Where do you guys get your 7mm-08AI bushing dies?

[VaniB]

Ok guys.....with your input I'm now leaning to going with the 7mm-08AI in a long action, instead of doing a 280AI. For pure enjoyable paper shooting at 100yds which I will do 97% of the time, I think I'd soon regret choosing a 280AI mostly for the sake of knowing I own one bad-azz long distance rifle!....(that I'll hardly ever use. LOL)

Arrghh!....BUT, why is it that Wilson Seaters and Redding S dies are both offered in the 280AI, but not either in a 7mm-08AI!!?

Where can I get a 7mm-08AI "S" bushing die and a Wilson "in-line" style seater?

 

[bozo699]

Ok guys.....with your input I'm now leaning to going with the 7mm-08AI in a long action, instead of doing a 280AI. For pure enjoyable paper shooting at 100yds which I will do 97% of the time, I think I'd soon regret choosing a 280AI mostly for the sake of knowing I own one bad-azz long distance rifle!....(that I'll hardly ever use. LOL)

Arrghh!....BUT, why is it that Wilson Seaters and Redding S dies are both offered in the 280AI, but not either in a 7mm-08AI!!?

Where can I get a 7mm-08AI "S" bushing die and a Wilson "in-line" style seater?

Van,
They do make 7mm-08 improved dies, here is a link and for the Wilson I usually just have my smith ream my standard seating die, so buy a 7mm-08 wilson die and have your smith run the chamber reamer for your AI in it.
Wayne.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/cid=5675/k=/t=P/avs%7cManufacturer_1=REDDING/avs%7cCartridge_1=BPR_7+mm+-+08+Imp+40/Products/Rifle-Dies

 

[DBailey]

I don't know about Willson, but I have a 3 die S bushing set from Redding for the 7mm-08AI.
BTW, I wouldn't completely discount the round at long range. I used it with 175g Sierras for F-Class way back before 7mm's became the cool thing.

 

[VaniB]

Thank you gents.
My 2011 Sinclair catolog only lists the 7mm-08AI in a "deluxe set" which has a standard FL die w/o bushing. So, thanks for that link where I now see it with my own eyes.

As far as the Wilson in-line seater, I'm not sure my gunsmith wants to mess with that. He's the kind of guy that does great work but will not bend an inch out of his way to research or do anything other then what he's use to doing. I suppose I can find a smith on the web who would be willing to do it. I'm starting to wonder if it's time for me to seek out and just go with a Bob Green or Greg Tannel to do the entire custom barreling altogether.

DBailey, yes I've come to my senses that compared to the 280AI I can still get plenty of "bad-azz" factor and pride shooting 162 Amax or 139gr bullets into sub MOA out of a 7mm-08 at 100 yards ....with 10 grains less powder and less sore shoulder.

 

[bozo699]

Thank you gents.
My 2011 Sinclair catolog only lists the 7mm-08AI in a "deluxe set" which has a standard FL die w/o bushing. So, thanks for that link where I now see it with my own eyes.

As far as the Wilson in-line seater, I'm not sure my gunsmith wants to mess with that. He's the kind of guy that does great work but will not bend an inch out of his way to research or do anything other then what he's use to doing. I suppose I can find a smith on the web who would be willing to do it. I'm starting to wonder if it's time for me to seek out and just go with a Bob Green or Greg Tannel to do the entire custom barreling altogether.

DBailey, yes I've come to my senses that compared to the 280AI I can still get plenty of "bad-azz" factor and pride shooting 162 Amax or 139gr bullets into sub MOA out of a 7mm-08 at 100 yards ....with 10 grains less powder and less sore shoulder.

Van,
No disrespect intended but I wouldn't let your smith work on my grandsons daisy BB rifle, if he can't do the simple task of running a reamer into seating die that already has a hole through it, all he has to do is clean it up with the AI ream then he is worthless to you, I can do that kind of work myself and I am no smith!! I mean what else won't he do,...true the action, bed the action to the stock?? where does his comfort zone stop! BY ALL MEANS FIND ANOTHER SMITH!! if you want this thing to shoot when it's finished!
Wayne.

