Polishing of Redding 284 Shehane FL die

[A-max]

Hi all. I have a Redding FL die that came from Bill Shehane. It sizes the diameter of my case body about 0.005". Since I want to keep everything constant by only FL sizing, the die sizes too much to my liking and I want to take off about 2-3 thousands in diameter. Is it an easy operation? What is the correct way to do this? What instruction should I give my gunsmith who will be doing the polishing?

I know custom dies are best, but I do not have the funds for it at this stage.

Any input welcome.

Thanks.
Fritz

 

[dkhunt14]

Where on the case is it sizing it 5 thousandths? Matt

 

[MagnumManiac]

Polishing will not remove .005" off a hardened steel die, it may remove .0002"-.0005" max off of it. The best bet would be to have it honed with properly shaped stones, then polished to finish.
As dkhunt14 asked, where is it sizing too much on the case?
I often polish my dies, it removes very little metal, but smooths out the sizing effort, it also lessens the chance of lube dents, IMHO.
Your smith could use emery cloth on a jag, or similar, but it's not a precise method. I do this with scotch brite to roughen up a chamber after it's been polished or finish reamed.

Cheers.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I have removed .002" by polishing a hardened die, but it took a long time.

 

[cncmill]

I just did the same thing with my Redding .284 win. die. It was sizing .005 small. I took mine to work and machined it on our CNC machining center for hard milling. I cut hardened steel everyday at work. I wish I could help but it is a little to risky to try on someone elses stuff. I had nothing to lose. If cutting it did not work then my only other option was a custom die.

Erick Crouthamel

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Do what I did, send it back to Bill and get one from Whidden. Bill's dies sized the shoulder .004 while Whiddens sized .002. And its way cheaper.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Do what I did, send it back to Bill and get one from Whidden. Bill's dies sized the shoulder .004 while Whiddens sized .002. And its way cheaper.

Bazinga...... ;D

 

[A-max]

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it

I think it sizes 0.005" just below the shoulder, but not sure about the base. Will go back and check. Accuracy is more than acceptable but I'm just worried about brass life. The sizing effort is also notably more than any of my other Redding dies. One must take into account what these shehane dies were designed for. In all probability it was never made for continued full length sizing but for use with a neck die. But I don't want to neck size so...

I have removed .002" by polishing a hardened die, but it took a long time.

It is an option. Will maybe try it. But it sounds like too much effort

Do what I did, send it back to Bill and get one from Whidden. Bill's dies sized the shoulder .004 while Whiddens sized .002. And its way cheaper.

Yes I like Whidden. Great company and great dies and they have helped me in the past. Think that is where I'm headed.

Thanks again
Fritz