A Little Help with Die Blanks Please...

[BigDMT]

I was planning in having Whidden build me a set if custom dies for my 243 LBC Turbo 40 from my reamer print. But was thinking I might just get a Wilson style seater blank and actually use my chamber reamer to make it. Figure Id save a little money that way and have a seater built with the same reamer.

I have an arbor press and a few threaded presses so either 7/8" threaded or arbor dies will work. What are your experiences/ suggestions? Thanks.

 

[ridgeway]

Go with the Wilson blank and chamber reamer. You will then have a really nice fitting seated die.

 

[BigDMT]

Thanks. I ordered a Wilson seater blank and a SS Wilson bushing neck sizer blank with the bushings i need. I can make both with my chamber reamer. Figure i can use the neck sizer to bump the shoulder as well.

Still thinking about having Whidden build me a Full sizer to complete a 3 die set. They want $109 for that die. That would be cheaper than the sizing reamer and blank to build one myself.

What about a body die instead? If I already have a neck bushing sizer, then I dont really need a FL die. I wonder if Whidden would make me a custom body die for less?...

 

[Erik Cortina]

Forget the neck die and just get a F/L sizing die, that will save you money right there and you'll end up with a better setup.

 

[ridgeway]

No go on the neck die bumping the shoulder. Just not going to happen. I'd definitely follow what Erik recommended...get a custom FL sizer. Looks like Whidden can possibly make one...might want to call and ask if he has that sizer reamer. If not, you may want to think about ordering a sizing reamer to match your chamber. That way you have one and it will be a right match. Then, any number of smiths can make a sizer die for you.

 

[BigDMT]

Thanks. I had read somewhere that it was possible to neck size and bump the shoulder. I wondered how that would work myself when using a bushing...

Another big reason I was planning on having someone other than my smith make a sizer is because I dont think he has an kiln. How important is the Rockwell hardness on sizer dies?

A family member of mine is helping start up a new barrel company and my smith is setting up all their machinery. I know they will have an oven for stress relieving the barrels after button rifling. Not sure that oven would get hot enough though. Got to get to 1400 degrees to harden dies right?

I'll probably look into a body die then. But that should be hardened as well I suppose.

 

[Eddie Harren]

I have dies, made by Harrell's Precision, that use bushings to size necks, bump the shoulder and size the body, all in one step. 6MM PPC, 6MM BR and 30 BR.

 

[ridgeway]

Thanks. I had read somewhere that it was possible to neck size and bump the shoulder. I wondered how that would work myself when using a bushing...

Another big reason I was planning on having someone other than my smith make a sizer is because I dont think he has an kiln. How important is the Rockwell hardness on sizer dies?

A family member of mine is helping start up a new barrel company and my smith is setting up all their machinery. I know they will have an oven for stress relieving the barrels after button rifling. Not sure that oven would get hot enough though. Got to get to 1400 degrees to harden dies right?

I'll probably look into a body die then. But that should be hardened as well I suppose.

There are dies that can just bump the shoulder...I think Forster makes one called a bushing bump die. I was referring to a Wilson neck sizer.

Hardening is pretty important, for wear and scratch resistance and much smoother between the die and brass.

I don't have much knowledge in heat treating, but is all depends on the steel. Lots of info in the web about heat treating. I do know that once its heated, it will need tempered at a lower temperature for a certain amount of time.

I know Goodling sends his dies out for heat treating and I'm sure a number of top smiths do the same with their dies.

 

[ridgeway]

I have dies, made by Harrell's Precision, that use bushings to size necks, bump the shoulder and size the body, all in one step. 6MM PPC, 6MM BR and 30 BR.

He needs dies for a 243 LBC. I don't think Harrells can help...

 

[BigDMT]

I have dies, made by Harrell's Precision, that use bushings to size necks, bump the shoulder and size the body, all in one step. 6MM PPC, 6MM BR and 30 BR.

He needs dies for a 243 LBC. I don't think Harrells can help...

Yeah I talked to Lynnwood. He would have tto build a whole new tool or I would have to buy a custom sizing reamer. So that would get expensive for just one die. Not sure how Whidden will build any FL sizer for only $109? Must have a lot of tooling.

The 243 LBC is in essence a shorter neck PPC. Mine is the Turbo 40 version which makes things even more complicated with an improved shoulder pushed forward like the Dasher does on the BR case.

Nobody has tooling for it. The closest wildcat to it is the old PPC Firewalker aka 6-40 PPC. But nobody seems to have tooling for that either.

I'll check into that Forster bushing bump die, but probably just gonna have to use Whidden.