Forster dies, why the price difference Forster vs Sinclair??????

[270guy]

Hi All,
just wondering why there is such a price difference for Forster dies, depending on if you buy them direct from Forster or somewhere like Sinclair Intl??? e.g. Ultra Micrometer seater die and full length resizing die, set 6.5x47 Lapua. Forster price $137 vs Sinclair Intl price $94.95 . I did note that the dies are out of stock at Sinclair Intl. There are similar price differences with the other 6.5x47 Lapua Forster dies sets / dies as well.
I'm looking to buy this particular set, for a rifle that is being built. Is there something I'm missing? Has Forster recently put up their prices? Anyone got any ideas?
I'm in New Zealand, so add $35 shipping and then approx another 27% on top for the exchange rate. I can buy the dies seperately from Sinclair Intl for a few bucks more, than the set price. If Forster has put up prices, I may have to do that, while Sinclairs still have stock.
cheers

 

[tenring]

When you buy direct from any manufacturer, he will charge full list price, so that he does not compete with the discounters price and lose dealers. I recently purchased a 6mmBR Dasher Type S die from Redding, and they also charged full retail price. I could not find it elsewhere.

 

[Martin52]

The technical advice and after sales service from Forster is excellent, can't comment about Sinclair. That's worth something for sure. They have helped me out with parts for reloading equipment and advice on custom dies, nothing has been too much trouble.
Martin

 

[treeman]

I think part of the reason is they really don't want to sell small orders. so they make it worth their while. just a thought one + on forster service-A1!!

Darrell

 

[fdshuster]

Ditto to all of the above reason's, and, if they lowered their pricing they would be in direct competition with their dealers. Sure to cause problems.

 

[RonAKA]

Yes, they have been doing it for some time, obviously to protect and grow the retail level of their business. Not sure how duty and tax all works out to NZ, but here is a source of Forster in Canada if that is better. Not likely as we pay fairly healthy prices for the stuff even though our dollar is worth more than the US at the moment, and we supposedly have free trade.

Hirsch Precision

 

[270guy]

Thanks guys. I have no doubt about the service from Forster, and get the point about not competing with dealers, just didn't make sense that they would charge such a premium. Cheers

 

[Larryh128]

USUALLY, you can special order thru a dealer/distributor and have them drop shipped directly to you. I have done this several times on special order dies. Saves a little $ but as with anything else "special" expect to wait 4 weeks. 6-8 in NZ. Anything going into Canada still gets 5-6% GST immediately at the border to dealers & distributors. The biggest kick to you is brokerage fees. 1 set of dies will have a minimum brokerage fee of $25. That's where the $ is going, filling out government forms.

 

[270guy]

LarryH,
in NZ, try 15% GST via a dealer, plus Custom Agents fees to get in past NZ Customs. If you are a private person, you can usually avoid the GST, as long as the total, is less than NZD$400. If NZ Customs decide to charge the 15% GST, they add another NZD$38 on top to charge it!
My build is on a very strict budget, so everything saved, means I can possibly upgrade another conponent on the rifle or gearing up to reload the 6.5x47Lapua. It also works the other way too :'(.
cheers

 

[Forum Boss]

Keep in mind that Forster will still hone a non-bushing full-length sizing die for about $10-12. Just tell them the neck diameter you want.

That is a bargain. Redding will do that (if you insist) but they charge about $50.00.

 

[270guy]

Keep in mind that Forster will still hone a non-bushing full-length sizing die for about $10-12. Just tell them the neck diameter you want.

That is a bargain. Redding will do that (if you insist) but they charge about $50.00.

FB,
I have been thinking about that, and it does really appeal. But, heres the thing, if I order the F/L die from Forster and get it honed it will cost approx $58 incl honing, plus $35 shipping. And don't they need some fired cases, my rifle is still being built. Then if I order the Ultra seating die from say Sinclair Int, its $68.95 plus $35 shipping. For about the same amount of money I could get the redding S type F/L and a bush plus the Forster seater from Sinclairs.
If anyone can suggest another way, I'm all ears.
thanks

 

[Martin52]

Your gunsmith can confirm the chamber case neck diameter, from this you can determine the neck size Forster can adopt for your FLS die. You don't need to send Forster any fired cases for this, they just hone the neck of a standard FLS die to your nominated dimension eg 0.335 (this is what i use for a .0340 chamber neck with Lapua cases - with 1 thou neck tension this gives me 4 thou clearance between the loaded round and the chamber neck.

Forster will also make you a custom die if that's what you want - for this they will need fired cases.

Either option has the advantage that you can also use this die for sizing new brass before neck turning. As you may know, it's not advisable to use a bushing die (FLS or NS) for this initial step as the bushing stops the sizing process just above the neck/shoulder junction.

The Redding bushing die will give you the option of selecting different bushing sizes whereas you're locked in with the nominated neck size if you go the honed neck route with Forster. But, a bushing die is not the best for sizing new brass before neck turning.

If you neck turn and only want to buy one die then I would get a Forster FLS with the neck cut as described above (and send the fired cases if you pay more for the full custom option). If you go this route you can also buy the Forster BR seater die and save on shipping costs with both dies coming from one supplier.

Hope this helps.
Martin

 

[Tozguy]

Larry,
Would that be UPS that charges 25$ fee?
UPS dinged me 50$ on delivery for a $350 order or they wouldn't hand it over. I told them to keep the parcel. It was cheaper to pay the restocking fee.
Now I specify shipping by USPS. Much more reasonable fees by Canada Post than by courriers. They have to collect GST and PST also. Generally speaking a purchase from the USA costs 30 to 40% on top of the supplier price.
Under those circumstances, when we get a tool that is out of spec we might as well eat it! I gladly pay more to deal direct with a reliable manufacturer ( and as mentionned about Forster) who get it right the first time.

 

[270guy]

Martin,
thanks for that. I'm sure that the reamer is .291 for this rifle, and I don't plan on neck turning. So I could go ahead and order a F/L die from Forster, and have it honed to .287 / .288 . Does anyone know what a Forster F/L sizer neck is as standard, for a 6.5x47L?
I guess by the time I bought the dies else where and then sent back the F/L to be honed, paid the additional shipping each way, it may come out close to buying them direct anyway.
I started another thread, as I looked at the forster site, and it looked as if I put together a ultra seater from their parts list cheaper than buying it from them. I have emailed them, but haven't heard back yet.
cheers

 

[Martin52]

I am sure Forster will tell you what their standard die measures at the neck for a 6.5 x 47L. They are pretty good with their service. They can also make you a custom seater stem for your projectiles that fit their BR seater die, it's only an extra $6-$8. I have one for the Sierra 2156 and it's perfect.

Martin.

 

[270guy]

I sent another message off to Forster's asking about the neck dimension of their F/L die, so will post when I get a reply. I'm still waiting for one, from my first meassage a few days ago now.
cheers

 

[270guy]

I got a reply from Forster, for my second of my enquiries. The neck diameter of the 6.5x47 Lapua F/L die is .285

I'm still waiting on a reply to my first query, from a couple of days before, this one that was answered.

 

[plinker625]

Go look at www,gunstop.com for Forster dies