221 FB and 20 VT Trim Dies

[Ricco1949]

I've recently acquired a 650 for making 221FBs and 20 VTs from LC brass.

 

I have a Dillon 1500 trimmer and shorty die station arriving tomorrow. 

 

However I've found that 221 FB and 20 VT trims dies are unavailable. 

 

It seems reasonable to convert regular FL dies to trim dies by boring the top of die to accept the trimmer blade, cut the shaving vents, and thread the top OD 13/16 x 20 to attach the trimmer assembly. 

 

Has anyone done this? Am I missing anything?

Edited March 19 by Ricco1949

[dillon]

The dies are case hardened. You will have to anneal the top of the die to be able to thread it, bore out the top exhaust port. It can be done, as that is how the original prototypes were made 40+ years ago. You could contact ch4d.com for customer trim dies. They are slow, but reliable.

[Ricco1949]

5 hours ago, dillon said:

The dies are case hardened. You will have to anneal the top of the die to be able to thread it, bore out the top exhaust port. It can be done, as that is how the original prototypes were made 40+ years ago. You could contact ch4d.com for customer trim dies. They are slow, but reliable.

10-4. Thanks for the advice. I've cut off dies with carbide before to make shortened wildcats but have not threaded one.

 

Yes I reviewed some old threads yesterday and noted that CH4D makes trim dies but @ $90 plus tax and shipping I think I'll make a 221 FB trim die  from a Lee FL die I have on hand. 

 

Rick M. 

Edited March 19 by Ricco1949

[Ricco1949]

Here is the net result of altering a Lee FL 221 Fireball die to make a 1500 trim die. 

 

I first tried just boring the 1500 cutter hole with carbide. It cut but not well. 

 

As recommended by Dillon, I then annealed the  top half of die with torch and Mapp gas to orange red color and allowed it to air cool. I did not sustain the annealing temp in oven....just let it air cool. 

Cut very well post annealing. 

 

First bored .550 top hole in lathe to accept Dillon 1500 and then cut .500 chip evacuation hole with carbide end mill on Bridgeport.  Threading the 13/16 x 20 top threads went as expected. 

 

First result was lots of birds nesting since the carbide cutter insert does not break the chips well. I tried Mitsubishi inserts with chip breaker but still not breaking chips well and resulted in birds nesting. 

 

I opened both holes up to .650 to allow more efficient chip passage and side milled the ends of the evacuation hole to allow even more clearance.

 

No more birds nests. 

 

Thank you Dillon for the annealing recommendation.

 

Edited April 11 by Ricco1949