Custom Hornady Dies

[18Echo]

Has anybody had experience with sending fired shells and your reamer print to Hornady to have a set of custom dies made for your chamber/round?

I'm thinking about doing this for my 338-06 and my 6.5 x 47L project when it's complete.

I'm also wondering if I should just go with the standard non-bushing die or upgrade to the bushing die.

I'm guessing since they will be custom cut for my chamber, I can get a F/L die and it wont work the brass to much.

opinions and experience with these are welcome, thanks.

 

[tomcatfan]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

I think if you can pull this one off, you will have to post a how to. I'll be impressed/supprised if they do this for you.

 

[18Echo]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

They do, I just want to know if someone has the dies and what they think of them.

 

[clmayfield]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage 10fp</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think if you can pull this one off, you will have to post a how to. I'll be impressed/supprised if they do this for you. </div></div>

From Hornady:

"Hornady Manufacturing now offers the advantage of making custom dies to your specifications. These custom-manufactured dies are available in either our Custom-Grade™ New Dimension™ (standard) or Match-Grade™ New Dimension™ die configuration, and can
be made to load any cartridge.

Our custom-manufactured dies are made on precision CNC machines, that produce an exacting die to extremely tight tolerances. All we need is a chamber cast, three fired cases and/or a chamber reamer drawing.

Each custom-manufactured die is hand crafted for a perfect fit. Expander balls, shell holders, shell plates, trimmer pilots, bullet seating stems and alignment sleeves can be made to fit any bullet of any profile, lead or jacketed. These precision dies give the handloader total control over the loading process!

Our Hydraulic Form die kit is designed to expand a standard case into an improved case design without having to fireform cases.

Thus, saves time, component expense and barrel wear."

The hydro form dies are really cool. If I were doing a wildcat, I would definitely use them. A lot less risky and a lot less work than loading up with cream of wheat or some such.

 

[clmayfield]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

BTW... I had Neil Jones do mine. Custom dies are the way to go in terms of getting a handload that will fit your chamber well as well as extend brass life.

I have no experience with Hornady, though.

 

[18Echo]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

I looked at Neil Jones, but there is a significant difference in the pricing. Granted, in the grand scheme of things, $70 isn't that much, but it's still a $70 difference..

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

"Our (Hornady) custom-manufactured dies are made on precision CNC machines, that produce an exacting die to extremely tight tolerances. All we need is a chamber cast, three fired cases and/or a chamber reamer drawing."

Making both firearm chambers and size die chambers conventionally with reamers is still the least costly manufactoring method but CNC machining makes 'one off' work a LOT less time consuming and expensive that it used to be. Program a computer controlled lathe for whatever dimensions are desired and turn it on, a near totally finished part (die) will drop out in a few minutes. But it's still not cheep, those machines are expensive and they do require a well trained operator to set everything up.

 

[Jumper]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

Hornady is a good company but I have yet to try one of their die sets. I've been happy with Forster dies and Forster has custom machining services. I may eventually have them make a custom set of dies for my rifle. Their prices seem pretty reasonable and the wait isn't too bad according to their website.

http://www.forsterproducts.com/store.asp?pid=30223&catid=19938

 

[tomcatfan]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Carter Mayfield</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage 10fp</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think if you can pull this one off, you will have to post a how to. I'll be impressed/supprised if they do this for you. </div></div>

From Hornady:

"Hornady Manufacturing now offers the advantage of making custom dies to your specifications. These custom-manufactured dies are available in either our Custom-Grade™ New Dimension™ (standard) or Match-Grade™ New Dimension™ die configuration, and can
be made to load any cartridge.

Our custom-manufactured dies are made on precision CNC machines, that produce an exacting die to extremely tight tolerances. All we need is a chamber cast, three fired cases and/or a chamber reamer drawing.

Each custom-manufactured die is hand crafted for a perfect fit. Expander balls, shell holders, shell plates, trimmer pilots, bullet seating stems and alignment sleeves can be made to fit any bullet of any profile, lead or jacketed. These precision dies give the handloader total control over the loading process!

Our Hydraulic Form die kit is designed to expand a standard case into an improved case design without having to fireform cases.

Thus, saves time, component expense and barrel wear."

The hydro form dies are really cool. If I were doing a wildcat, I would definitely use them. A lot less risky and a lot less work than loading up with cream of wheat or some such. </div></div>

Thanks for the info.

 

[fireball168]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

Ben Syring is the contact in the Hornady Custom Shop you'll be dealing with. If you call and ask for the Custom Shop - it is his phone that will be ringing.

Best case scenario, as far as I'm concerned - send him three fired cases(more if you are going to be using an assortment of various different brass manufacturers) ALONG WITH the chamber print from your smith - if there isn't a wild variation between neck thickness with the brass, go FL and forget about it.

The last ones they did for me took 12 weeks +/-. Money well spent, every time.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Re: Custom Hornady Dies

I have used them a few times. The reason I go back is because they work to make a standard factory rechambered rifle shoot almost like a benchrest rifle.

But I am not loyal to the mark and got the last set from Lee. I will let you know how they work out when I get a new barrel installed.