Whidden Custom vs. Off the Shelf Dies

[Badbob]

Is the custom bushing sizer 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

 

[Dusty Stevens]

either one will be fine.

 

[rkittine]

I have pondered this question myself and being a nubie, I just went with Whidden Custom Dies. Once I thought more about it, I was glad that I purchased the reamers for my rifles so when I have to change barrels, there is a good chance that my dies will still be OK.

Bob

 

[Badbob]

I have pondered this question myself and being a nubie, I just went with Whidden Custom Dies. Once I thought more about it, I was glad that I purchased the reamers for my rifles so when I have to change barrels, there is a good chance that my dies will still be OK.

Bob

Ya, I own my reamer as well. its just a pain to haul out my reloading gear to the range so I can reload the same cases 3x and then I got to wait for the custom die. Well I waited 3 months for the barrel so what's another long wait. BB

 

[Longtrain]

I used Redding dies for 30+ years without a problem. However, now shooting a 6mm Dasher, 6mm BR and a 223 AI, I had dies made by Whidden. I'm sold, they are excellent.

When I had the 223AI chambered, after FFing using COW method and the first firing, I tried to resize with a Redding die, but I could not bump the shoulder. I sent the die to Redding and they told me that my chamber wasn't to spec and it would need to be redone. After some discussion with shooters more knowledgable then I (and not wanting to cut and re-chamber the barrel, as it was and is a shooter), I called Whidden, I supplied them with some fired brass & the reamer print and they confirmed that the chamber was a few thousandths off and that they could make a die that would work for this "Special 223 AI" and any future chambering done to specs.

The die works perfectly and the rifle shoots. Quality work and professional treatment from beginning to end.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ya, I own my reamer as well. its just a pain to haul out my reloading gear to the range so I can reload the same cases 3x and then I got to wait for the custom die. Well I waited 3 months for the barrel so what's another long wait. BB

All you gotta do is send them the print of your reamer and itll be perfect.

 

[rkittine]

They told me that they would make them from my Reamer Print, but the better way was to send them 3 cases each fired more than once, which is why I did both.

Bob

 

[mikecr]

If they didn't make it from your fireformed brass, it isn't 'custom'. It's off-the-shelf, no matter who sells it to you.

 

[dmoran]

All you gotta do is send them the print of your reamer and itll be perfect.

That is as long as the reamer specs out to the print (not always the case) and the gunsmith does a good job chambering in keeping the runout tight.

To many if's for me... but maybe that's just me... lol
Am in agreement with @mikecr input.
Donovan

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That is as long as the reamer specs out to the print (not always the case) and the gunsmith does a good job chambering and keeps the runout tight.

To many if's for me... but maybe that's just me... lol
Donovan

So very true. I know what i get so i forget sometimes

 

[kolar55]

All you gotta do is send them the print of your reamer and itll be perfect.[That's what I did for my 6xc before I even had the rifle in my hands. Those dies work perfectly and are very well made. Previously on a Savage 7-08 I tried 3 different die sets and stuck a case for the first time in over 40 years of reloading. I finally sent Whidden 3 fired cases and had a sizing die made. Now they size as smooth as butter. The only complaint I have is now I'm spoiled and think anything else isn't quite good enough.

 

[Badbob]

Midway had a Wilson FL Bushing on clearance so I bought it. I thought it was worth a try before shelling out for a custom die. The only spec unique to my reamer is the neck and freebore. I trust it will be fine. BB

 

[carlsbad]

If your chamber matches the "standard" die that you buy, then no problem. If it doesn't, then you need a custom die.

I recently had 308 that wouldn't chamber because the base of the does I was using didn't size the base enough for my reamer.

--Jerry

 

[Cowtownup]

My standard whidden 284 FL die sizes the neck down to much for my 315 neck dimension. I wish I would have went with a custom die from them. I asked about honing my standard die down, but they told me it had already been hardened and could not be honed.

 

[JRS]

My standard whidden 284 FL die sizes the neck down to much for my 315 neck dimension. I wish I would have went with a custom die from them. I asked about honing my standard die down, but they told me it had already been hardened and could not be honed.

Forster does it on their dies.

 

[Ringostar]

My standard whidden 284 FL die sizes the neck down to much for my 315 neck dimension. I wish I would have went with a custom die from them. I asked about honing my standard die down, but they told me it had already been hardened and could not be honed.

You can run a .282" neck mandrel in after sizing.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I prefer to spec my reamers to work with available bushing dies. Either way will work. One way requires custom dies for each chamber cut. The other requires one custom reamer.

 

[Cowtownup]

Forster does it on their dies.

Interestingly, the standard Forester die is just the right amount of sizing the neck down for my chamber. I was calling them to have one honed and in discussing what I wanted with their technician, we discovered this so I just got a standard FL die. For what its worth, the Forester standard die takes the outside of the neck down to .309" and I size it back up to .310" by pulling the button back thru.

You can run a .282" neck mandrel in after sizing.

I've tried doing that, but with the standard whidden die in 284 for my particular chamber it was overworking the brass IMO. I also like to keep the sizing in one step, instead of a 2nd operation with the expander mandrel.

 

[Ringostar]

Interestingly, the standard Forester die is just the right amount of sizing the neck down for my chamber. I was calling them to have one honed and in discussing what I wanted with their technician, we discovered this so I just got a standard FL die. For what its worth, the Forester standard die takes the outside of the neck down to .309" and I size it back up to .310" by pulling the button back thru.



I've tried doing that, but with the standard whidden die in 284 for my particular chamber it was overworking the brass IMO. I also like to keep the sizing in one step, instead of a 2nd operation with the expander mandrel.

I understand only wanting a single set. I don't mind doing a 2 step sizing though, it's not that bad. I used the standard Whidden 284 bushing die to size the body, then a standard Lee 7x57 collet die for the neck.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I understand only wanting a single set. I don't mind doing a 2 step sizing though, it's not that bad. I used the standard Whidden 284 bushing die to size the body, then a standard Lee 7x57 collet die for the neck.

Why not just use a bushing in your bushing die to do everything in one pass?