Whidden Custom Dies

[Tim Singleton]

I had a chance to really put my new custom dies form Whidden thru the paces a couple weeks ago
I shot a 4 day 4 gun match along with a couple full days of practice Istarted out with a new set of 50 cases
I'm very pleased with the perfomance of these dies especially the sizing die. It is a non bushing FL die. It sizes my PPC cases perfectly they went In and out of the gun like butter awesome sizing die
The seating die produces loaded rounds with 5-6 tenths run out

If you need a set of custom dies at a great price I highly recommend them

 

[CacheCropp]

When you say "custom", do you mean you sent Whidden custom specs and they made you a die? or did you have them hone a FL sizing die to the neck diameter you need? Or something else completely?

 

[Tim Singleton]

When you say "custom", do you mean you sent Whidden custom specs and they made you a die? or did you have them hone a FL sizing die to the neck diameter you need? Or something else completely?

I sent them 3 fired cases and a seated dummy round with my bullet in it
They will also work from prints
They are full custom dies

http://www.whiddengunworks.com/custom-reloading-dies/

 

[Comrade Terry]

Aren't they a pleasure to use?! I've got several sets, and I don't think I'll ever have anything else.

 

[CacheCropp]

Appreciate this info. I've been considering getting a Forster FL Sizer with the neck custom honed to a specific diameter, but will now look into these custom Whidden dies. I'm assuming you have to buy dies of some sort in order to be able to load the dummy rounds you're sending to Whidden. What's the recommended process for that?

 

[dolek]

Good info,will have to check them out . I have heard nothing but good things about them,time to see what all the talk is about.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Appreciate this info. I've been considering getting a Forster FL Sizer with the neck custom honed to a specific diameter, but will now look into these custom Whidden dies. I'm assuming you have to buy dies of some sort in order to be able to load the dummy rounds you're sending to Whidden. What's the recommended process for that?

In my case I had been using harrel sizing die and a wilson inline for last 3 years
So I had all i needed. I wasn't happy with run out or the neck bushing type die
I don't know what caliber you have. I have loaned my seater for this purpose before. Someone on here may have what you need

 

[Liven The Dream]

I will give them three thumbs up... I called and order a set of Dies for a 6 dasher . I told the lady on the Phone I had the New brass with .050 longer neck.
She told no problem sets to dies in stock 4days latter in my hands . There bushings are a good price also.
Don

 

[lpreddick]

When you say "custom", do you mean you sent Whidden custom specs and they made you a die? or did you have them hone a FL sizing die to the neck diameter you need? Or something else completely?

Another

When you say "custom", do you mean you sent Whidden custom specs and they made you a die? or did you have them hone a FL sizing die to the neck diameter you need? Or something else completely?

I'm another Whidden fan! I had reamers made for modified cases and sent them reamer prints and can not be happier...precision made tools ...Reamer and dies arrived days apart and my gunsmith had a barrel a few days later. My only wish is I would like to have their hash marks on the microseater as far apart as are those on the Forster microseater. The Whidden seating sleeve can however be inserted into the Forster microseater.

 

[KenOath]

With such rave reviews I might have to look into some Whidden Dies for my BRA..

 

[CharlieTX]

I had a chance to really put my new custom dies form Whidden thru the paces a couple weeks ago
I shot a 4 day 4 gun match along with a couple full days of practice Istarted out with a new set of 50 cases
I'm very pleased with the perfomance of these dies especially the sizing die. It is a non bushing FL die. It sizes my PPC cases perfectly they went In and out of the gun like butter awesome sizing die
The seating die produces loaded rounds with 5-6 tenths run out

If you need a set of custom dies at a great price I highly recommend them

Whidden custom dies are tops. I also went with their FL sizing die fir my .308 and also got their seating die. Both work exactly as expected. I sent them the brass that had been fired in my rifle along with the type of bullet I'd be using, and they did great.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

fwiw,
I was talking to Jim Borden about the Rimrock SSR barreled action he is putting together for me, and I asked this very question. Which dies would you recommend? Without hesitation his answer was "Whidden Custom." "Shoot three rounds and send them the empties OR go from my reamer print, however, the empties are the better way to go." I have learned one thing from Mr. Borden and that is that he is typically a few steps ahead of anyone I have met. That includes a lot of first rate smiths and, for better or worse, graduating at the top of my class from The Colorado School of Trades. This is likely the 18th or 19th full custom rifle, that I have had built since 2002, and none of them, save one, featured this level of attention to detail. Hence, like the saying goes, when he talks, I tend to listen, and very closely at that...

