Custom Sizing Dies

[gman]

Just contacted Rick (Buckshot) on the other forum about some custom sizing dies for my 480 Bisley. Want to try a couple different sizes to see which is best for this gun. He informed me as of April 1 he is no longer doing custom machine work. He does have one of the sizing I was looking for and will set it aside for me. That guy has made quite a few dies and expander plugs for me over the last few years. Always top notch stuff. He recommended a couple of names to contact. I was wondering if anyone here was using someone other than Rick for this and could you recommend.

 

[Josh]

This is very upsetting to hear.

 

[quicksylver]

gman....I probably can give you a clue anyways....
And maybe someone else can fill in the blanks..
there is a man with the first name Doug over on the other site..(CB)
I am going to have to do some research to find him..
He makes a modified ( Improved) Lee style push through sizing die..
I had him make up three for me... they were of excellent quality..
what I liked best about them was that the stem was longer so it pushed the bullet completely through
the sizing portion of the die ...that way the nose of the next bullet did not get deformed as can happen with the Lee's
if you have a pointy bullet....
Dan

 

[Tony]

Check the NOE website.

 

[quicksylver]

There you go....just an expensive buy in..but once you got the mother die you're good to go..

 

[gman]

So the Lee system will just size the bullets. I'll have to lube after with my lube sizer. Correct? Never used the Lee dies.

 

[Brad]

Yes.
I don't know of anyone who makes custom size Lyman H&I size dies.

 

[gman]

Looks like NOE doesn't have the sizes for the 480. I just made an order with them yesterday. If I get the one from Rick I can always see how that size works and if I need I can hone it out larger. Thanks fellas!

 

[Brad]

http://www.buffaloarms.com/401_cali...S_and_Lyman_sizing_dies_pr-4180.aspx?CAT=4180

Lots of options around .476. Most on back order but who knows how long the wait is?

 

[gman]

I've been checking Buffalo Arms for some time now and they are always unavailable. I find they are a little rough on the inside as the bullet comes out with the driving bands scratched up. The last I polished with 600 grit came out nice. Buckshot is saving me a .476 so I have a start there. Sent a couple of PM's to a couple people Rick mentioned so we will see what they say. If I find out I'll pass it on.

 

[RBHarter]

You might try Ammohead over there . He is getting ready for a move so he may not be ready to do production but I do know Buckshot was helping him get set up and his work is still in refinement as far as settling on how much polish goes on the non-working parts .

 

[gman]

Thank you. He is one I pm'd.

 

[fiver]

did you check lathesmith [chris]
he makes all my star dies to order, and does punches to match.

 

[S Mac]

I bought one from chuckbuster on CB a year or two back, a friend of his could make custom H&I dies, reasonable and a nice job.

 

[gman]

Fiver,
Sent him a pm also. Him and ammohead are the two buckshot gave me to contact. Appreciate all the help!

 

[Brad]

A Lyman size die is a project I need to take on. Biggest problem for me right now is a lack of a mill to space the holes properly. Everything in time.

 

[Minute Of Berm]

FWIW I too have had dealings with chuckbuster, very agreeable and the work was A1 in my book.

 

[gman]

Just to update. Lathesmith and Ammohead replied that they both make them. Good for us!

 

[fiver]

Brad I had a looong look at lube dies and a good discussion with Chris when he first started out.
the conclusion we come to was you can easily get away with just cross-drilling the holes for the lube.
two pairs at .020 apart 90* across from each other [straight through the die] will lube about 99% of things out there.
I mainly use only one lube groove and of course only one hole set in the size die.
I still manage to fill 2 lube grooves or the lube groove and the gas check area with one ring of 3 holes opened up.

I'd have to go look for the hole diameter and bevel angle but it shouldn't be too hard to find.
or measure if needed I got a ton of little drill bits.

 

[Brad]

Cross drilling would be the easiest. I am more concerned with getting holes dead centered on the diameter, keeps the lube holes from being tangential to the inner bore.
Face it I NEED a milling machine to dong anything useful. If I repeat it often enough my wife will relent and give in.