Hardening full length sizing die???

[MihiT]

Second on the "changes dimensions" comment. This would mean rough machining, hardening, finish machining.

A smith may (should?) be able to harden it, or machine it in a hardened state.

 

[carlsbad]

A 308 die that you plan to shoot 50,000 rounds and then pass to your children needs hardening. As quickly as the flavor of the day cartridges come and go, there is no need to harden a 6.5 mm Orange sherbert sizing die. As I posted above, pick a low wear alloy such as 17-4ph and be happy.

 

[Judd]

Y'all are amazing...thanks again for educating this redneck

 

[TAJ45]

True - the heat treating can make things "move".
However, remembering info from a Stentor book for mat'l choice, the growth will be in the tenths. It's not like you'll end up with a distended monster from a viable heat treat shop.

 

[MihiT]

True - the heat treating can make things "move".
However, remembering info from a Stentor book for mat'l choice, the growth will be in the tenths. It's not like you'll end up with a distended monster from a viable heat treat shop.

Would depend on the material and if/when/how it was stress relieved, then how it was machined (which will impart and/or release stresses)
And if those tenths make the bore of the die a banana shape?

I'd be inclined to use 4140PH, but that's just because I have a pile of it.

 

[MihiT]

A 308 die that you plan to shoot 50,000 rounds and then pass to your children.

... is that all??

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I found that even temporary dies i make for just forming a few wildcats need to be hardened. If you dont they will be sticky as hell.

 

[TAJ45]

Would depend on the material and if/when/how it was stress relieved, then how it was machined (which will impart and/or release stresses)
And if those tenths make the bore of the die a banana shape?

I'd be inclined to use 4140PH, but that's just because I have a pile of it.

That's the reason I said "viable HT shop".

 

[carlsbad]

TAJ,
The residual stress which causes material to warp when relieved has nothing to do with the heat treat shop's talent. The stresses were put there during manufacture. I have a friend to tried to anneal a 3MT arbor to make a custom holder and was shocked how much it warped in the process. And annealing is much easier than hardening. --Jerry

 

[ridgeway]

5 year old thread, lol. Any die I make will be melonited. Machine an old barrel or barrel drop and send er out for meloniting. Much easier on HSS reamer than 17-4...