Regards, Matt.

 

[LHSmith]

Just started using a FL bushing die from Whidden for my 6.5 x 55 30' Imp. First class all the way from the box to the HEADSPACE gage to the die locknut and a die that sizes my brass perfectly. I will definitely be a repeat customer.

 

[Kurz]

There is no doubt that the Whidden dies are excellent additions to our repertoire of tools necessary for creating accurate ammunition. And while everyone agrees that the top tier products usually cost the most, Whidden is no different, they are expensive at nearly $300.00/2-die set. Carrie Whidden is an excellent representative of a fine company. She is a treat to work with.

Alan Warner also makes an exceptional set of dies or can make you any variation of a custom die that you might want or need. The machining is superb but again the price might deter some folks at approximately $500.00/set. Quotes from Alan are suggested based on all the variations which could enter into the picture. I have spoken with him on the phone a couple of times and find him to be a very easy person to discuss projects with. I suspect he knows more about machining and rifles than many of us put together.

Jim Carstensen provides top quality custom dies and die conversions when requested. He owns JLC Precision is Iowa.

The Harrell brothers make custom dies on request as well. I don't have any of theirs yet but all the reports I read are extremely positive.

If you are a DIY-type person, there are excellent die blanks available for you to work with, including Micrometer tops for precision seating. Coupled with careful work, these blanks can yield superb dies based on your skill level of course.

Regards.

 

[Badbob]

Quick follow up question. Is the custom bushing resizer worth the money over the standard FL bushing die they offer? I'm building a .295 neck 6.5x284.

I used Whidden off the shelf FL bushing die to resize my 6x47 and love them. Especially that I did not have to send them a fire formed case and dummy round.

is there solid evidence custom fit dies improve accuracy over many of the fine off the shelf match grade dies.

Any help would be appreciate. BB

 

[rkittine]

At the moment all the dies for my precision rifles are Whidden Custom. I bought my reamers so I can depend on some consistency when rebarreling (at least that was my thought) and sent Whidden 3 cases that I fired 3 times each as well as the reamer print.


Bob

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I had a chance to really put my new custom dies form Whidden thru the paces a couple weeks ago
I shot a 4 day 4 gun match along with a couple full days of practice Istarted out with a new set of 50 cases
I'm very pleased with the perfomance of these dies especially the sizing die. It is a non bushing FL die. It sizes my PPC cases perfectly they went In and out of the gun like butter awesome sizing die
The seating die produces loaded rounds with 5-6 tenths run out

If you need a set of custom dies at a great price I highly recommend them

How do you adjust your neck tension for differing conditions and brass lifespan?

 

[Tim Singleton]

How do you adjust your neck tension for differing conditions and brass lifespan?

I don't.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Quick follow up question. Is the custom bushing resizer worth the money over the standard FL bushing die they offer? I'm building a .295 neck 6.5x284.

I used Whidden off the shelf FL bushing die to resize my 6x47 and love them. Especially that I did not have to send them a fire formed case and dummy round.

is there solid evidence custom fit dies improve accuracy over many of the fine off the shelf match grade dies.

Any help would be appreciate. BB

Bob
I don't know probably not
I wanted to get away from bushing dies was my reason for going with them
Sorry I'm no help there

 

[Shynloco]

Well after all the raving reviews of Whidden Dies, let me add another. I recently bought another members USED Whidden .260 Remington Die. That means that die was made for someone else's chamber because I have the reamer that was used to cut mine. And I primarily use Redding S Dies that have given me good results in several calibers. But I decided to go ahead and try out my new USED Whidden S Die. It not only worked smoothly (I could feel the smoother difference during resizing using Lapua brass), but gave me better concentricity on my finished cartridges than my Reddings have. So IMHO, you cannot go wrong with Whidden Dies and can expect better results than before using other manufacturers' dies.

Alex