Reaming custom dies?

[Varminterror]

Can anyone tell me the process for reaming custom dies? I've always wondered if a guy would be able to cut his own dies, for example cutting a .243win to .243AI?

I'm working on two projects, a .243AI and a .357B&D that I'm wanting to ream myself, wondering about trying to do the dies for them also. I'm sure I'm oversimplifying the process, but if a guy can determine the proper depth to run the reamer into the die, is that not the meat and potatoes of the job?

 

[Erik Cortina]

You need an undersized reamer to make resizing dies.

When you order a chamber reamer you can also order a resizing reamer at the same time.

 

[jscandale]

Easy enough to do. You can either make them from scratch out of a piece of 4140 or get a die blank from either PTG or Nowlen. If you use a Nowlen die, you get all of the other die parts. If you use PTG, you can make the die accept all Redding parts. Either case, you'll have to order a resize reamer and ream the die blank. Don't bother trying to ream an existing die, you'll kill the reamer.

When I make dies, I duplicate a Redding Type S bushing die so that it accepts all of the Redding parts and neck bushings.

JS

 

[jscandale]

Here is a process that I posted on my website about 2 years ago. I have modified the process significantly over the years and many dies later, but this will give you an idea of what's involved.
http://www.keystoneaccuracy.com/customloadingdies.html

JS

 

[Varminterror]

Thanks for the responses fellas! Glad I posted my question on here before I tried reaming them myself, I hadn't even thought about factory dies being hardened!

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but you'll all get a chuckle - I have a spare set of .357mag dies that I was planning on using for the conversion to .357-44 B&D... After realizing the importance of die hardness, I also reminded myself that they are CARBIDE PISTOL DIES!!!! Pretty good bet I would have ruined a good reamer or two trying to convert those over!!!

I'm also glad you pointed out the difference in resizing reamers vs chambering reamers. I've heard several times that guys send send their reamers off to get dies cut to match their rifle chambers (maybe I've misread that), so I assumed that the same reamer was used.

So I guess it's back to the drawing board as to whether it'll be cheaper to buy custom dies or build them myself, and whether the satisfaction of a job done myself will pay off the difference!

Thanks fellas!

 

[jscandale]

Warner Tool can make you a nice sizing die based on the brass that you send him, you might want to go that route. If it's only one die that you are after, it beats going through the expense of buying a reamer that you're likely to never use again, not to mention all of the set up time involved.

JS