Considering Going With a Custom Die

[sawacs]

Rather than worrying about setting the die up for the proper amount of shoulder bump, I am seriously considering going the custom die route for a few of the cartridges I reload for (6.8 SPC, 6.5-284, 6mm AR)

If I were to head down this road, do you guys have any recommendations on how to proceed?

For example, for the 6.8 SPC which is in an AR-15 platform, should I fire a few rounds one time each and send those cases off to have a custom die made or go to the trouble of creating a cast of the chamber? My goal with the 6.8 is to be able to run the case through the die, size the case body while bumping the shoulder back the right amount and sizing the neck down for .003 neck tension.

When it comes to a bolt action, such as my 6.5-284, should I fire the cases a few times without bumping the shoulder back or make a chamber cast?

Lastly, who would you fellas recommend to have a custom die made?

Advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Willie]

If you're going that route just to avoid setting up your sizer, you're going to be disappointed. Even a custom die requires you setting up shoulder bump.

 

[rkittine]

I have all Whidden custom dies and they suggested sending 5 cases, that have each been fired 3 times each without resizing. That is what I did and they then made the dies and returned the fired cases with the delivery of the dies.
Bob

 

[bill123]

Curious for those of you using custom dies. Sounds like they are custom for each chamber so do you get a new die with every new barrel?

 

[nmkid]

Curious for those of you using custom dies. Sounds like they are custom for each chamber so do you get a new die with every new barrel?

The exact reason I have resisted going the custom die route!

 

[Steve Blair]

Curious for those of you using custom dies. Sounds like they are custom for each chamber so do you get a new die with every new barrel?

If chambered with the same reamer by a competent machinist to the same headspace dimension, no. If chambered with random reamers by indifferent practitioners, yes.

 

[sawacs]

Three rounds fired from an AR-15 without re-sizing? Would that even be possible?

Regarding the barrel change, if you are shooting enough rounds down range to require a barrel change, a custom set of dies for a specific chamber really isn't that expensive in the grand scheme of things: grab another custom set of dies and burn another barrel out followed by a rinse and repeat

Thanks for the info gents!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Rather than worrying about setting the die up for the proper amount of shoulder bump, I am seriously considering going the custom die route for a few of the cartridges I reload for (6.8 SPC, 6.5-284, 6mm AR)

If I were to head down this road, do you guys have any recommendations on how to proceed?

For example, for the 6.8 SPC which is in an AR-15 platform, should I fire a few rounds one time each and send those cases off to have a custom die made or go to the trouble of creating a cast of the chamber? My goal with the 6.8 is to be able to run the case through the die, size the case body while bumping the shoulder back the right amount and sizing the neck down for .003 neck tension.

When it comes to a bolt action, such as my 6.5-284, should I fire the cases a few times without bumping the shoulder back or make a chamber cast?

Lastly, who would you fellas recommend to have a custom die made?

Advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Whidden click adjustable dies for full sizing. Get the expander set too. Send him fired brass for true custom dimensions.

Wilson micrometer blank made with chamber reamer for seating. If you don't have your own reamer for the chamberings, or don't like using arbor dies, have John Whidden make you a seater die along with the sizer.

 

[lpreddick]

Another vote for Whidden. I send a print of my reamer and get a FL bushing body die and micro seater. Resizing fired brass is very easy as is controlling shoulder bump.

 

[whiddengunworks]

Thanks for the votes of confidence guys! I'm also happy to report that we've brought heat treating in house which is allowing us to bring our lead times down.

 

[Comrade Terry]

I'm also happy to report that we've brought heat treating in house which is allowing us to bring our lead times down.

Wonderful news, and thank you!

It was never a major issue, but we just had to be aware that it was there.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Thanks for the votes of confidence guys! I'm also happy to report that we've brought heat treating in house which is allowing us to bring our lead times down.

Thats great to hear. Approximately how much will lead time be reduced with in house heat treating once work is started on an order? Thanks.

 

[jimmymac]

Thanks for the votes of confidence guys! I'm also happy to report that we've brought heat treating in house which is allowing us to bring our lead times down.

That is good news. Looking forward to getting my new sizer die for the PPC.

 

[whiddengunworks]

Right now we're still around the 8 week mark. We're working things down steadily and I expect that we will be able to shorten that time noticeably as we work toward the holidays.

 

[nmkid]

If chambered with the same reamer by a competent machinist to the same headspace dimension, no. If chambered with random reamers by indifferent practitioners, yes.

Well, I don't know much about reamers. No, strike that. I don't know anything about them! In a perfect world your statement is fine. But, we don't live in a perfect world. What if the reamer wears out? What if the company or gunsmith that did the barrel goes out of business? Maybe my thinking is flawed but, it is what it is. On the other hand, I would really like to use a Whidden die. I still might get one for my 22 Creedmoor just to spite myself!

 

[steve123]

If your 6.8 dies are working fine, don't bother with a custom die, you won't see any benefits. Like with my match AR, any quality 223 die is fine.

For cartridges you plan on keeping with, mostly in a bolt rifle, get your own reamer and custom dies. I'm about ready to go with the 8th barrel chambered with my own custom 6x47L reamer. There are certainly many benefits here.

I do have custom 6mmFatRat dies for my AR. Lee Wells has the reamer and sells the dies to match it, so in this particular case I didn't buy my own reamer.

 

[Comrade Terry]

get your own reamer and custom dies.

+1 on that idea, Steve. It sure resolves a lot of issues.

 

[sawacs]

Thanks again for all of the replies.

I feel like a custom reamer would be going a little overboard because I have no plans to ever build another 6.5x284 or 260 Remington.

I suppose my main goal with a custom die for the AR's would be to re-size the fired cases without working the brass too much: simply put the case into the shell holder and pull the handle. For simplicity, it might be worth sending a die off with a few fired cases and have it hone out a little to size for the proper neck tension with a specific brand of brass.

 

[270WinDude]

Thanks again for all of the replies.

I feel like a custom reamer would be going a little overboard because I have no plans to ever build another 6.5x284 or 260 Remington.

I suppose my main goal with a custom die for the AR's would be to re-size the fired cases without working the brass too much: simply put the case into the shell holder and pull the handle. For simplicity, it might be worth sending a die off with a few fired cases and have it hone out a little to size for the proper neck tension with a specific brand of brass.

Sorry if this is obvious to you but... do you anneal right now? If not I’d pick up an annealer before going to custom dies.

 

[rkittine]

I anneal every time, own my own reamers and have the custom dies made to the fired cases and the reamer print. The only Non-Custom Whidden Dies set I own is for a Remington 700 in .22-250 with a factory barrel. I did not see any need there.

Bob