Any value in sending fired cases to Forster to optimize their reloading dies?

[want2learn]

I recall reading somewhere that you could send in a few fired cases along with the Forster reloading dies and they would, for a cost, optimize or customize the dies. I would imagine that the dies are further polished and perhaps dimensions changed a tiny bit?

Wondering if anyone has any experience with this service? Did it make a difference, are you glad you did it...and if so what changed/improved?

For reference, i was considering this option as i've purchased my first ever brand new barrel from a high end custom barrel maker....and i purchased a brand new 2 die Forster full length sizing dies for caliber 6.5x47 Lapua.

thank you.

 

[spife7980]

The only thing forster will do to your die is to open the neck diameter. They don’t mess with anything else. It’s 15 bucks plus 7 bucks return shipping.

 

[want2learn]

spife, thanks...i just read your other post..thank you.

What would be the benefit to further open the neck diameter? It would seem to me that if i could well seat the bullet already why would i have to open it up further?

 

[spife7980]

Typically sizing dies are dimensioned so that they can resize even the worse case scenario brass. As such that means they work the rest of the spectrum more than necessary.

Measure a fired case. That’s where it starts.

Measure a sized case with the expander ball removed. From your fires dimension to this measurement is how much it’s getting sized down.

Measure the sized case with the expander ball installed. The difference between the above and this is how much the expander is actually opening the neck back up.


It’s not unheard of for a die to size the neck down .010 more than necessary and ten open it back up with the expander. All of that extra work to the neck hardens the brass and increases spring back. That means it’s physically harder to work the brass in the press and it doesn’t shoot as evenly or consistently shot to shot and in between each firing of the brass.

If you hone the neck diameter out to a larger dimension you can lessen the amount of overworking that you are doing to your brass.

But if you go to far then the die will no longer be able to size the brass down so you need to have your measurements before you have them remove any material.

 

[want2learn]

thank you....you made that really easy to understand, i appreciate it.

 

[Bertoli888]

For what you are asking recommend that you talk with the good folk at Whidden:

Whidden Gunworks - Technology Applied To The Art of Shooting

We manufacture some of the most innovative and creative precision products, for the world of competitive and recreational shooting.

www.whiddengunworks.com

They can do it.

 

[Brux]

I shoot Lapua brass in my 308. I bought a Forster FL die and sent it to them to have it honed out. Big difference on how less it works the necks on my brass.

 

[Ranger188]

As mentioned before, Whidden will make a "custom die" for you. Takes forever and people have been saying
lately their quality control is hit and miss.
Forster will hone out the neck on a FL sizer die. Have many of them and work perfectly.
The necks are usually to small and work the necks to much.
Here's a list of what the neck dimensions are from them. Pull down a little and the 3rd column over ( die neck dim. )

https://www.forsterproducts.com/pdf/Custom_neck-honing_full-die_form.pdf

 

[want2learn]

thanks...i'll call them