montana_native
Well-Known Member
Looking for someone who has less than a 6 month build time for a custom wildcat die set.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Who has the quickest turn-around on custom dies?
- Thread starter montana_native
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7mmrowland
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2008
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I'm not sure if the this glass holds water but Mr. Niel Jones told me he just
need 3 fired cases fired 3 times. After I told him I had the die cutting reamer he informed me that there is no need for it.
I believe he told me a 12 to 16 week turn around, but that was 2 months ago.
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MontanaRifleman
Well-Known Member
Sounds like Neil is getting busy. Last time I talked to him it was about 8-12 weeks, but that's been several months.
Have you called Redding?
What wildcat are you looking for?
-MR
Have you called Redding?
What wildcat are you looking for?
-MR
Any idea how much full length custom die would cost for .308? I been neck sizing my brass, but sooner or later I have to full size it shrinks over time and after I full size it I have to fireform it to make my brass perfect again, by the way where in PA is this place where custom dies are made?
found another thread the guy in Saegertown, might pay him a visit, thanks by the way in that thread stated that neck sizing will make brass tight, don't you guys after neck sizing it trim it to particular length? doing so will shrink brass not make them tighter
found another thread the guy in Saegertown, might pay him a visit, thanks by the way in that thread stated that neck sizing will make brass tight, don't you guys after neck sizing it trim it to particular length? doing so will shrink brass not make them tighter
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MontanaRifleman
Well-Known Member
Jinx,
You can get custom dies from a number of sources. Neil Jones is well know for making good ones. Redding is another source. You can also just use a body die on your brass to partialy size it so it just barely fits your chamber. You can also use bushing dies, which is probably the best way to go but reqires turning your necks. With bushing dies you can neck and body size or FL size. If my memroy serves me well, in one of my conversations with Neil, I beleived he said he originally developed bushing dies. There are a lot of ways to skin the cat. And there are a lot of good threads on the subject... if you take a little time to read through them you will learn a ton, just like me.
You from PA?
You can get custom dies from a number of sources. Neil Jones is well know for making good ones. Redding is another source. You can also just use a body die on your brass to partialy size it so it just barely fits your chamber. You can also use bushing dies, which is probably the best way to go but reqires turning your necks. With bushing dies you can neck and body size or FL size. If my memroy serves me well, in one of my conversations with Neil, I beleived he said he originally developed bushing dies. There are a lot of ways to skin the cat. And there are a lot of good threads on the subject... if you take a little time to read through them you will learn a ton, just like me.
You from PA?
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You only have two main ways to do this.
1. Like Boss Hoss said, you must have the matching resize reamer to your exact chamber reamer. Then most smiths can make you a FL size die matched to your chamber, heat treat it and good to go. Cost will be about $175 up and your cost for the reamer unless the smith just happens to have your exact chamber reamer. Do not let anyone feed you that crap about using your chamber reamer to make a FL size die. Totally bogus and abosolutely zero resizing.
2. Dies from fired cases. Neil Jones and Jim Carstenson (JLC Precison on www.6mmbr.com under "Tools", also does some I believe.) Neil needs 5 cases fired 3 times or a copy of your chamber reamer print. He will make either an inline or 7/8x14 or 1 inch press die that is NS only initially if all you have is the chamber reamer print. You fire the cases 3 times, send the NS die back along with the cases and he makes an insert to make the NS dies into a FL size die with neck/shoulder bump bushings (only one that does this) custom honed to your chamber. Cost is about $175 to $200 depending on which die body. My 338 Lapua Ack Imp dies were on the 1" die body and 3 shoulder neck bushings. Figure anywhere from 45 days to 3 months.
3. Heard the Jim Carstenson does it similar. I know he can take a redding body die, convert it to FL size with bushings custom honed for $80 if your wildcat is off standard Redding body die.
4. The Harrell brothes in VA (go to BR central and look under dies and muzzlebrakes) have a CAD process to do certain dies.
