Whidden dies, any users

[dtucker]

I am having a 6.5 saum built soon. I have all the parts and waiting on AJ,s action. I saw that GAP sells the dies and also was scrolling through a thread on the Hide on 1 of the rifles he is making on this caliber. George was showing a picture of a set of dies for this that Whidden made. Are many of you using their dies. I was thinking of ordering 2 or 3 sets for some things but they are pricey. They look very nice and well made. What do you think?

 

[DMC]

Dan
I have a Whidden F/L bushing die for my Dasher, they are very well made, i've used Redding,RCBS, Hornady etc I like the Whidden better, I still use a Wilson seater, but old habits are hard to break, happy with the setup. I think the forum boss has a set for his BRX, i think he liked them as well

Safe shooting

DMC

 

[ShootDots]

John Whidden makes excellent dies.. You have several benefits from them: 1.) the "insides" (stem, expander etc) are all Redding. As such you can order a "floating carbide expander ball" from Sinclair for the die, if you are so inclined to use an expander. 2.) Also, because the insides are Redding, you can use either Redding OR Wilson bushings, if you order the bushing set up. 3.) AND if you prefer a "regular / non-bushing" die, they will, upon request, hone it out to your specs. 4.) Additionally, the Whidden seater is like a "smooth as butter" Forster Ultra Seater die... 5.) Finally, you get a shoulder gauge that measures the amount of "shoulder bump" (set-back) you're setting your die up to so you can ensure you get the "bump" you want...

 

[dtucker]

All the rifles i had built in the past i shot lite weigth bullets out of them here where i live. I sold off those rifles to build a couple that shoot the heavier bullets. Alot of bullets i will be using will be the VLD type. I thought i read somewhere that you need to use a diffferent stem in the seaters for these type bullets when you are using them. Is this correct?

 

[ShootDots]

I am shooting a 6 Dasher with Berger 105 VLD's and a .284 Shehane with 180 Hybrids>>>which are VLD's with a "tangent ogive at the bearing surface"... I have ZERO problems.. If you are supposed to use something different, I did not know it and someone needs to inform me that what I am doing is not working correctly!! LOL!! On the other hand, I am not from the "all knowledgeable" in every area of reloading genre either..

 

[jghoghunter]

I have a set for my 6x47L and they are very well made and the bump gauge works great and is a nice extra. They don't cost anymore than the rest of the custom dies and they work well. Thanks John for a nice product at a good price. That's something we don't see much of these days anymore.

 

[stubbicatt]

I have a set in 308 and 6.5x47. The 6.5x47 has two seating stems, one for the VLD types. Both are really well made, and make good ammunition.

The seater die thimble is a bit stiff, but perhaps it will loosen up with use. Being stiff like that it doesn't drift its settings at all...

Are they better made than other dies? I cannot say how close the internal dimensions are to correct, but I will continue to buy them because Whidden actually competes (and does very well thank you), and is a really decent fellow. The people on the phone are GREAT at Whidden Dies, and they will make a custom FL die neck if you want it, and the dies are supposed to be dimensioned to work with PTG reamers, which was what was used to make my barrels.

Mostly because Whidden is a super great guy.

 

[Immike]

I am using my first whidden shehane die and I like it. Yes, they are very pleasant people to deal with.

 

[Shynloco]

John Whidden makes excellent dies.. You have several benefits from them: 1.) the "insides" (stem, expander etc) are all Redding. As such you can order a "floating carbide expander ball" from Sinclair for the die, if you are so inclined to use an expander. 2.) Also, because the insides are Redding, you can use either Redding OR Wilson bushings, if you order the bushing set up. 3.) AND if you prefer a "regular / non-bushing" die, they will, upon request, hone it out to your specs. 4.) Additionally, the Whidden seater is like a "smooth as butter" Forster Ultra Seater die... 5.) Finally, you get a shoulder gauge that measures the amount of "shoulder bump" (set-back) you're setting your die up to so you can ensure you get the "bump" you want...

