Forester Die Honing Service

[paulT]

Contacted Forester via their online Q&A placing order for benchrest fls & micro die set along with availing with their neck honing service plus ordering 2 custom expander balls plus getting seater stem polished for 20x bullet
Couple of days ago no reply yet, Anyone have an idea how long order would take
Gussing month or two due to chinese virus causing delays with manufacturing etc.

 

[fatelvis]

They must be swamped with orders for awhile now. I ordered a die, honed to a specific neck dia twice in the last 1.5 yrs and had to cancel both orders because they were never progressing, and I made due somewhere else. It’s a shame because I really like their stuff!

 

[rijndael]

Forester Products 'brought in new owners'. I wonder if that was to fix things or if they're making it worse? Or, maybe it's just covid related.

It was commented here:

 

[flintcreek6412]

That's too bad because I always had luck with them but its been about 3yrs since I ordered anything custom. FYI, when I had my first custom honed neck on a FLS die I told them what I wanted it honed to. I had already figured for spring back in the number I gave them. The final product arrive and it was off by .002 in my expected finished product. I called and they told me that they accounted for spring back when I gave them my number. Luckily that meant the neck was too small so I shipped if back and they honed it to what I needed. Just keep that in mind and ask if they are honing to your exact number or allowing springback.

 

[paulT]

That's too bad because I always had luck with them but its been about 3yrs since I ordered anything custom. FYI, when I had my first custom honed neck on a FLS die I told them what I wanted it honed to. I had already figured for spring back in the number I gave them. The final product arrive and it was off by .002 in my expected finished product. I called and they told me that they accounted for spring back when I gave them my number. Luckily that meant the neck was too small so I shipped if back and they honed it to what I needed. Just keep that in mind and ask if they are honing to your exact number or allowing springback.

Thank you for your Reply and info.

 

[centershot]

I called Redding and asked about having my neck portion of a die opened up and they said they quit doing that because of bushing dies.

 

[paulT]

They must be swamped with orders for awhile now. I ordered a die, honed to a specific neck dia twice in the last 1.5 yrs and had to cancel both orders because they were never progressing, and I made due somewhere else. It’s a shame because I really like their stuff!

I sure hope the wait woint be too Long as i shoot Competively and F Class season starts in 7 weeks,
I currently have a RCBS FLS Die which looks to be hardened which is oversizing case necks however i cant seem to find anyone willing to hone 4 thousands from the die neck
I have concidered taking on job myself but do not want to distroy the die or leave runout too high after honing process.

 

[paulT]

I called Redding and asked about having my neck portion of a die opened up and they said they quit doing that because of bushing dies.

I have redding comp neck bush dies & a S die along with wilson inline bushing dies however i could only get case runout at best to 0.002/0.003 thou after sizing process and found
Lower runout for brass by sizing Brass with FLS Die with expander removed however the brass necks are being undersized a large amount typicaly 5 thou before being run through an expander die to set final neck tension hence need for a FLS Die with neck custom honed to reduce overworking brass etc.

 

[AlNyhus]

If you know what the neck diameter of the die is, it's pretty straight forward to open it up with a chucking reamer to the diameter you want. -Al

If you're getting excessive runout from a quality bushing die, there's either something wrong with the case necks or the setup of the die. Are your case necks turned?

 

[paulT]

If you know what the neck diameter of the die is, it's pretty straight forward to open it up with a chucking reamer to the diameter you want. -Al

If you're getting excessive runout from a quality bushing die, there's either something wrong with the case necks or the setup of the die. Are your case necks turned?

Lapua .308 palma brass neck turned to 0.0145 with k&m cutter/expander
Case runout after fireforming negligible.

 

[AlNyhus]

Lapua .308 palma brass neck turned to 0.0145 with k&m cutter/expander
Case runout after fireforming negligible.

OK....good. Have you ever checked the inner case neck for runout after firing but before sizing? -Al

 

[SmokinJoe]

You can also get a hone and some lapping compound from McMaster-Carr and do it yourself. Read this article by Rick Averill: https://rickaverill.com/projects-past-and-present/lapping-reloading-dies/

 

[paulT]

OK....good. Have you ever checked the inner case neck for runout after firing but before sizing? -Al

Hello Al I doint check inner case neck runout just case wall thickness and case runout after both sizing and bullet seating process.

 

[paulT]

You can also get a hone and some lapping compound from McMaster-Carr and do it yourself. Read this article by Rick Averill: https://rickaverill.com/projects-past-and-present/lapping-reloading-dies/

Thank you for your post & info.

 

[ben-o]

I ordered a Forster .308 die with custom neck honing in November, and they got it to me in less than a month.

 

[paulT]

I ordered a Forster .308 die with custom neck honing in November, and they got it to me in less than a month.

Thats great Service
Hopefuly will receive mine in simlar timeframe.