Universal Small Base die.

[Rtheurer]

I was thinking of taking Newlon Blank I have left over from another project to make a Universal Small Base die to size the bottom of some cases that have got out fo hand on a 243 AI.
Looking for suggestions.
My thought is I would keep it on hand for future use on 308 length cases I run. Was thinking if I take my 308 reamer ( or what ever) run it in short so as not to get past the .465 mark at the base of the die and then hit it with the Boring bar all the way up so to make it a straight wall no tapper, I can use it on several cases that I run from 6BR to 243.
Anyone see an issue with this. Am I off base and not seeing an issue?

Russel

 

[dkhunt14]

Why not take an old cheap 30-06 or whatever and cut the shoulder out and take a little off the bottom to get what you want. It would be hard and probably cheaper. Matt

 

[Ggmac]

A better and cheaper way is to get a 45 ACP carbide die , bore it for any cartridge longer than a 243 , if not leave it alone . It'll squeeze down to .466-467 .
No lube needed no extra work , I've done a few for people and all are happy .
Oh , I don't charge , just send a die , prefer Lee and postage back .
Pm me to explain why it's needed .

 

[STS]

A better and cheaper way is to get a 45 ACP carbide die , bore it for any cartridge longer than a 243 , if not leave it alone . It'll squeeze down to .466-467 .
No lube needed no extra work , I've done a few for people and all are happy .
Oh , I don't charge , just send a die , prefer Lee and postage back .
Pm me to explain why it's needed .

Any suggestions on how you would propose to bore a carbide die?

 

[STS]

Why not take an old cheap 30-06 or whatever and cut the shoulder out and take a little off the bottom to get what you want. It would be hard and probably cheaper. Matt

That's exactly what I have done and it works to perfection. In fact if the die is long enough, I use a carbide turning tool to break through the hard case and then simply shorten the die to the point of eliminating the shoulder all together. I bought a RCBS 4 die .250 Savage case forming set at a gun club swap day for $10 about 15 years ago. Each die had a progressively smaller neck/more shoulder. I was able to bore the shoulder out of those dies and a bit of final polishing and trimming to get the exact length of sizing needed. It definitely works.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Your thinking of running a reamer in short will do exactly what you want to answer your original question. I go back in from the top side and overbore it to where theres only about 1/2" contact area from the reamer. I make them from barrel stubs- thread the outside, ream the inside then turn it around and bore it. Works like a champ. No need to waste a newlon.

 

[Ggmac]

You don't bore a carbide die . The carbide ring is what sizes the base . The top of the die is exactly what your trying to accomplish by boring a std die . It works ! No brag just fact . Ask others I've done it for . Think about it , a 45 ACP die is bored straight thru , just the decaping pin which you simply remove if the case is 243 or shorter ,ie 6 br 30 BR etc

 

[Ggmac]

Sts do you ever reload for a pistol case ? Than you know it's only a carbide ring at the bottom . If your case is longer than a 243 all you do is remove the threads , internal, that hold the decaping assembly .


If your problem is clicking or just need a small universal base die , I guarrantee you will like this . If not send the die back and I'll reimburse your cost of the LEE carbide die .
Remember I don't charge for the mod , just shipping . It works that well

 

[STS]

I don't load for pistols. I read your post stating that you could "bore it for any cartridge longer than 243." And as you acknowledged above, you don't bore a carbide die. That's why I asked how you would bore carbide.

 

[Ggmac]

Do you need a small base universal die ? If so I could loan you one of these to try .

 

[Rtheurer]

Do you need a small base universal die ? If so I could loan you one of these to try .

Great idea. I can buy one and send it strqight to your house/shop.

 

[teele1]

I have one of Ggmac's 45ACP dies. It works perfect for sizing down the bottom end of all my 243,6CM,260 and 308 brass. No click at the top any more and more reliable feeding. Thanks again Gary.
jim

 

[Larryh128]

You can change the dimension of the carbide ring. It needs to be honed.

 

[Dgd6mm]

A better and cheaper way is to get a 45 ACP carbide die , bore it for any cartridge longer than a 243 , if not leave it alone . It'll squeeze down to .466-467 .
No lube needed no extra work , I've done a few for people and all are happy .
Oh , I don't charge , just send a die , prefer Lee and postage back .
Pm me to explain why it's needed .

I'm one of those people, thanks Gary.

 

[Ggmac]

They can be honed , yes . Currently the Lee carbide is .465 to .467

 

[fguffey]

Small base die’ as someone said the die can not size the base of the case because of the shell holder deck height. My shell holders have a deck height of .0125” meaning the die does not size the base of the case. If I decided to reduce the diameter of a case below the case body I would cut the cut the die off or make a die for straight wall sizing. To get closer to the head of the case I would use a feeler gage between the deck of the shell holder and case head. The feeler gage will allow the cases to be sized .12” closer to the case head.


Then there is the other way. Simply drill a hole thought something then shove/drive the cases thought the hole. For this method to work the hole must be the correct size. I do not like working a case head that has been worked hardened.


F. Guffey

 

[Ggmac]

Not working the case head , just normal small base sizing with a carbide ring die .
You should try it !
I'm not one to try to salvage brass ,just eliminate the click or need for a small base die when a cheap <$20 carbide will do almost any 30-06 parent case cartridge .
If you try to size the solid head special dies are made for a 20 ton press , these dies are available or were when making obsolete ammo for use in reloading

 

[Dusty Stevens]

a proper small base die is smaller in dia than the case head so a push thru die just wont work

 

[Ggmac]

+1 ^