Excellent rendition of what Whidden gets you. I'm hearing more guys who compete going that direction, (especially the Dashers) if they aren't there already. Well worth the investment for added "excellence."

Alex

 

[FatBoy]

I've shot with John off and on for 10 years. He is a first class man and a world class shooter.I recently started shooting again and when I saw John is making dies I ordered a set of 6.5x47L dies. Very nice and the tapered expander and headspace gauge is a nice bonus. On top of that, the set is about $35 less than the Redding Type S competition set, which is what I have for all my other calibers.

Buying from a someone who actually competes is a huge plus in my book.

 

[Dos XX]

I use them in .308. I had a set for 6.5CM but sold them when I sold the gun. They are excellent dies.

I was shooting Amaxes in the 6.5CM. The seating stem was leaving a ring. I called them. They sent another one right out. Problem solved.

Great folks there. They are kind of outfit that I enjoy supporting. Farrell Industries is another.

 

[waverly]

I have some of the Whidden dies also. The last set I bought were for 300 WSM. Just emailed a copy of the reamer print 4-5 weeks later had the dies. I think they were $195.00 for the WSM.

I like them. Dasher, 6.5x47L, 308, 300WSM.

Waverly

P.s. Just started using the 300 WSM dies for my light gun.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Dan,
I suggest you get a Redding saum full length s-die and use the appropriate neck bushing. Then use your chamber reamer and have a Wilson blank reamed for your seating die. Whidden dies are decent, but the bushing pockets are shallow and they only size a little more than half the neck. This is a problem when using bullets that have a pressure ring like most lots of Berger vlds and hybrids. If you have a friend with a lathe you can run a 1/2" carbide end mill into the die to deepen that pocket. Then the dies work pretty well.
Alex

 

[bsumoba]

I have his 284 Shehane dies and they are excellent!!!

 

[Judd]

I'm a big fan and like them better than the Redding comp dies I have.

Plus, John gets customer service and that is refreshing in today's market.

 

[Shiraz]

For those that don't know, www.bullets.com is a stocking dealer of Whidden dies and accessories:

http://www.bullets.com/search?q=whidden

 

[laveritt]

I have the bushing version of John's dies in 6ppc and 6Dasher. I am well pleased with both dies and contemplating purchase of a 30BR bushing die. I would recommend them without hesitation.

The interior finish is very good, having checked both dies with my bore scope. They stand behind them and will work with you, if you should want your die tweaked a little bit.

They also include a shoulder bump gauge which is a big ++, when setting them up.They come in a nice, roomy plastic die box that I like. I keep my shell holder & die shims all together for each die, with plenty of room to spare.

 

[bsumoba]

For those that don't know, www.bullets.com is a stocking dealer of Whidden dies and accessories:

http://www.bullets.com/search?q=whidden

this is where i bought my 284 shehane dies!

 

[timeout]

All the rifles i had built in the past i shot lite weigth bullets out of them here where i live. I sold off those rifles to build a couple that shoot the heavier bullets. Alot of bullets i will be using will be the VLD type. I thought i read somewhere that you need to use a diffferent stem in the seaters for these type bullets when you are using them. Is this correct?

I use Wilson seater dies and I have their VLD seater stem in them. Maybe it's just me, but I have poor luck with exact seating depth using the standard seating stem. When you take the standard stem out and install a VLD bullet into it, there is a very poor fit and easy to have the bullet "wobble". Not so with the VLD seater stem. I also like Whidden FL dies. I tried 3 different dies fot the 6 Daher and Whidden was easily the best of the 3. Their shoulder bump tool is also better than the one supplied with another brand. They are a little more expensive, but worth it.

 

[madmixerman]

I have a set of 30 br & 6 dasher dies. Very well made & added bonus shipping wasn't what he quoted & he sent me the difference. You won't see that too often. Very pleased.