custom sizing dies/ Redding or?

frankenstein · #1 10-25-2002, 05:17 PM

I need some expert advice on a little project I'm putting together. It's a 1000-yard benchrest heavy class rifle in 6.5-06 improved 35 degrees. Redding tech says their Competition Type S dies are hardened so I can't have a traditional 6.5-06 opened up by running my reamer in-will ruin the reamer. Is there another brand of dies that can be made to work and still provide the accuracy I want or should I cough up $150 and order a custom sizing die from Redding (once I get it all together and can send some fire-formed cases) Any suggestions?

PrimeTime · #2 10-25-2002, 07:17 PM

Frank-
Redding Competition dies with the sliding sleeve are not hardened. I have custom dies made from these. Another option is to buy a Newlon die blank. Have your gunsmith ream it with the chamber reamer. They use standard Redding or Wilson bushings. These blanks are under a 100 bucks. Are you buying your own reamer? If so, order an undersized reamer to go along with the chamber reamer. About .003 under the chamber reamer would be a good bet, you can use this to make a full length die on the Newlon blanks. Niel Jones makes a nice custom die but they are costly. You definitely have a few options to choose from. I would avoid having Redding make custom dies unless you don't mind a very long wait.

308 Hawg · #3 10-25-2002, 07:43 PM

Frankenstein, where are you going to shoot that 6.5 Heavy 1000 yard gun?

Jay, Idaho

#4 10-25-2002, 08:36 PM

Prime Time
When you say .003 do you mean take .003 off all chamber dimensions?

Nodak7mm · #5 10-25-2002, 08:42 PM

Ditto on Primetimes suggestion. I was facing the same thing a couple of years back with a 6mm AI, bought the competition dies and had the sleeve reamed by the smith.

Nodak

dbhostler · #6 10-26-2002, 09:14 AM

frank, if you don't mind neckturning a bit, have the smith cut the chamber tight enough that you can skip the sizing step. That's the way our local smith does it here for comp guns. If you have a press, you could have your builder begin with a Wilson die and ream it out with your chamber reamer. I've had that done too and it works great.
Tim

frankenstein · #7 10-31-2002, 03:23 PM

Thanks for the advice on customizing my dies. I'm still a little confused [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] about using Redding Competition dies--is the Comp bushing style neck sizing die as shown in Redding's 2002 product catalog on page 5 hardened or not? Or are we discussing other (or older model)Comp dies? The rest of the parts on this "monster" are coming together except for this.