Drill bit angle

[WhiteFeather]

This is probably going to sound like a stupid question but i need to modify a sizer die, need to open it up about .23, can i use a drill bit to do this, have access to a lathe, this die has a 30 degree angle on the shoulder, i checked the drill bit the best i could and it looks to be 30, are all drill bits the same angle or are they different?
Sorry if this is not the proper way to do this can you guide me in the right direction, thanks, WF~

 

[jscandale]

WF,

Are you talking about opening the neck with a drill bit??? If that is the question, it won't give you the result you are after. For starters, drill bits don't drill on perfect center or drill to exact size, which are both imperative aspects of a sizing die . Also, if your die is hardened, you will just wreck both the die and the bit. If the die is not hardened, you just wreck the die and not the bit.

Is there a way of opening it? Yes there is. You can use a chucking reamer depending on the amount of material to remove, or you can use a small carbide boring bar, or a 3/16 end mill used as a boring bar with a draft angle ground on the cutting edge taking gently cuts on each pass once the die is properly indicated in an aluminum bushing to protect the die threads. You'll also need a small hole gage or a set of gage pins to check the progress. Because of the location of the neck which is in the middle of the die, you best bet is probably a carbide chucking reamer available in decimal sizes from McMaster.

JS

 

[WhiteFeather]

JS

What im trying to do is open a sizing die up like you would if you were making a 30/30 die into a 30/30 improved, the neck size is ok, just need to make it straight walled not tapered, it is a RCBS rifle die, not carbide, how much over do you make it to size the brass, do i need to taper it so it will be easer to remove from the chamber, will be useing it in a contender barrel, thanks for the help, WF

 

[Dans40X]

You can't get there by grinding a drill bit point to make an improved die from a hardened die.
The sizing die needs to be smaller than the fired brass to properly SIZE your fired case.
Purchase the appropriate sizing die.
OR
Have a cerra-safe casting of your chamber.
Pay a model/tool maker to grind a piece of carbon.
Plunge EDM the F/L die.

It's much cheaper in the long run to purchase the correct sizing die.

 

[bozo699]

WF,
Your just asking for big trouble there, you need to just give up on that idea, buy the correct die, or have a gunsmith run the correct ream in yours if it isn't to hard, most sizing dies are to hard.
Wayne.

 

[jscandale]

Ah, I see. Well that changes my whole answer. I hate to tell you, but in order to makee a die like that, you'll either need to buy one that is commercially available or have a resize reamer ground to the corosponding dimensions of your finish reamer print. A resize reamer is something that any of the reamer companies makee on a regular basis. I have had several done by Pacific Tool that have been perfect for the application.
Unforrtunately, trying to achieve your end goal with a box of drill bits will just result in an excersize of ruining a die and possibly even some bits. You see, reamers have multiple angles ground into them which are all located off the center line axis of the reamer stock. Reamer cutting angles are set up so that they remove materrial tangent to the cutting edges where drill bits only cut on the nose. Twist drill bits are designed to remove a lot of material in a hurrry, but certainly with no particular precision.

JS

 

[WhiteFeather]

The reason im doing this is there is no die made like this, i was wanting to make up a few cases and send them in to get a reamer made so i could chamber the barrel, i dont want to release to much info on this because last time i gave out to much info and what do you know someone beat me to the draw and they are making good money off of my idea, this has happened several times, i was trying to get by as cheep as i could to just get the cases made so they had something to go by for the reamer, was going to use a sizing die with the correct size neck, modify the body area, this is just to good to lass up, ill keep on untill i get something figured out, i really appreciate all the good info, thanks again, WF~

 

[firearmdoc1]

You can just draw your dimensions and send them to the reamer maker of your choice.Dave Kiff at PTG is very good to deal with, or you can use someone else if you choose.

 

[WhiteFeather]

It is not a 30/30 improved die im useing, i just used that as a for instance, ill consider drawing it out and having a reamer made, can you give me some reamer makers i can contact, again thanks for all the input, it is greatly appreciated, WF~

 

[firearmdoc1]

PTG, Manson, JGS, Clymer. Any one of these will work with you, I have had great service from Dave Kiff at PTG as well as Dave Manson at Manson. I have not dealt directly with the other two but I can say I have had very poor reamers come from Clymer. This has not always been the case with their reamers, only in the past year or two.

 

[WhiteFeather]

Thank you Firearmdoc1, ill look them up on the net and get started, WF~