KeithB
Resident Half Fast Machinist
Are you a home craftsman that wants to make your own custom reloading components? Do you have a small lathe? If you want to make your own sizing dies to fit your Lyman®, RCBS®, Saeco®, or Star®/Magma® luber sizer we have what you need.
There are two basic steps to making a sizing die - (1) turning the outside profile of the die and cutting it off from a long bar of steel, and (2) putting the proper size and shape hole in the middle of the die. Most of the cost of making a die is the cost of putting the hole in the middle. That's why manufacturers that make finished dies have to charge for that and also include the cost of stocking dies in many different sizes. Manufacturing time and inventory costs - and the consumer pays for that.
With our CNC equipment and access to quality steel at bulk purchase prices we can make blank sizing dies from top quality materials and offer them for a very reasonable price. As a home craftsman with a small lathe you can buy our inexpensive die blanks and make your own custom dies, knowing you are starting with a dimensionally correct (guaranteed to fit or your money back) die made from the best material for the purpose.
We use 1144 steel, which is a free machining resulphurized steel with approximately .44% carbon content. It machines beautifully and can be polished to take on a great surface finish. It can be quench hardened if desired but for sizing lead alloy bullets it isn't really necessary. If your alloy is clean (no gritty particles trapped in it from inadequate fluxing and cleaning) you can expect very little wear for hundreds of thousands of rounds.
Our dies are completely finished on all exterior surfaces, and can be ordered with no center hole or with a predrilled 3/16" diameter center hole. Each Lyman/RCBS or Star/Magma type die comes with two O-rings included loose in the package. You can easily install them after machining.
The Saeco type dies can be had with either a 11/16-24 threaded end (this is standard) or a 5/8-18 threaded end (originally intended for Herters lubers, they are dimensionally identical to the Saeco except for the thread specs). We also have 11/16-24 half-height nuts available, you won't find these at your local hardware store.
If you're interested simply start a conversation here or email me at keith@bigfoottech.tech
Prices
Lyman/RCBS type dies, with or w/o center hole - $7/each
Saeco and Star/Magma type dies, with or w/o center hole - $8.50/each
11/16-24 half height nuts - $1.50/each
Shipping, 1-10 pieces - $3, more than 10 pieces - free (can be mixed types or even other products)
Lyman/RCBS type die
![Ldie1.jpg Ldie1.jpg](https://www.artfulbullet.com/data/attachments/4/4651-2fa845e1858baa479b132e43dbef2976.jpg)
Saeco type die
![saecodie1.jpg saecodie1.jpg](https://www.artfulbullet.com/data/attachments/4/4652-23bcf8aaa1eae55d23e65bf6fd843b0a.jpg)
Star/Magma type die
![stardie1.jpg stardie1.jpg](https://www.artfulbullet.com/data/attachments/4/4653-1f102c70fe6e0dd07658a12201af3c2a.jpg)
There are two basic steps to making a sizing die - (1) turning the outside profile of the die and cutting it off from a long bar of steel, and (2) putting the proper size and shape hole in the middle of the die. Most of the cost of making a die is the cost of putting the hole in the middle. That's why manufacturers that make finished dies have to charge for that and also include the cost of stocking dies in many different sizes. Manufacturing time and inventory costs - and the consumer pays for that.
With our CNC equipment and access to quality steel at bulk purchase prices we can make blank sizing dies from top quality materials and offer them for a very reasonable price. As a home craftsman with a small lathe you can buy our inexpensive die blanks and make your own custom dies, knowing you are starting with a dimensionally correct (guaranteed to fit or your money back) die made from the best material for the purpose.
We use 1144 steel, which is a free machining resulphurized steel with approximately .44% carbon content. It machines beautifully and can be polished to take on a great surface finish. It can be quench hardened if desired but for sizing lead alloy bullets it isn't really necessary. If your alloy is clean (no gritty particles trapped in it from inadequate fluxing and cleaning) you can expect very little wear for hundreds of thousands of rounds.
Our dies are completely finished on all exterior surfaces, and can be ordered with no center hole or with a predrilled 3/16" diameter center hole. Each Lyman/RCBS or Star/Magma type die comes with two O-rings included loose in the package. You can easily install them after machining.
The Saeco type dies can be had with either a 11/16-24 threaded end (this is standard) or a 5/8-18 threaded end (originally intended for Herters lubers, they are dimensionally identical to the Saeco except for the thread specs). We also have 11/16-24 half-height nuts available, you won't find these at your local hardware store.
If you're interested simply start a conversation here or email me at keith@bigfoottech.tech
Prices
Lyman/RCBS type dies, with or w/o center hole - $7/each
Saeco and Star/Magma type dies, with or w/o center hole - $8.50/each
11/16-24 half height nuts - $1.50/each
Shipping, 1-10 pieces - $3, more than 10 pieces - free (can be mixed types or even other products)
Lyman/RCBS type die
![Ldie1.jpg Ldie1.jpg](https://www.artfulbullet.com/data/attachments/4/4651-2fa845e1858baa479b132e43dbef2976.jpg)
Saeco type die
![saecodie1.jpg saecodie1.jpg](https://www.artfulbullet.com/data/attachments/4/4652-23bcf8aaa1eae55d23e65bf6fd843b0a.jpg)
Star/Magma type die
![stardie1.jpg stardie1.jpg](https://www.artfulbullet.com/data/attachments/4/4653-1f102c70fe6e0dd07658a12201af3c2a.jpg)
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