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Custom die makers?

gunsandgunsmithing said:
Define "best" please. A die has a very simple job, taking fired brass from size A to size B. Perfection is NOT in a name but in dimensions for YOUR chamber.
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Treece said:
Not having set up and take ten measurements everytime change dies and caliber. Two dies for 2 different chambers instead of using one die for 2 chambers like I doing now
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Mike makes the point quite well.

You can send in 3 fired cases, expecting them to make accurate measurements with an optical comparator. This can be the first issue in the process, are the measurements accurate, or are they using a comparator at all?

Next. What is the goal for the die? If it is a full length die, is the goal to size a little less than the three cases sent in, so the brass has a longer life span as most of us desire? Or return the case to the SAAMI specs, as the “custom” die maker might be leaning towards, to relieve them of possible problems with oversize cases?

What really pisses me off, is after you call, send in three fired cases, pay $200- $300 dollars, wait two to three months for the die to get back, along with your three fired cases, you look at the cases you sent in, and realize, they didn’t check their work!

Not one of the three fired cases was run through the die so they could check to see it they did it right.

If I have any custom dies made again, I will make sure they are going to check to see if they meet my expectations before they send them back to me. ( yeah, I know, fat chance of that)

Good luck.

Jim
 
pdhntr said:
Mike makes the point quite well.

You can send in 3 fired cases, expecting them to make accurate measurements with an optical comparator. This can be the first issue in the process, are the measurements accurate, or are they using a comparator at all?

Next. What is the goal for the die? If it is a full length die, is the goal to size a little less than the three cases sent in, so the brass has a longer life span as most of us desire? Or return the case to the SAAMI specs, as the “custom” die maker might be leaning towards, to relieve them of possible problems with oversize cases?

What really pisses me off, is after you call, send in three fired cases, pay $200- $300 dollars, wait two to three months for the die to get back, along with your three fired cases, you look at the cases you sent in, and realize, they didn’t check their work!

Not one of the three fired cases was run through the die so they could check to see it they did it right.

If I have any custom dies made again, I will make sure they are going to check to see if they meet my expectations before they send them back to me. ( yeah, I know, fat chance of that)

Good luck.

Jim
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This kind of information is useful.!
 
pdhntr said:
Mike makes the point quite well.

You can send in 3 fired cases, expecting them to make accurate measurements with an optical comparator. This can be the first issue in the process, are the measurements accurate, or are they using a comparator at all?

Next. What is the goal for the die? If it is a full length die, is the goal to size a little less than the three cases sent in, so the brass has a longer life span as most of us desire? Or return the case to the SAAMI specs, as the “custom” die maker might be leaning towards, to relieve them of possible problems with oversize cases?

What really pisses me off, is after you call, send in three fired cases, pay $200- $300 dollars, wait two to three months for the die to get back, along with your three fired cases, you look at the cases you sent in, and realize, they didn’t check their work!

Not one of the three fired cases was run through the die so they could check to see it they did it right.

If I have any custom dies made again, I will make sure they are going to check to see if they meet my expectations before they send them back to me. ( yeah, I know, fat chance of that)

Good luck.

Jim
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So, how do you spec. The perfect custom br. die, using your criteria?
 
Ccrider said:
So, how do you spec. The perfect custom br. die, using your criteria?
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I can tell you what I look for and do. On ppc and BR diameter cases, I want a die that is right at .003" smaller than the chambering reamer. Sounds like a lot but after spring back, it yields just about perfect results. That being a case(3-4x fired) that is about .0015 smaller at the shoulder and about .0005-.0006 smaller at the .200 line. This is a good place to be IME. If I don't hammer the crap out of my brass, those dimensions have yielded me 50 firings, even stepping on the gas pretty hard. I'd go a tad more on magnum cases, at least near the web area...maybe .004 smaller on the die. But also, I'm not looking for 50 firings on any magnum brass that I shoot either. fwiw.
 
Ccrider said:
So, how do you spec. The perfect custom br. die, using your criteria?
Click to expand...

Mike gratefully posted the criteria, and did a much better job than I would have. Simply, I want to be able to control shoulder bump, while keeping the sizing at the .200 line just enough to prevent clickers.

I have a Harrells die for all of my 6 BR stuff and I would not go looking for anything else. It has served me well for many years and (right or wrong) it is the standard by which I judge others.

If I was looking for a 6 bra die, my first choice would be to try the die from Bullet Central.

In my opinion, the problem is not finding the right bench rest die. There seems to be good ones already made that size the case appropriately. My point was if the OP was expecting the new die to size his cases to perfection, he may be disappointed as some manufacturers goal may be different than his, and the new die was likely shipped without being tested.


Jim
 
gunsandgunsmithing said:
, I want a die that is right at .003" smaller than the chambering reamer.
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.003 smaller at what measurement?
gunsandgunsmithing said:
That being a case(3-4x fired) that is about .0015 smaller at the shoulder and about .0005-.0006 smaller at the .200 line.
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So are you saying you want the die .0015 smaller at the shoulder and .0005-6 smaller at the 200 line? How does this relate to the .003 smaller?

I am somewhat confused and trying to understand.

Thanks

Charles
 
Ccrider said:
.003 smaller at what measurement?

So are you saying you want the die .0015 smaller at the shoulder and .0005-6 smaller at the 200 line? How does this relate to the .003 smaller?

I am somewhat confused and trying to understand.

Thanks

Charles
Click to expand...
No, after spring back of the brass, a die that is .003 smaller than the fired brass will only yield about .0015 smaller at the shoulder and .0005-.0006 smaller at the .200 line after sizing. The brass near the base is thicker and harder than the brass at the shoulder, so it springs back a lot more and resists sizing down, hence the difference top vs bottom yet with the same .003 smaller die at both places.
 
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