416 Barrett die choices

[jcwallac84]

Hey there!

In the future year or so I plan on putting together a 416 Barrett. I think. Unless someone could convince me otherwise. My current reloading presses are Forster Co-ax, Area 419 zero, and a K&M arbor press. The Area 419 should have plenty of stroke for sizing the 416 right? Seating may be a hinderance.

What is the choice for high precision dies? Neil Jones maybe? That's all I can find other than RCBS or Lee. Any other preferred choices?

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

The Hornady Custom Die making department made mine off of the Reamer Drawing and Fire-formed Brass and the built them on 1 1/2 x 12 tpi die blanks about 8 years ago. - Another good (high quality) option is Warner Tool. - Both the Hornady and Warner Dies will be expensive & you'll have to wait, but IMO be one of the best options / investments if your looking for top quality & correct sizing of your brass.

Regarding Presses, I don't know about the Area 419 press - Will it accept a 50 BMG shell-holder ? - and will it accept the correct size top bushing for reloading dies ? - Because that is what is needed for 416 Barrett Brass. - I'm using a RCBS Ammo Master with the 50 BMG add-on package and a Hornady 50 BMG Press to load with as both are "True" BIG cartridge presses with 2" diameter rams and are tooled up for 50 BMG shell holders and have adapter tooling to convert over to standard size shell holders (when desired). . - The 416 Barrett loaded rounds I turn out are in the neighborhood of 4.550 to 4.750 in length (COAL).

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

For the sake of comparison - On the Left a 300 WSM (with 215 gr, Berger Hyb.) - On the Right a 416 Barrett with a 450 gr. Hornady Match BTHP (COAL 4.560 or there-abouts)

 

[jcwallac84]

You know, I'm not sure about the shellholder situation with that press. Mine will be actually be here in a couple weeks (2nd production run). They say they are working on their in house made shell holders. I'd better wait and see if that press will work with this caliber. Or else I'd have to get yet another press. I'd like to load 50bmg to eventually anyway.

But thanks, I'll look into Warner as well!

 

[bschmidt]

You know, I'm not sure about the shellholder situation with that press. Mine will be actually be here in a couple weeks (2nd production run). They say they are working on their in house made shell holders. I'd better wait and see if that press will work with this caliber. Or else I'd have to get yet another press. I'd like to load 50bmg to eventually anyway.

But thanks, I'll look into Warner as well!

I know I will get some flack over the use of the Lee .50 and .416 dies with there press, but they work just fine for me.

 

[Kurz]

• Turban Heavy Präzipress 140mm (German)
  
• Talon Precision press (Italian)

Both of these presses are superb by design and manufacturing. Usually they have to be ordered. Yes, they cost more than a Lee...

For dies, I use the Whidden Custom dies. Call John to discuss this project.

The Warner dies I have are nothing short of beautiful! Excellent design and manufacturing! The price is spectacular also.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

I know I will get some flack over the use of the Lee .50 and .416 dies with there press, but they work just fine for me.

No Flack from me - All that I'll say is you get what you pay for. - And depending on the actual rifle being used the "bells & wistles" die sets & presses may not make a big improvement. - On a Match type gun, I believe that having custom dies and a good press are just part of the process to get the best accuracy.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

For dies, I use the Whidden Custom dies. Call John to discuss this project.

Whidden isn't doing 1 1/2" x 12 dies as the market for them is too slim. - He'll do 1 1/4 x 12 which is fine for the Chey-Tac sized brass, but I'm not a big fan of using 1 1/4" die size for a BMG sized case head.

 

[Kurz]

Then call Warner and skip the Whidden dies. Simple.

 

[jcwallac84]

So as of right now, the 419 Zero will have the option of 1-1/4in tool heads. It looks like the lee 416 Barrett dies are 1-1/4in. But for 50bmg Lee uses 1-1/4 but RCBS is 1-1/2. Really, if someone made it, I could maybe get away with resizing the 50bmg (if it will fit) on the zero press, and seating may be tricky. But if someone made an arbor type seater die, I think my K&M should be able to slide up to make that work? I'm not sure how many people have actually done such a thing. I'm sure most would just buy the big press. But, in my case, I bought the potentially medium/large sized press and am seeing if I could make that work.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

So as of right now, the 419 Zero will have the option of 1-1/4in tool heads. It looks like the lee 416 Barrett dies are 1-1/4in. But for 50bmg Lee uses 1-1/4 but RCBS is 1-1/2. Really, if someone made it, I could maybe get away with resizing the 50bmg (if it will fit) on the zero press, and seating may be tricky. But if someone made an arbor type seater die, I think my K&M should be able to slide up to make that work? I'm not sure how many people have actually done such a thing. I'm sure most would just buy the big press. But, in my case, I bought the potentially medium/large sized press and am seeing if I could make that work.

jc,

An arbor press and Wilson Style Bullet Seater Die arrangement can be had for Big Cartridges if one is willing to Plan and to spend the money to have them built.