 

[VaniB]

Thanks Wayne.....and no, there was no disrespect in your reply, only helpful input. I know nothing about machine work and don't know if the Wilson Die is too short to grip, or too difficult to make an accurate cut, if the smith is affraid of being off the mark a hair, or what!!? But, from what you're telling me; when I drop off my barrel blank, action, my reamer, and my Wilson seater die, a competent gunsmith should be able to knock it all out for me during the same episode.

Arghhh....Don't get me started about my smith! But, if you have the time to read this : ;

Maybe you're right and it's time to move on and find me another smith. I use to think driving 60 miles each way to his town would save me the worry of shipping, but maybe the gas burned and time spent for this little tight butt isn't worth it. My smith is a meticulous fuss azz, and that's why I have tried to stay with him. But perhaps I can get the same good work with other well know smiths (like Tannel for example.) My smith always acts like he's being bothered, and in fact has told me once "I can't get my work done with all the phone interuptions I get" (so I don't dare ever call him) Then two weeks ago I asked him via Email for his opinion of which cartridge to go with and the benefits of each. I admit it was a very involving long E mail note, for which he could have replied or told me to call and talk with him. But, instead he ignored me and didn't reply. He's already done two custom rifles for me in the last 5 years. I admit, that's not a lot of business, but now I'm getting ready to do another, and he just blows me off like that! I'm a master licensed tradesman who often spends 15-30 minutes talking on the phone sometimes with my customers just in the hopes ot get a $100 sevice call. Talk is cheap, and if I really want to provide the time with them during a busy day, I can still find 15 minutes during lunch or before I head home.

 

[bozo699]

Van,
I find that many of the smiths I know are a little strange, most have a compulsory disorder and are eccentric to some extent, but refusing to do a simple job like that is ridiculous, not getting back to you with the email is ridiculous as far as the phone calls I understand that, as I used to be a automotive mechanic and they always want to talk to the guy in charge and you can get maybe a hour or two of work done a day, however many smiths, action Co. and barrel Co. are now taking phone calls from say 3:00p.m - 5:00p.m that way they get a mostly full days work in and answer phone messages the last two hours of the day, I am good with that. I have a very very good friend that is a smith, he builds rifles, but he doesn't true actions, he doesn't do this and he doesn't do that, what he does do is he drinks a lot of alcohol and he likes to fish, hunt, and fight, he built me a couple of rifles, they looked excellent, very nice work from appearance, but they never would shoot, I had to hire another smith to true them up and make them shoot, so instead of having a falling out with him I just stop by and visit him and we go on the occasional hunt together, I pack one of his rifles when I go with him and he has no idea someone else made it shoot, but he hasn't built me another one, I am sure he knows why and we just leave it at that, but he is the exception to the rule as far s I am concerned! Why monkey around with someone that every time he see's you or hears from you he makes it obvious your BOTHERING him and everything you ask him to do for you is a pain in his ass, you don't need those headaches, we spend a lot of money on these custom rifles and and we want waited on with respect, we respect there knowledge and profession and expect the same in return. I am a electrician, his machinery wouldn't turn without my knowledge and my rifle wouldn't shoot without his knowledge, he puts his shoes on one foot at a time just like you and me! there not Gods but gunsmiths, the good ones have my utmost respect and the ones like you are talking about as far as I am concerned can go to HELL!!
Wayne.

 

[hogan]

I have had very good luck using .300win mag Type S FL die and one in .30-06 for .338/300 and .338-06.

Also own a .243ai S FL die that I heat-treated and neck-reamed to take .308 seating stem when I was working with .308win Ackley.


The S dies all have enough room in the neck to work with ctgs that are close in neck diameter. The .243ai might work for your 7mm-08, but really sure a .260ai S die would if you find one. Seems to me could also buy a .280ai S die and have a machinist remove the heat-treat and then part off the correct dimension from the bottom to give you a 7mm-08 die. The body dimensions and neck diameter are essentially the same on both AI'd ctgs. (Not like I pulled reamer specs and made a study of this, just brainstorming here.)