Modifying and playing with my case forming dies.

[butchlambert]

A friend and member here was trying to modify WSM brass. It appears that some brass is a lot harder. I decided to start anew and now have a 14 die bushing set. With Norma brass the old set could take a 458 basic brass to about .200". I started playing with different radius and angles. Pictured below is 6.5PRC Hornady brass swaged to .270". I'm still playing with it. My tool grinding shop in Garland, Tx is going to grind a couple more tools for me to make it even better.
Why am I doing it? I don't know as I don't do wildcats anymore, but a couple of my buddies do.



I've still need to finish the last 4 little diameter ones. I would like to have them Melonited if I could piggy back on somebody else's order.

 

[Fuj]

As a dyed in the wool wildcatter, I'll accept the challenge. Might have
to use some of the Holiday Eggnog first for lube.......LOL

 

[357Mag]

Butch -

Great work there !
Keep it goin’ !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Will Henry]

An early mentor of mine, Art Bourne, made a forming die which produced a long, tapered, shoulder. About 10 degrees or less. The juncture of the body and shoulder was about .010 ahead of where the finished shoulder would be. The juncture of the neck and shoulder was wherever the slope would put it. He made one wildcat which was a 378 Weatherby shortened to 2.5 inch and necked to 35 cal with a 30 degree shoulder. He used the described die and a FL die to form the brass. It was very easily done with little effort. He made a similar die to form 219 wasp from 225 Winchester. Art made the reamers to make these dies, along with the chambering reamers. The dies were mild steel, case hardened. Art was very clever and capable. I learned a lot from him. I still have the notes and drawings he made regarding reamer making and the making of these forming dies. WH

 

[hoz53]

A friend and member here was trying to modify WSM brass. It appears that some brass is a lot harder. I decided to start anew and now have a 14 die bushing set. With Norma brass the old set could take a 458 basic brass to about .200". I started playing with different radius and angles. Pictured below is 6.5PRC Hornady brass swaged to .270". I'm still playing with it. My tool grinding shop in Garland, Tx is going to grind a couple more tools for me to make it even better.
Why am I doing it? I don't know as I don't do wildcats anymore, but a couple of my buddies do.

View attachment 1616542
View attachment 1616543
I've still need to finish the last 4 little diameter ones. I would like to have them Melonited if I could piggy back on somebody else's order.

i like that butch- an onboard powder drop tube. i mess with forming but have never been able to do that. is there still a place where a person can buy forming dies?
merry xmas

 

[hoz53]

An early mentor of mine, Art Bourne, made a forming die which produced a long, tapered, shoulder. About 10 degrees or less. The juncture of the body and shoulder was about .010 ahead of where the finished shoulder would be. The juncture of the neck and shoulder was wherever the slope would put it. He made one wildcat which was a 378 Weatherby shortened to 2.5 inch and necked to 35 cal with a 30 degree shoulder. He used the described die and a FL die to form the brass. It was very easily done with little effort. He made a similar die to form 219 wasp from 225 Winchester. Art made the reamers to make these dies, along with the chambering reamers. The dies were mild steel, case hardened. Art was very clever and capable. I learned a lot from him. I still have the notes and drawings he made regarding reamer making and the making of these forming dies. WH

i sure wish i had the skill and equipment to make reamers- thanks 4 sharing. merry xmas

 

[Webster]

A friend and member here was trying to modify WSM brass. It appears that some brass is a lot harder. I decided to start anew and now have a 14 die bushing set. With Norma brass the old set could take a 458 basic brass to about .200". I started playing with different radius and angles. Pictured below is 6.5PRC Hornady brass swaged to .270". I'm still playing with it. My tool grinding shop in Garland, Tx is going to grind a couple more tools for me to make it even better.
Why am I doing it? I don't know as I don't do wildcats anymore, but a couple of my buddies do.

View attachment 1616542
View attachment 1616543
I've still need to finish the last 4 little diameter ones. I would like to have them Melonited if I could piggy back on somebody else's order.

Would heat from meloniting distort dimenions?

 

[butchlambert]

Would heat from meloniting distort dimenions?

No, As the early ones that I made didn't distort. Just remember that most wildcats are rough formed and then fireformed. Yes, your finish sizing die is exact.

 

[Fuj]

Allrighty !!.......Another wasted time product from the "Fujinator company",
a division of "Fly by Night Industries". This newly developed wild cat will
be called the "284-PPC" (pencil pusher cartridge).......And just to let you
know; I use Dark Meyers Rum in the family's eggnog recipes......"Tasty" !!

For what it's worth, I'll make a die as needed, but truth be told, most of my
best form dies are made from long carbide pistol dies. Those dies from 45
colt to 32 Long work great because of just the thin ring of carbide doing
the work. no excess drag going in or out. Another trick of mine is to drop
in a mandrel of the proper size for each push change. Keep's em' straight
and helps stop buckling.

 

[butchlambert]

Allrighty !!.......Another wasted time product from the "Fujinator company",
a division of "Fly by Night Industries". This newly developed wild cat will
be called the "284-PPC" (pencil pusher cartridge).......And just to let you
know; I use Dark Meyers Rum in the family's eggnog recipes......"Tasty" !!

For what it's worth, I'll make a die as needed, but truth be told, most of my
best form dies are made from long carbide pistol dies. Those dies from 45
colt to 32 Long work great because of just the thin ring of carbide doing
the work. no excess drag going in or out. Another trick of mine is to drop
in a mandrel of the proper size for each push change. Keep's em' straight
and helps stop buckling.

Looking good!

 

[mikecr]

Similar to my Lee6 form set. I had to have one bushing made to get WSM brass in-range of other bushings. This, to make 26WSSM from WSM cases, in case WSSM went away.