Has anyone bored the spindle threads and neck out of a FL die?

[JDHasty]

I have a few Redding Body Dies, that I use occasionally. I would have one in each of the calibers I shoot, if they were available. I think that a FL die could be altered, but the cost of a carbide drill in that size would make it cost prohibitive. I don't know what it would cost to have someone EDM it out, but I don't work for free and don't want anyone working on my stuff and not being fairly compensated for their time and investment in equipment.

Perhaps someone has done something similar and can give me a hint on how they accomplished the task and the degree of difficulty.

I was also thinking that cutting the die off right at the neck to shoulder junction might accomplish the same objective.

Redding body die: https://www.brownells.com/reloading/...prod79088.aspx

[flyrod]

I've cut a couple rcbs fl dies and they were hardened. So you'll want a WC boring bar. Or else cut the die off at the neck with a grinder, or maybe open the neck with sandpaper/lapping compound, or soften the die, cut on it, and re-harden it.

[Herb in Pa]

My gunsmith (retired tool and die guy) used a boring bar to create 6x45 and a 6x47 Remington body dies for me.

[JDHasty]

Local EDM shop is going to do 4 for a hundred bucks. They wanted to wait until they talked to the “gun guy” to call back. I’d say that is a bargain.

Thank everyone for the responses.

[Herb in Pa]

Got mine for 10 bucks each

[Al Nyhus]

I use carbide reamers.

Indicate it in with a gauge pin:


Then in with the reamer:

[Al Nyhus]

This is a 243 Ackley std. full length die I converted to a bushing style die:

[Al Nyhus]

This Body Die has been converted to a base sizing die by boring out the top portion:

[Al Nyhus]

Converted this Wilson 22-250 Ackley hand seater die for my 250 Savage Ackley with a .25 cal. seater stem. Indicated it and went in with a reamer .0003 over what the new .25 cal. seater stem measures. Fit is perfect...with a bullet on top of the case neck, the seating stem actually 'floats' on the column of air between the bottom of the stem and around the bullet.

No need for carbide for this as the older Wilson seaters are 12L14 that has easy machining properties.

[Herb in Pa]

Originally Posted by Al Nyhus

Converted this Wilson 22-250 Ackley hand seater die for my 250 Savage Ackley with a .25 cal. seater stem. Indicated it and went in with a reamer .0003 over what the new .25 cal. seater stem measures. Fit is perfect...with a bullet on top of the case neck, the seating stem actually 'floats' on the column of air between the bottom of the stem and around the bullet.

No need for carbide for this as the older Wislon seaters are 12L14 that has easy machining properties.

It's amazing how machining properties in tool steel can be improved using a judicious amount of lead or sulfur in the mix.