A company named JLC Precision is doing an interesting modification to resizing dies. If you are familiar with with Redding's work in a standard press or Wilson's bushing dies which use an arbor press or by hand, to where you can change out different bushings to control the neck tension on your cartridge. Jim is modifying your own existing resize die (full length or neck) to do the same thing. Now you can control the tension on your case neck. Cost is $35.00 (which includes shipping). I have sent him my 7.82 Patriot die and my 284 Win. die. His modification uses the redding bushings (bushings not included).
A good starting place on choosing a bushing is 3/1000 smaller than the measurement of your neck with a seated bullet.

You can contact him at
JLC Precision
13095 450th Ave.
Bellvue, IA 52031
(563) 689-6258

My hunting buddy Steve had this done for his 6.5-284 and he likes it.
xphunter

I've been using a Carstenson bushing modified Hornady FL sizing die in 308 for my Hunter gun for about 4 years (Wilson bushings, but I think that they are interchangeable with Redding's).

Jim's a member of the same club that I belong to and is quite a competitor in Varmint class. He also builds his own competition rifles, but I'm not sure if he 'smiths for others.

Regards, Bill

[ 09-30-2002, 22:47: Message edited by: Bill M ]

Bill,
Thanks for the correction on the bushings. I guess it does make sense that they would be interchangeable. I'll have to ask (just to make sure for myself) next time I talk to him on the phone.
It is good to promote individuals that do high quality, specialty work at a reasonable price.
xphunter

For those that have either a 6x50R Bellm or 6.5x50R Bellm and having trouble with neck tension this would be one way to correct that problem. The neck thickness of the different brands of 5.6x50R Brass that is available for these wildcats varies quite a bit. Different size bushings could be used for each brand of brass. Just a thought.

Outback

I am interested in tryin this.....i would imagine that my best bet would be to send him my "neck sizing" die?

Bill-any chance you got a number for this Cartenson guy? How much did it cost? Game to try either one, but just want to compare cost, turn around etc. Thanks, Dennis e-mail at dmadriaga@ascg.com

HHI 812:
Jim Carstenson and JLC Precision are one and the same. Just talked to him on the phone this afternoon. $30 plus $5 shipping per die.

Outback

HHI 812,
Jim's/JLC's phone number is posted on the top post.
xphunter

Dah! Sorry guys! Goes to show you how much I know about this stuff, but like the concept! I have a .300 Whisper I wanted to do this for. Was considering a Redding die set, but I already have a Hornady set. Just not sure what you guys meant about the shoulder? Thanks, Dennis e-mail at dmadriaga@ascg.com

HHI,

Now I'm confused, I don't see any reference to "shoulder" above?....

The die that I have is a FL sizing die, modified for neck-sizing bushings. He machined the inside of the die down to the end of the neck for the bushing, and adds a "nut" at the top that retains the bushing and holds the de-capping rod. It still uses the "die" to re-size the body/shoulder, and the bushing resizes just the neck. That way, I can adjust the die to just bump the shoulder back slightly, and use different bushings to control neck tension. The neck expanding ball is ground down so that it does not interfere with the bushing-sized neck, now it's only function is to hold the de-capping pin. Kind of the "best of both worlds". Case lube is still required as in regular FL sizing operations.

Regards, Bill

[ 10-04-2002, 01:43: Message edited by: Bill M ]