Whidden Dies

I’ve got a couple sets. Good stuff. I’d call them top shelf, one of my top 3 (with Forster and Redding).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Yeah, pretty comparable. I get next to no run out with any of them. They are very well made.
I wouldn’t expect groups to shrink switching from one to the other.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Yea, I would agree with Wyosam’s opinion. It is important to understand the differences. Primarily, the sizing is different in how they control neck tension...All have adjustable neck tension.

Forster - Uses interchangeable expander ball to allow this adjustment. They are also famous for their custom honing and their expander ball position. The expander ball is placed up high for a hand off from sizing to expanding. These dies are very easy to make low runout cases from.

Redding - very good. Uses bushings to adjust neck tension. Expander ball can be used or not...

Whidden - Can adjust neck tension by expander or bushing change...that’s a nice option.

Expander balls can pull necks off center and floating bushings can get gummed up and stick off center....so always check runout.

Something to consider is I’ve had same runout in Hornady std dies....

From a seating point of view, they all use sliding chamber micrometer seaters. Forster uses the same quality sliding chamber design on their budget non-micrometer dies....hmm. Redding has a variety of options where most are not sliding chamber type. Whidden uses all sliding chamber micrometer seaters.

As an aside, the Hornady seater looks not very nice in comparison, but is a sliding chamber seater and makes good straight ammo! It is probably not good enough for sub 1/2 moa ammo.
 
If one case has .012" thick neck wall and another has .016" thick neck wall, if both have inside diameters .001" smaller than the 30 caliber bullet's diameter, which one requires the most force to push it out of the case neck?

Both have .001 inch of "neck tension."
 
Last edited:
Are you are talking about the same case having two or even three different thicknesses..? Uneven wall thickness effects bore alignment from the way I understand it, so bullet tension is another part of the equation. Some say they do improve the accuracy some don't.
 
Last edited:
The USA industry standard for how tight case necks grip bullets is the amount of force needed to move the bullet out of the case neck. Termed pull or extraction force in pounds.

Military 7.62 NATO M118 match ammo specs are at least 20 pounds, 60 pounds for M80 ball ammo.

Some match handloads have only 1 pound or less bullet extraction force.
 
If one case has .012" thick neck wall and another has .016" thick neck wall, if both have inside diameters .001" smaller than the 30 caliber bullet's diameter, which one requires the most force to push it out of the case neck?

Both have .001 inch of "neck tension."
Click to expand...
I'll bite.:D

Depends on:

1. Bullet type/composition.
2. Chamber and throat dimensions.
3. bullet seating depth
 
milboltnut said:
Are you are talking about the same case having two or even three different thicknesses..? Uneven wall thickness effects bore alignment from the way I understand it, so bullet tension is another part of the equation. Some say they do improve the accuracy some don't.
Click to expand...
I referred to different cases, each with the same uniform outside diameter but different inside diameter.
 
send them 3 fired cases and they will make you anything you want. They made me a full length bushing die for a .30 BW. I have 2 of their sizing dies now, top quality stuff. Takes a couple of months for custom dies but worth the wait if it is a off the wall cartridge like a .30 BW, or you want the die made custom for your chamber. One of my dies is a standard off the shelf click style, I did not bother with that with the custom. Nice gimmick but not necessary
 
Nathan

What dies do you use and why?
Click to expand...

I use all dies that work. I have a Whidden set for my 300 Sherman....haven’t got to use them yet...rifle still inbound.

I have a set of Forster for my 300 WSM. they make perfect loads when measured.

I have a Redding die sitting idle, but it was effective, just duplicate.

I have many Hornady basic die sets. They fit std chambers well, IMO and make pretty straight ammo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top