Making The full length Sizing Die For My 338 Lapua Ackley Improved.

[jackieschmidt]

I decided to give this a go. I patterned this after a Redding “S” Die.
I got a piece of O-2 Tool Steel. I had to hand grind a boring bar to bore the hole on the correct taper plus form the 40 degree shoulder.
I used the taper attachment. The taper is .020 in 2 inches. I think I got the taper size correct.

I still have to make a decapping stem. The die is bored for standard Redding bushings.

After everything is fit, I will case harden it.

 

[jackieschmidt]

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Your gonna love this cartridge. Berger 300 .010 off the lands and 100 grains of n570, cci 250, and light nt.

 

[Tucker65]

I built one for a buddy and it's probably one of the most accurate rifles I've put together. This is a 500 yard target with fire forming loads using 300gr Sierra's. These loads were only going around 2850 fps. He's since got all the brass formed and is using 300gr Berger's going just a little over 3000 fps. and accuracy is basically the same if not better.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

High nodes 103 or so. .015 jam works too. The sierras shoot as well.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I built one for a buddy and it's probably one of the most accurate rifles I've put together. This is a 500 yard target with fire forming loads using 300gr Sierra's. These loads were only going around 2850 fps. He's since got all the brass formed and is using 300gr Berger's going just a little over 3000 fps. and accuracy is basically the same if not better.

View attachment 1654687

They have been the most accurate big cartridge I have experiance with. What you saw is no fluke.

 

[STS]

Are you using this to case harden it?

 

[LVLAaron]

I never would have thought to cut a resizer by hand.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I never would have thought to cut a resizer by hand.

Well, there is a Mazak Lathe involved

 

[jackieschmidt]

Are you using this to case harden it?

Probably Cherry Red. It basically does the same thing.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I made the bullet seater by taking a Redding 338 Lapua Competition Seating die and simply boring out the sliding sleeve to fit a sized Ackley Improved case as Redding does not list the 338 Improved. The sleeve is not hard.
There are a few more mods, but it’s Pretty simple stuff.

 

[CJ6]

Ya gotta love it when a plan comes together.....I can't wait till you get some rounds on it.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Why did you use O1 if you are going to case harden it?

 

[AlNyhus]

Good stuff! -Al

 

[SKWERLZ]

View attachment 1654676

That case looks so much better with a proper shoulder and blown out case taper.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

Why did you use O1 if you are going to case harden it?

I think he was referring to surface hardening. I interchange the terms a bit myself. Surface hardening works great with steel like O1.

 

[steelpounder]

Probably Cherry Red. It basically does the same thing.

excuse me. but I would like to point out that O2 steel has plenty of Carbon to harden to 63-65 HRC without the use of either casenite or cherry red compounds. additionally, it is a through hardening steel, so you are not likely to get a hard case using either compound, but you are likely to crack the die you have put a lot of work into building.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Why did you use O1 if you are going to case harden it?

It’s 0-2. We use it to make slotting tools for our two vertical slotters that we use to cut large keyways. It doesn’t tend to chip on the back drag like harder HSS.
But, I was wrong. It does not case harden that well.
I just talked to my buddy over at the shop that does the hardening on our slotter cutters, and he said he would fully hardened it for me just like he does those. They use small electric ovens for this type of stuff. Minimum distortion and no oxide on the surface.

 

[tobnpr]

Cerrosafe cast to confirm you've got what you think you do?

 

[jackieschmidt]

I made the decapping pin rod assembly yesterday evening. I use grade 8 bolts as a material for the mount and the actual pin assembly.