5. Die mftrs will normally need cases or reamer print and if using reamer print it will be "close" but not exact fit to chamber. Cost is $150-300 and 10 weeks to 10 months depending on time of year, mftr and backlog.
BH
1. Like Boss Hoss said, you must have the matching resize reamer to your exact chamber reamer. Then most smiths can make you a FL size die matched to your chamber, heat treat it and good to go. Cost will be about $175 up and your cost for the reamer unless the smith just happens to have your exact chamber reamer. Do not let anyone feed you that crap about using your chamber reamer to make a FL size die. Totally bogus and abosolutely zero resizing.
2. Dies from fired cases. Neil Jones and Jim Carstenson (JLC Precison on www.6mmbr.com under "Tools", also does some I believe.) Neil needs 5 cases fired 3 times or a copy of your chamber reamer print. He will make either an inline or 7/8x14 or 1 inch press die that is NS only initially if all you have is the chamber reamer print. You fire the cases 3 times, send the NS die back along with the cases and he makes an insert to make the NS dies into a FL size die with neck/shoulder bump bushings (only one that does this) custom honed to your chamber. Cost is about $175 to $200 depending on which die body. My 338 Lapua Ack Imp dies were on the 1" die body and 3 shoulder neck bushings. Figure anywhere from 45 days to 3 months.
3. Heard the Jim Carstenson does it similar. I know he can take a redding body die, convert it to FL size with bushings custom honed for $80 if your wildcat is off standard Redding body die.
4. The Harrell brothes in VA (go to BR central and look under dies and muzzlebrakes) have a CAD process to do certain dies.
5. Die mftrs will normally need cases or reamer print and if using reamer print it will be "close" but not exact fit to chamber. Cost is $150-300 and 10 weeks to 10 months depending on time of year, mftr and backlog.
BH
This is the individual who builds my all of Competition and SS Sporters and the Dies that load the ammunition for them. One could make the case that he knows how to fill the glass so to speak.
https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=7fcaaf3b-0fec-4eb5-a45a-7a98f9734957
Thanks, I think I will get those dies one day,
Right now I'm set with RCBS, the ammo produced by them not bad results, on Sunday it hold 0.3 MOA and 0.265 MOA at best not sure what will improve if I switch to different dies, it might save me some brass. It will be good investment but not right now... By the way does Neil's dies come with warranty of any sort?
As far as PA I'm not quiet there, but with in LHR distance
I can check what current gas prices in PA with 6 x zoom
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Thanks, I think I will get those dies one day,
Right now I'm set with RCBS, the ammo produced by them not bad results, on Sunday it hold 0.3 MOA and 0.265 MOA at best not sure what will improve if I switch to different dies, it might save me some brass. It will be good investment but not right now... By the way does Neil's dies come with warranty of any sort?
As far as PA I'm not quiet there, but with in LHR distance
Warranty for what?
Who does have a warranty?
He will tweak them to make them work exactly if needed. Other than that the issues are normally "operator headspacing"! No warranty on that.
BH
MontanaRifleman
Well-Known Member
Like BH said, dies dont come with a warranty. Neil is very well know for his quality of work.
montana_native
Well-Known Member
I contacted Neil Jones yesterday as my gunsmith recommended. He's going to get me set up. He said he can build me a neck-sizer to get me started. Once I get the 3x fired cases I can send it back to him to have the full length bushing added.
Nice guy and it sounds like his dies are top notch.
Thanks for all of the recommendations and help.
Nice guy and it sounds like his dies are top notch.
Thanks for all of the recommendations and help.
Most of things I get, break in the worst possible way, or they are defective to begin with, that's why I would prefer to have warranty of any sort.
Then you have not seen Neil's die! I have had him tweak one of my dies to make a perfect match and at no charge. Been using them for 22 years.
Goes back to what I said about "operator headspacing" also. Even a 10 lb sledge can be broken if you try.
BH
