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LE Wilson vs Whidden sizing dies

Filipson

I know this topic has been discussed before. I am relatively new to reloading, and I am trying out two dies for 22-250 before I pick a brand for other calibers. I am trying out LE Wilson and Whidden sizing dies right now. I am wondering if I can get a long term use perspective from handloaders who have used either or both. Pros and cons of either brand? Better is relative but what do you like about each?

Also, while I know I need to oil either one to prevent rust … does anyone know which one is more corrosion resistant? I asked LE Wilson and apparently this sizing dies are higher carbon steel and not stainless (unlike seating dies) so I need to keep oiled. Between two, the Wilson has a nicer finish to me. The Whidden has a floating bushing and the Wilson bushing seems to lock down. Also the Wilson seems to have a slightly longer sizing chamber so I need to turn the Wilson down (from point shell holder touches die) whereas the Whidden I need to turn up (from point shell holder touches die). Sizing seems pretty good on both. But wondering about others opinions.
 
Filipson said:
I know this topic has been discussed before. I am relatively new to reloading, and I am trying out two dies for 22-250 before I pick a brand for other calibers. I am trying out LE Wilson and Whidden sizing dies right now. I am wondering if I can get a long term use perspective from handloaders who have used either or both. Pros and cons of either brand? Better is relative but what do you like about each?

Also, while I know I need to oil either one to prevent rust … does anyone know which one is more corrosion resistant? I asked LE Wilson and apparently this sizing dies are higher carbon steel and not stainless (unlike seating dies) so I need to keep oiled. Between two, the Wilson has a nicer finish to me. The Whidden has a floating bushing and the Wilson bushing seems to lock down. Also the Wilson seems to have a slightly longer sizing chamber so I need to turn the Wilson down (from point shell holder touches die) whereas the Whidden I need to turn up (from point shell holder touches die). Sizing seems pretty good on both. But wondering about others opinions.
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Never used a Widden die but have used several Wilson vs. Redding, Lee, RCBS, etc. and hands down the Wilson is a smoother sizing die and sizes cases extremely well. I also like the cosmetics of the Wilson dies as they are machined very professionally. The bushing will "lock down" as stated but the top plug can be adjusted to allow the bushing to float as well.
 
Never owned a Wilson , but I do have a Whidden F/L Custom Bushing Die , and it is worth every penny I paid for it . Quality Dies are high grade Tooling , and if taken care of properly , they should last a literal Life-time . Wilson and Whidden are two of the best .
 
I've used Whidden dies for several years now. I use the full length bushing sizer with the decapping rod removed for my 6.5x47 Lapua. It is very consistent bumping the shoulder. It's very smooth and does not oversize my brass. For my 223, I use a Redding full length bushing die, for the same reasons. I used a Wilson F/L bushing die for my .223 as well. The Wilson die leaves the bottom 3/16" of the neck unsized. This is by design. I did not like that, nor did my Rifle. So I switched to a Redding die.
For my 6br, I got a custom die from Harrells.

PopCharlie
 
I’ve personally seen both good and bad quality Whidden dies. I had them make a custom die that was fantastic in every way. My neighbor bought one of their off the shelf dies and it looked like it was rolled around on the shop floor and surface finished with a hand file. I encouraged him to contact Whidden, but he just wrote it off as never again and bought a Redding.
 
jimmymac said:
I’ve personally seen both good and bad quality Whidden dies…
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I bought 6Dasher dies and had a custom 223AI made they were great. I sold the 6Dasher and bought the new Click Adjustable in 6Dasher. It would only screw in halfway into the press. I called, they replaced it ASAP, with the die that I have now, which IMO works perfectly.
I’m sure they would have fixed your buddy's problem if he called.
 
I have both LE Wilson and (several) Whidden bushing FL sizers.

Of the two, I prefer the Wilson. I'm not a fan of all the knurled locking rings on the stem/bushing with the Whiddens. It feels like they're constantly coming loose, no matter what you do.

The interior finish is usually better on the Whiddens though; they'll feel smoother during the sizing operations. It's not like the Wilsons are deficient here, because they're quite good too, but nothing 'feels' like a Whidden.

Obviously all will size your cases to spec. You'll never be able to shoot the difference between the two.

For future sizing dies, my order would be Wilson, Whidden, Redding.

Edit: Regarding Whidden finish/quality, I have one die that the external finish on is pretty rough. I've also had them ordered/delivered new missing lock rings. Whidden has always been very quick to course correct whenever I've contacted them.
 
MikeMcCasland said:
I have both LE Wilson and (several) Whidden bushing FL sizers.

Of the two, I prefer the Wilson. I'm not a fan of all the knurled locking rings on the stem/bushing with the Whiddens. It feels like they're constantly coming loose, no matter what you do.

The interior finish is usually better on the Whiddens though; they'll feel smoother during the sizing operations. It's not like the Wilsons are deficient here, because they're quite good too, but nothing 'feels' like a Whidden.

Obviously all will size your cases to spec. You'll never be able to shoot the difference between the two.

For future sizing dies, my order would be Wilson, Whidden, Redding.

Edit: Regarding Whidden finish/quality, I have one die that the external finish on is pretty rough. I've also had them ordered/delivered new missing lock rings. Whidden has always been very quick to course correct whenever I've contacted them.
Click to expand...

I have sized about 100 cases now, and both dies size my cases to spec.

I prefer the external finish on the Wilson, but I will second your comment that the internal finish on the Whidden gives a better feel. I hardly noticed the sizing operation on the Whidden, while the Wilson required a slightly heavier touch on the ram downstroke. Again, both resized to spec.

I also noticed the brass resized in the Wilson came out slighly more matte, while the brass through the Whidden still seemed pretty shiny.

I think I see what you mean about the lock ring on the bushing stem coming loose, and I was wondering if there is any fix for that.
 
I own Whidden and Wilson FL bushing dies and they both are neck and neck for the price point. I prefer the Wilson bushings but prefer the Whidden internal die polishing and treatments. This doesn't matter so much to me because I used SAC bushing almost exclusively. I also like that John Whidden throws in a bump gauge with his dies which is fantastic. And when I bump the shoulder back, I measure the web of the case and like how my Whidden die leaves this area of the case alone. Both of these dies are fantastic of the money you spend on them. Either is a good choice!
 
I like them both. But to be honest, I just gave a 6.5 Creedmoor die from Hornady a run, it was their Match die, it was favorably impressive. The brass went in smoothly, like butter. Easier than a Whidden and Wilson. It was perfectly sized for my Proof chamber, I had .002" of movement in just the right places. Great runout. They're available for $60. IMO, it has a lot of value. I will be buying more of them.
 
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I’ve had good luck with Wilson dies and tools, they are very easy people to work with if and when I need a die honed to a perfect chamber match or a tech question they always answer the phone.
 
I mostly use Forster BR dies and Lee Collet dies but last year I bought a custom Whidden Bushing sizing die for 6.5 Creedmoor. I’m not sure how smart ordering the custom was vs standard because I have a sammi chamber but it works well and is well finished. It is my first bushing die.
 
"My Wilson die was scratching my cases, so I ran a 600 grit flex hone in there and all is well."

My Whidden Wilson die was scratching my cases, so I ran some 320 then 400 grit lapping compound in there and it's better. I have not been overly impressed with the Whidden dies that I have and don't plan to purchase more.
 
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