as far as micrometer seating dies go. You get a finer resolution (i.e. .025 per revolution vs. .050 on the Whidden/Reddings). The markings on the Forster are much finer and more precise (on the Whidden it looks like someone painted them on with nail polish), and the construction of the Forster just feels more robust. It's hard to describe, the metal just has a lighter (almost plastic) feel too it.

All of that said, the Whidden is still an outstanding die. These are very minor differences however, and I don't think you'd be served wrong with any of them. The ultra minor details just make me prefer the Forsters.

 

[Area51]

https://newlonprecision.com/

Nothing better, maybe close, maybe.
You need someone who knows what they are doing to do the machine work.
Whidden has quality control problems that just wont stop.
Once they get it right they make good products however the shipping gets excessive on the third try.
The Newlon micrometer seating die has no equal.
Newlon dies with a Forster Coax and you have a top rate set up.
The custom cut Wilson seater dies are equal, however require too much arbor press leverage above a 6BR, i went to a custom cut Newlon seater even for the 6BR, big improvement in over all feel and control of the process.

 

[mikeeg02]

What's not to like about the Whidden seater?

Try seating with hand dies. You'll understand.

 

[swd]

What's not to like about the Widden seater?

Forster has bigger numbers on the micrometer for us blind guys. It’s funny the things that sway you one way or another. Other than that I find Whidden, Redding and Forster to be about the same for seaters.