Hello, I'm curious if whidden dies are worth it and live up to the hype. My search here mainly shows dies for sale. I've been using Forster dies and find their bench rest ultra micrometer dies to work very well. I'm going to be reloading for 6cm and 7 prc soon, just trying to decide if I'm going to drop extra dollars for whidden. Case use will be a mix of hunting and range use out to 800-1000.
Are Whidden Dies Worth It?
- Thread starter HuntAZ
- Start date
I've got custom Whidden sizing dies for my 300 PRC and 6 BRA. I like them quite a bit, but I would never have referred to them as "hyped." They are good quality dies and Whidden has built in (as an option) an innovative feature with its click sizing - basically they cut slots in the threads that you can feel when you screw it in and out. They correspond to .002" each.
The click sizers are somewhat more expensive than most dies, but their standard dies are roughly in the ballpark of most others (low $100 range). Will they make better ammo than another quality die? I couldn't in good conscience say that. Would I buy Whidden again? Yes, because they are good quality, easy to work with, and especially because they make dies for a lot of the more esoteric calibers.
My biggest disappointment with Whidden is that they've stopped making custom dies.
EDIT: I forgot that I also have a standard 308 die from them.
The click sizers are somewhat more expensive than most dies, but their standard dies are roughly in the ballpark of most others (low $100 range). Will they make better ammo than another quality die? I couldn't in good conscience say that. Would I buy Whidden again? Yes, because they are good quality, easy to work with, and especially because they make dies for a lot of the more esoteric calibers.
My biggest disappointment with Whidden is that they've stopped making custom dies.
EDIT: I forgot that I also have a standard 308 die from them.
They do live up to their expectation. I like the whidden a lot and especially the custom dies they have since stopped making.
I’d buy whidden today if I wasn’t comfortable paying the SAC premium that I now buy
Thank you for the feedback. Within reason, I'm a buy once cry once kind of person. Obviously I'll end up crying a little each time I buy a new rifle if I go to a custom die. But this is good insight, most of my friends that reload are using off the shelf rcbs etc dies. Which no problem with that, but like with any hobby, you start getting down bunny trails. I like to experiment so I'll likely give the dies a try. I'm waiting on the rifles, but already have Peterson brass, powders, projectiles, and primers. Now I just need the rifles lol. Thanks again!
re: Whidden vs Forster Ultra BR seaters
I started out with Redding Competition seaters and Type 'S' F/L sizers, and moved to the Forster Ultra BR seaters for about half the price of the Redding Comp seaters. I couldn't tell the difference in results on target (shooting F/TR at a decent level), so that was pretty good in my book.
I've tried the Whidden sizers and seaters. The sizers I had (.223 and .308) definitely didn't *over* size the fired brass; if anything it was just barely enough. Basing that on measuring headspace/ shoulder bump, and sizing (diameter) at the shoulder and at the 0.200" line. Granted, I have a fairly snug match chamber (2013 US F/TR team reamer).
The seaters worked fine... I just never really liked the 'feel' of the lightweight aluminum die body. Is it probably technically strong enough, plus some, for that particular work load? Most likely. Still don't care for it, personally. Whidden does offer some other options as far as seater stems to fit particular bullet ogive profiles, so that may be a consideration for you.
I started out with Redding Competition seaters and Type 'S' F/L sizers, and moved to the Forster Ultra BR seaters for about half the price of the Redding Comp seaters. I couldn't tell the difference in results on target (shooting F/TR at a decent level), so that was pretty good in my book.
I've tried the Whidden sizers and seaters. The sizers I had (.223 and .308) definitely didn't *over* size the fired brass; if anything it was just barely enough. Basing that on measuring headspace/ shoulder bump, and sizing (diameter) at the shoulder and at the 0.200" line. Granted, I have a fairly snug match chamber (2013 US F/TR team reamer).
The seaters worked fine... I just never really liked the 'feel' of the lightweight aluminum die body. Is it probably technically strong enough, plus some, for that particular work load? Most likely. Still don't care for it, personally. Whidden does offer some other options as far as seater stems to fit particular bullet ogive profiles, so that may be a consideration for you.
