Machining Whidden FL die

[BradY]

Ive got a bit of a problem with my 7mm shehane whidden FL die. It seems the die was built with a 313nk chamber design as the hole where the neck runs through to be sized by the bushing is fine for a tight neck 313 chamber. However, I have a 318nk no turn chamber and the die is shaving brass off the case necks. Ive emailed whidden gunworks to notify them of the issue and hopefully they can rectify future dies to suit a standard no turn chamber.

Anyway in my situation, its not practical to send it back from Australia to Whidden as I will be without a die for too long plus the postage and tracking etc is prohibitive.

So I have taken it into the gunsmiths to see if anything can be done about it. The hole measured about 316 thou in diameter and I would like to take at least 3 preferably 4 thou out of that hole. What would be the easiest way to do this on the hardened steel die body?

 

[Martin52]

Maybe Whidden Gunworks can offer you a solution - a FLS die with a custom neck honed to your required neck dimension ? I have one of their seating dies and found them very good to deal with, I am sure they would offer you an option. There's always Forster who can send you a FLS die with custom neck honed to your required dimension. I have one of these in .308 and am very pleased with the quality. I think the die was around $50 and the custom hone about $10 extra.

Martin

 

[BradY]

The trouble is I need the die working now, not waiting for custom dies or postage. The smith is going to make up a custom boring tool with a tungsten bit, but its darn tempting to not try something else like a diamond stone in a dremel.

 

[Erik Cortina]

The trouble is I need the die working now, not waiting for custom dies or postage. The smith is going to make up a custom boring tool with a tungsten bit, but its darn tempting to not try something else like a diamond stone in a dremel.

You have to do it in a lathe, the dremel tool will possibly ruin the die. A carbide boring bar should cut the die with no problems.

 

[StevenDzupin]

Your best bet would be to find a machine shop with a Sunnen Honing machine.

Fast ,accurate and concentric results.

Best regards,

Steve

 

[clowdis]

A carbide reamer will probably do the trick. In fact you might get a standard tool steel reamer through the neck one time. Injection mold supply houses like DME usualy have .005 oversize reamers as a stock item. In your case a 5/16 oversize .3175 might work. Polish afterwards.
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