Which manufacturers will make you a custom die if you send in some fired cases?

[00Scot]

I remember hearing that some die manufacturers will make you a custom die for your chamber if you send in 5 fired cases or something of that nature. Can anyone tell me more about this? I understand that the dies will resize your cases specifically for that one rifle. But what is the main advantage of this? Which Die is it that they are making with the fired cases?

And which die manufacturers will do this? I think I heard that RCBS will do this for $25. Is that correct? If they will make you a custom die for $25 then it would seem that it would be cheaper to get a custom die then to buy one off the shelf. Or am I missing something?

Can someone that has done this please educate me on this subject please?

 

[Preacher]

The few custom die makers that come to mind are, Warner tool, and Neil Jones..
But you'll need to add 0's to the price you speak of..
The main advantage is the die will be perfect for your chamber, not a one size fits all...
They can and will make dies for resizing, and for bullet seating from the fired cases that you send in..

 

[spclark]

Pretty much any of the major factory die companies offer this service. Typically you'll send fired cases for a custom sizing die but seaters can be made up too & they're typically not quite as critical, dimension-wise.

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=207

http://www.redding-reloading.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38%3Acustom-made-dies

http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Custom-Services.html

http://www.warner-tool.com/reloading.htm

http://www.neiljones.com/ (I had a set of dies made by Neil, they were superb!)

You can also buy die blanks from a few sources (http://newlonprecision.com/ comes to mind, RCBS has 'em too) then pay your gunsmith to use your chamber reamer to produce a custom die if you don't have the skills and equipment for the work.

 

[ReedG]

The main advantages to a custom die are they size the brass specifically to fit the chamber so there isn't any unnecessary or over-sizing, and a case that perfectly fits the chamber offers you the best foundation for building an accurate load. Normally, this properly sized brass will last longer, too. It is the FL sizing die that usually gets modified.

I have personally dealt with Lee, Forster, Hornady and Redding and all have made custom dies. If you are building a rifle specifically for competition you may be better served to go to the custom makers like Harrell's, Carstensen (JLC Precision) for a totally custom-made die.

The $25 fee from RCBS and most of the other manufacturers is on top of the price of a standard die.

If you are shooting a factory rifle in normal hunting/varminting situations, there may not be much need for a custom die. A custom sizing die is usually one of the steps towards above-average accuracy.

 

[lpreddick]

newlon die blanks are nice. had only one experience and am happy. cost is about same as chambering the barrel, but same reamer for both=precision. seems that the higher the nice factor the higher the price factor.

 

[bozo699]

Scot,
If your referring to having a custom die made for your factory 7mm-08 Savage then my suggestion is just but a good quality factory die, the rough barrel and chamber that rifle will have wouldn't be worth the money at least not to me for a $300 set of custom dies, The big die makers are okay to order a custom die from but there in no class with Neil Jones dies or at least the ones I have had, Neil's dies will take you to a whole new level, Bob Green of Green rifles makes a nice die. You can make a seating die with your chamber reamer, so unless you are going to rebarrel that savage you just bought ( A good idea ) then save your money for bullets and powder,...Jmho.
Wayne.

 

[bheadboy]

Redding

Bob

 

[noelfr]

Just received a neck sizing die from Lee that was made for my 6mm br. You send them two fired cases from your rifle and two bullets that you will be shooting. They charge 55 including return shipping. Also includes a dead length seating die. I use the neck sizing die that is a collet die. I use a gold rcbs seating die. I've been very happy w/ their work. You of course can only use the ammo in the gun the die was sized for.

 

[Silverfox]

I believe Hornady also makes custom dies. There was an article in the "Bulletin" section on this Board about Hornady custom dies awhile back and here's a link to that article.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010/02/custom-dies-the-hornady-option-call-lonnie/

Prices are listed in that article and run from $121 to $160 depending on what type of die and how many dies you include in your order.

Another option was in another article in the "Bulletin" section back in December of 2008 and here's a link to that article:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2008/12/titanium-nitride-coated-custom-dies-from-ch4d/

You would be amazed at how much information you can dig up on your own by using the "Search" feature on this Web site and even typing in your search string for a google search brings lots of information too

 

[in2deep]

The $70. semi-custom Harrel's full-length bushing die is hard to beat (top competitors use them) combined with a Wilson hand seating die used with an arbor press will allow you to load very...very...very consistent ammo for about $225. total. Anything more will buy you only marginal gain at best.

Just call the number and they will tell you what to do which is basically fire 3 rounds a few times (without resizing the body) so they blow out to fit your chamber like a mold and they work out the magic to get the best die for you.

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=207&rn=384&action=show_detail

 

[00Scot]

Thank you all for the information. The way I was looking at it is since this is a new rifle and I need to buy dies for it anyway, why not pay the extra $25 or whatever the price might be and get em custom made for this rifle. I figured that the extra $25 would be worth the price of admission if they will help increase accuracy.

I didn't see anyone mention Forester offering this service. And the Forester website was not very helpfull. I have had the best success with Forester so I feel very comfortable with them. Anyone know if Forester will do the same custom dies?

 

[bozo699]

Thank you all for the information. The way I was looking at it is since this is a new rifle and I need to buy dies for it anyway, why not pay the extra $25 or whatever the price might be and get em custom made for this rifle. I figured that the extra $25 would be worth the price of admission if they will help increase accuracy.

I didn't see anyone mention Forester offering this service. And the Forester website was not very helpfull. I have had the best success with Forester so I feel very comfortable with them. Anyone know if Forester will do the same custom dies?

Scot,
Yes forster will custom hone the neck I don't know if they will make a full custom die, give them a call.
Wayne.

 

[alf]

Another way to skin the cat, is buy your die and send it to PT&G and have them grind a reamer to match the die.

 

[larmike]

I have several dies from Forester, Since I am military I get a discount too. Just call to give them the neck dimensions. R/ Mike

 

[00Scot]

Thanks guys!

 

[bozo699]

Scot,
How is the rifle tuning up for you?
Wayne.

 

[dennisinaz]

I have never gone the full custom route but I have sent Redding two different FL sizing dies and they honed the necks up for me. Originally, they told me that they would hone them to whatever I wanted. When I called them, they said I needed to send them 2 fired and un-sized cases and THEY would decide what is best. Didn't matter what I wanted. The two dies are 30-06 and 300 Winny.

I don't like using bushing dies for hunting rounds as they only size a small portion of the neck. I like lots of tension on hunting rounds/calibers. I cut my loaded round about 200% with these honed dies.

I used Forster BR seater dies. The sliding sleeves are dead-soft so you can run a finish reamer into them and make them fit your chamber exactly (if you have the reamer). This is how I did my 260AI recently. Loaded round runnout is much better using this die than it was using a 6.5-284 die with them.