Author Topic: Custom dies ? (Read 831 times)

BruceP · « **on:** July 11, 2003, 04:31:52 PM »

Who would you recomend to make a set of custom reloading dies?
I was thinking of Redding.
BruceP

OOBuckshot · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2003, 02:48:08 PM »

Hey Bruce

Check out RCBS. They sent me two primer seating rods to replace two I lost during moving at no cost. I also bought a set of 22.250 competition dies to use the seating die to seat 220 Swift cases. However, my semi rimed 220 Swift cases would not fit the booster shell holder that came with the 22-250 or the one I have with my .243 competition dies. I called RCBS's costermer service number and they said they could custom make a shell holder for the .220 Swift. $25.00 and a week later, I'm seating .224 bullets to three decimal places. OOBuckshot

BruceP · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2003, 03:49:34 PM »

I now have mostly RCBS dies with a couple of sets of Hornady and a couple of sets of Lee's. I have no gripes with RCBS. I have had good luck with their standard stuff but I have never had custom dies from anyone. This will be for a wildcat cartridge that I plan on having a rifle chambered to.
BruceP

Double D · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2003, 05:19:44 AM »

BruceP,

I believe that RCBS no longer offers the custom die service, I could be wrong. Check with them.

Redding was doing some custom dies also.

Unfortunately I found that both RCBS and Redding custom made dies were unecessarily expensive.

I find Redding to be a higher quailty die than RCBS. The RCBS is a top quality mass produced product, The Redding just little closer to a custom made hand fitted die, but still mass produced. For standard caliber dies I buy the Redding first then RCBS.

I have no experience with the Hornady dies. I haven't been able to find them when I needed dies. I am sitting here holding a set of their custom Grade New Demension Dies in 300 Win Mag that belong to my son. These dies appear to be a very high quality set of dies. I think I may have to buy a set of these dies just to try them. The label say these dies are available in their special order dies.

I understand Lee will make custom dies. I avoid Lee anything PERIOD. Some people tout Lee as a good start up product. When you are first starting up your dollars are precious and spending them on Lee Products is the same as flushing them down the toilet. Lee has a brilliant marketing strategy and fantastic design ideas, but execution stinks! Lee products are shoddy, minimal and made as cheaply as possible. Lee products have no durability and marginal strength. Sales is the goal of Lee.

I get all my custom or obsolete dies now from CH4D. They are top quality. Here is a link to their website. You will find their prices very competitive and alot more affordable in the custom end. Just Click on the link and you will be taken to their website. http://www.ch4d.com/

BruceP · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2003, 06:09:53 AM »

Thanks DD for the info. Dave Davison at CH4D and I have been emailing each other all weekend. He seems like a great guy and has been a lot of help. Because of some of our discussions I am considering just having the chamber of my rifle cut to the 35 Whelen Ackley imp. and not to the 280 Ackley imp. case opened to 35 cal. as I had planed. I will have to get with my gunsmith and get the final plans worked out.
BruceP

Losthwy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2003, 04:57:21 PM »

I was on the phone with Redding today and they were very helpful and patient about my novice questions on ordering dies. Can't vouch for how they work yet but the 1/2 hour I spent talking to them was a pleasure. A+
Ended the conversation with the feeling any question or need for instruction would be cheerfully answered in the future. To me that means alot. Verses some outfit like RSI who act like they are doing you a huge favour by talking with them.

BruceP · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2003, 03:47:28 PM »

I have heard good things about Redding dies but I have never owned or used them. The shops around here carry mostly RCBS and a few Lee. The gunsmith thats building my rifle does use some Reddings and I know he likes them.
BruceP

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2003, 01:53:25 AM »

ch, huntingtons, and Lee have all made special things for me and there all great to work with. Lee may make some junk but there dies arent one of them. All I buy anymore are lee dies for handguns and redding for rifles.

Smokey Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2003, 08:16:41 PM »

Glad to see a couple people sticking up for Lee. Their collet neck-sizing die is great.