Whidden custom dies, looks like they may discontinue offering them

[gunsandgunsmithing]

You new guys need to learn about single flute reamers. A significant percentage of the old gunsmiths (pre-1970) used to offer that service to chamber barrels for wildcats and oddball cartridges. Imagine turning a piece of drill rod, or similar round stock down to reamer print specs (+ .003-4"), then annealing it. Next, mill that blank in half lengthwise. Then, temper and grind a cutting edge to match the print. You can cut one chamber or die, perhaps two with it. My old gunsmith* here in Idaho had a Kerstner drawer full of them.

ISS

* he learned his trade in the AF during the Korean War.
And, please; don't tell me you do not know what a Kerstner is. Please.

Not ashamed. I know what a Kennedy drawer is but not a Kerstner. Only been in tool and die for 40 years though. I've made my own 4 flute reamers in the past...fwiw.

 

[Alan Warner]

If you get custom resizing dies made, does that mean for new barrels you always use a reamer with the 'exactly' the same dimensions?

We encourage customers to own the chamber reamer just for that reason. Making a new body insert is always an option, but why spend as much as a reamer costs when you don't have too if you have the reamer that matches up to the existing die?

 

[jobhopper66]

I am pretty sure the wooden machinist tool boxes that are being referred to are Gerstner brand not Kerstner.

 

[Alan Warner]

That's only partially true. You can have reamers made that the proper dimensions for the sizing die.

As long as people can make reamers for chambers or dies, I don't see how it can't be done. That said, I haven't done that in the past, but it's my impression that it's the way it is and has been done for years...wildcat or whatever you want to call it.

We do not use reamers at all when making a custom die.
This may be part of the reason John is ceasing with offering customs, I don't know for sure. Imagine the inventory if special reamers on hand !!!$$$. (that he may use two or three times)
I would venture to say that darn near every time I see a wildcatted piece of brass with the same name, it's different from the last one. My guess is I have seen 30 to 40 versions of the same catted chamber for 338 Lapua and Norma alone.

Edit: not to mention chambers that have been reamed .010 or more long or short.

 

[JB10]

I talked to hornady about 3 weeks ago. I wanted custom dies made for my 20 practical. Was quoted $285 and 10 month wait time. This is not a precision rig so i have not made up my mind yet. For now ill keep using a bushing redding die to neck down the brass.

 

[spike-55]

Over the years I’ve used Whidden for custom dies for some of the wildcats I’ve had built and shoot. I recently ran across a thread where someone mentioned Whidden wasn’t offering that service anymore so I went to their website, sure enough it is on their website that the service is suspended. I figured I’d send them an email and did, got an email back from John confirming that they will probably not be bring that service back. Bummer, it was a handy option.

So who offers custom dies now? In the thread where I read about Whidden a couple commented that Hornady offers custom dies with a 5-6 month turn around, sounds like they do a decent job. CH tool & Die were also mentioned. Most of the wildcats I do now days I try and get a custom die made from the builder, that’s what I did on my latest project but I would like to know of other options if they exist. Any input?

I called Neil Jones and he still makes them Called Whidden for the Grinch they used to make and it was a no go, so had to go shopping in all the usual places Wilson, Hornady, Warner, CH Tool etc. Even tried a couple of gunsmiths!!
stan