Making a custom die question.?..??.?

[DngBat7]

What’s the best way to make a custom FL die? Undersize reamer or sending in fired brass? Or does it not matter?

If it’s a custom chamber, is it better to get a non bushing die? May be get a few made to a couple different neck tensions?

Thanks as usual.

 

[TC260]

There's a number of different ways to go about it depending on the specifics. With some more information like the chambering, is it a current gun you have or a new project idea, etc., some of the really knowledgeable shooters here can give you better answers

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its best to make it from a blank with a resize reamer you have made at the same time as the chamber reamer, then get it hardened

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

What’s the best way to make a custom FL die? Undersize reamer or sending in fired brass? Or does it not matter?

If it’s a custom chamber, is it better to get a non bushing die? May be get a few made to a couple different neck tensions?

Thanks as usual.

I have had dies built both ways, through the use of a re-size reamer which the gunsmith used on soft die blanks & then the finished chambered die was sent to Fireball in Mass. for heat-treat as well have had several sets done through providing 3 fired cases to a custom die manufacturer. - My take is the easiest and less "risky" is to send 3 or 4 well formed pieces of brass to a reputable die maker such as Whiddens Gunworks or Warner Tool. (Warner Tool will cost more & take longer but the quality is second to none).
The "risks" associated with going the resizer reamer route can include: re-size reamer not ground to precise specified dimensions specified, wrong dimensions being provided for a re-size reamer for a particular cartridge, and then there is heat treat where things can not go as desired and the chamber cut in the die changes during heat treat process, and this throws the usability of the die out the window. - Another consideration is the costs involved, sending 3 or 4 well formed cases to a good die maker and paying the price they charge is more cost effective and cheaper than purchasing a re-size reamer, die blanks, paying the gunsmith to chamber & then the cost of heat treating. - And if it doesn't work out, then what ? - And who's going to "eat the costs" to correct the problem or out of tolerance die ? - The customer more than likely is my guess.
- The 2 sets of dies that I have that are made off of a re-size reamer are excellent, they size brass to perfect dimensions and fit for the chambers cut in the barrels that were cut by the finisher reamer, and heat treat didn't throw the dimensions out of whack. (fortunately)
- The cost was substantially more to do it using the re-size reamer method and one of the reasons that I went that route was the dies needed to be done on 1 1/2" x 12 die blanks and finding a die maker back at that time to send 3 or 4 fired cases to & have them build the dies I wanted (on 1 1/2" x 12 tpi) blanks was pretty much non-existent (2007).
Both Warner Tool and Whiddens can & will produce some very high quality & precision dies for most calibers if provided correctly fired brass to work with.

That's my .02

- Ron -

 

[D-4297]

Step #1 . Send 3 or 4 pieces of your fired brass , as it came out of the gun , to Whidden Gun Works .
Step #2 . Select : Custom F/L Bushing Die .
Step #3 . Ordered bushings , from Whidden .
Step # 4 . Pay bill .
Hope you are as satisfied with yours , as I am with my Whidden Custom F/L Bushing Die .

 

[AJC]

I have had dies built both ways, through the use of a re-size reamer which the gunsmith used on soft die blanks & then the finished chambered die was sent to Fireball in Mass. for heat-treat as well have had several sets done through providing 3 fired cases to a custom die manufacturer. - My take is the easiest and less "risky" is to send 3 or 4 well formed pieces of brass to a reputable die maker such as Whiddens Gunworks or Warner Tool. (Warner Tool will cost more & take longer but the quality is second to none).
The "risks" associated with going the resizer reamer route can include: re-size reamer not ground to precise specified dimensions specified, wrong dimensions being provided for a re-size reamer for a particular cartridge, and then there is heat treat where things can not go as desired and the chamber cut in the die changes during heat treat process, and this throws the usability of the die out the window. - Another consideration is the costs involved, sending 3 or 4 well formed cases to a good die maker and paying the price they charge is more cost effective and cheaper than purchasing a re-size reamer, die blanks, paying the gunsmith to chamber & then the cost of heat treating. - And if it doesn't work out, then what ? - And who's going to "eat the costs" to correct the problem or out of tolerance die ? - The customer more than likely is my guess.
- The 2 sets of dies that I have that are made off of a re-size reamer are excellent, they size brass to perfect dimensions and fit for the chambers cut in the barrels that were cut by the finisher reamer, and heat treat didn't throw the dimensions out of whack. (fortunately)
- The cost was substantially more to do it using the re-size reamer method and one of the reasons that I went that route was the dies needed to be done on 1 1/2" x 12 die blanks and finding a die maker back at that time to send 3 or 4 fired cases to & have them build the dies I wanted (on 1 1/2" x 12 tpi) blanks was pretty much non-existent (2007).
Both Warner Tool and Whiddens can & will produce some very high quality & precision dies for most calibers if provided correctly fired brass to work with.

That's my .02

- Ron -

How to handle brass for having a die made has always been something I wondered about. Should one anneal and use a collet die to only size the neck so the soft annealed brass can grow to full dimension? Full length sizing in this case seems self defeating. Color me curious. I'm not trying to start a best practice for reloading debate just the ideal conditions for having a custom fl die made.

 

[Ccrider]

Timely post. I am thinking about sending in brass to have a die made also.

Are the Whidden custom full length does made to properly size the base and shoulder or do you still have to adijist to get proper shoulder set back?

 

[FrankG]

Warner Tool.....probably the most expensive but dam nice. I got the original die body and first caliber set up the first time around. After the initial purchase then you can just get inserts made for each caliber after that.

Send in one or two pieces of once fired brass not resized at all. I also sent a copy of my reamer print so they had it for reference.

Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

How to handle brass for having a die made has always been something I wondered about. Should one anneal and use a collet die to only size the neck so the soft annealed brass can grow to full dimension? Full length sizing in this case seems self defeating. Color me curious. I'm not trying to start a best practice for reloading debate just the ideal conditions for having a custom fl die made.

What I've done for a Whidden F/L sizer is Fire it and then neck size only a couple times using a bushing type neck sizing die. - F/L sizing of course we wouldn't do. - The idea is to provide as best of a fully formed piece of brass that conforms as precisely to the chamber as possible.
Another thing that I also do is provide a copy of the reamer print for the finisher reamer that cut my chamber(s) along with the fired brass.

- Ron -

 

[AJC]

What I've done for a Whidden F/L sizer is Fire it and then neck size only a couple times using a bushing type neck sizing die. - F/L sizing of course we wouldn't do. - The idea is to provide as best of a fully formed piece of brass that conforms as precisely to the chamber as possible.
Another thing that I also do is provide a copy of the reamer print for the finisher reamer that cut my chamber(s) along with the fired brass.

- Ron -

This falls in line with what i was thinking. I believe i remember widden asks for 3x fired brass to make sure its fully formed.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

This falls in line with what i was thinking. I believe i remember widden asks for 3x fired brass to make sure its fully formed.

Yes you are correct.

 

[Old Navy]

Don't forget about Harrell's Precision. Recently purchased a 6mm BR from them. This is one of the calibers that they have on the shelf. Mine is absolutely a perfect fit for my chamber.