How to get custom dies?

[mattri]

Correct me if I'm wrong- this is how I understand the process so far.

For the most consistent, accurate dies most top shooters are using full-length sizing dies cut with the same reamer as their chamber.

To do this they send a reamer with the barrel blank and the die blank to their gunsmith who sets both up.

Is that about correct? Do most major manufacturers offer blanks?

 

[Hapnin]

You're Smith can chamber your barrel and make you a seating die with your reamer but not a sizing die. That will require different tooling all together.

 

[tenring]

I do not know about "most", but yes, some shooters buy dies cut with the same reamer used to chamber the barrel. It is not cheap. My choice is Harrell's bushing F/L sizer dies and Redding Competition seaters. You can purchase a Harrells by sending them 2 fired cases and $70. They will send you a very good sizer fit to your chamber.

 

[GSPV]

no, No, NO!

A full length sizing reamer simply can NOT be made with the chamber reamer. The chamber reamer is too large to size brass for its chamber...the brass must be sized slightly smaller than the chamber plus brass has a small amount of spring back.

Harrells, Carstensen, Jones, etc, measure your brass to choose from dies that work with your chamber and/or hone out a die that is smaller to something that is still smaller, but by the right amount in the right places.

Sometimes a given chamber reamer is ordered with a matching reamer for a sizing die. This is more common with wildcat cases.

FWIW,

 

[Scott Harris]

I've done this recently and here is what I've learned:

1. You cannot using a chamber reamer for a resizing die. You need a reamer that is several thousandths smaller in critical dimensions. If someone tells you to use your chamber reamer for a resizing die, look for someone else to do your work.
2. The "full-custom" option is to get a resizing reamer from the same company that produced your chamber reamer. I did this with PT&G.
3. You will need to find someone to use the resizing reamer to create a die. The good ones will polish and heat treat your die. I chose Forster to produce my full-custom dies. Their prices are reasonable, they have a ton of experience, and they can create multiple full-length dies by honing the neck. If you want multiple full-length dies with various neck sizes, get your resizing reamer with the smallest neck size you desire. Then, have Forster produce any additional dies by honing the neck to larger diameters.
4. Several companies will offer you "semi-custom" dies. They may not be made exactly to your chamber reamer dimensions, but if you are using a common cartridge, the difference between semi-custom and full-custom is probably negligible. Whidden and Harrels come to mind with the semi-custom option.
5. A few companies can produce a die without a reamer...using a CNC machine instead. While this sounds attractive financially, all the folks I talked to would not guarantee tight tolerances using this technique. The lack of tight tolerances would seem to defeat the purpose of this project....
6. My experience has been that standard full-length dies produce measurably better runout than F/L bushing dies. That is what set me down the custom path.
Scott

 

[BoydAllen]

There is another way that will give just as good of a fit as any custom die, and costs a lot less...but it takes a little imagination to see how it works.

If fired brass in the caliber that you intend to use is available from any source...old worn well used, sized a lot, you can buy a standard FL die, either bushing or one piece (the latter restricted to tight neck chambers), size the used brass, and order a chamber reamer that gives the exact fit that you want. This approach saves a ton of money, and works very well.

Note: The reason for using old, well used brass, is that it has been work hardened and will have more spring back than new cases, providing a worst case (pun intended) situation for brass body diameters from a given die. If you start with brass that has only been fired a couple of times, and set the chamber clearance very close, old brass may not be sized enough to fit.

 

[fredhorace77]

There is another way that will give just as good of a fit as any custom die, and costs a lot less...but it takes a little imagination to see how it works.

If fired brass in the caliber that you intend to use is available from any source...old worn well used, sized a lot, you can buy a standard FL die, either bushing or one piece (the latter restricted to tight neck chambers), size the used brass, and order a chamber reamer that gives the exact fit that you want. This approach saves a ton of money, and works very well.

Note: The reason for using old, well used brass, is that it has been work hardened and will have more spring back than new cases, providing a worst case (pun intended) situation for brass body diameters from a given die. If you start with brass that has only been fired a couple of times, and set the chamber clearance very close, old brass may not be sized enough to fit.

great idea

 

[Scott Harris]

There is another way that will give just as good of a fit as any custom die, and costs a lot less...but it takes a little imagination to see how it works.

If fired brass in the caliber that you intend to use is available from any source...old worn well used, sized a lot, you can buy a standard FL die, either bushing or one piece (the latter restricted to tight neck chambers), size the used brass, and order a chamber reamer that gives the exact fit that you want. This approach saves a ton of money, and works very well.

Note: The reason for using old, well used brass, is that it has been work hardened and will have more spring back than new cases, providing a worst case (pun intended) situation for brass body diameters from a given die. If you start with brass that has only been fired a couple of times, and set the chamber clearance very close, old brass may not be sized enough to fit.

Sizing the chamber to the resized brass....nice.

 

[mattri]

That is a great idea- wish I'd heard it before I got my barrel lol. Have to look at the other options.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Another option is to send Hornady some fired cases from your rifle. I've just sent some fired brass to Ben Syring, Custom Reloading Die Designer, Hornady Mfg. Co. He's going to produce a full length resizing die for my 243 AI.
http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/gallery/member-galleries/p4428-russell-gall-243-ackley-improved.html
Regards JCS

 

[mattri]

Thanks again for all the good replies.

It looks like with a pre-cut chamber the options so far are Harrels and Hornady.

Any reason to with one instead of the other?

 

[BoydAllen]

And Jones

 

[mattri]

Are Jones' better than the others?