In the attached photos you'll see a modified K&M Arbor Press (with force measurement pack) that will accomidate the length of such a die. - Also shown is a Wilson-Style Bullet Seater die for bullet seating in 50 BMG Improved that was chambered using the Finisher Chambering Reamer. - Not a cheap endeavor, but is doable by a good machinist.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

Simple.

Yeah, simple ..............

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

A few more photos.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

A couple more photos.

 

[Ares]

Just to add another option for high quality dies for the 416 Barrett, a manufacturer i never see mentioned on US forums.
Triebel Guntools, the reamer manufacturer in Germany, makes a 1 1/2 inch 416 Barrett Fl die and BR seater, separate or as a set.
The quality and fit and finish is very good, and the BR seaters has had the option of having custom seating inserts to fit specific bullets for a very long time.
The seating inserts are also non marring as they are not made of steel.
And is the dies Christian Turban recommends for his presses, i had mine for 10 years soon and they are incredibly well made too as mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

Just to add another option for high quality dies for the 416 Barrett, a manufacturer i never see mentioned on US forums.
Triebel Guntools, the reamer manufacturer in Germany, makes a 1 1/2 inch 416 Barrett Fl die and BR seater, separate or as a set.
The quality and fit and finish is very good, and the BR seaters has had the option of having custom seating inserts to fit specific bullets for a very long time.
The seating inserts are also non marring as they are not made of steel.
And is the dies Christian Turban recommends for his presses, i had mine for 10 years soon and they are incredibly well made too as mentioned earlier in the thread.

@Ares

I googled "Triebel Guntools" with interest as you mentioned them in your post here. - Do you by chance know what a set of dies, say in a larger caliber such as 416 Berrett costs ? - And what would one expect as far as time to manufacture and deliver ? - Also, are you aware of any possible importing challenges that may be considered if a U.S. customer wanted this product ?

- I'm asking as I don't know the real answers to these questions. - I appreciate that you've put forth the information that you have.

Kind Regards,

 

[Ares]

@Ares

I googled "Triebel Guntools" with interest as you mentioned them in your post here. - Do you by chance know what a set of dies, say in a larger caliber such as 416 Berrett costs ? - And what would one expect as far as time to manufacture and deliver ? - Also, are you aware of any possible importing challenges that may be considered if a U.S. customer wanted this product ?

- I'm asking as I don't know the real answers to these questions. - I appreciate that you've put forth the information that you have.

Kind Regards,

Yes the prices of the dies are listed in they're catalogue the model number and the price in euros, and the available types for each caliber, and die dimensions.
They are rather expensive for the 416, 50 bmg and some of the largest nitro express cartidges, about 360 euros pr die. The sets are a bit cheaper but i don't have the prices here.
To get a set made will usually be at least 4 weeks if they are not in stock at the manufacturer. Delivery time is shipping time to the U.S through the customs, depends what shipping option you choose and how quickly they go through the customs.
I usually get things from the U.S in a weeks time if i order the opposite way.

Calibers like the Cheytacs , 338 Lapua etc are 230-270 ish euros in the 1 1/4 dimensions.
And the 14,5x114 mm and larger calibers costs around 750 euros.

Custom made seating stems to match a bullet is 15 euros.

They are cheaper then a WTC die but they are also not custom made to the same level of perfection. I do not own dies from Neil Jones or the other custom makers in the US so i can't speak of those. A custom made die fitted to your chamber. will always be a better option in my experience.
But for high end off the shelf reloading dies i have never found anything that is close in terms of quality,fit and finish.

There is a few german reloading stores that stocks those dies, but the prices goes up a good deal by ordering through them. Grauwolf.net is likely the one with the most available options.


As for import/export there is no real challenges that i am aware of.
The U.S regulations are generally only strict on export.
And in Europe there are no restrictions on dies or any reloading equipment as far as import/export goes.