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BGM56
12-31-2020, 02:50 PM
Has anyone tried using 17-4 PH stainless for swaging dies? I'm considering using it because of the ease of heat treat and low distortion. It can be heat treated in the cleaning cycle of an electric oven (approx 900 degrees F for two hours) and will come out in the mid to low 40's Rockwell C. I'm not expecting the longevity of it to be where tool steel dies like A2 or D2 would be but would like something that would hold up to say 20-25,000 rounds. I'm building a set of 22 rimfire jacket swaging dies. I already have the derim die complete but the die insert is D2. This is my first swaging die project, but as a tool and die maker with 45 years experience I don't anticipate a great deal of problems producing them.

clodhopper
01-01-2021, 02:23 AM
I'm just a hobbyist when it comes to machining metals.
If you have some 17-4, are comfortable working with it, go ahead and made a die.
If it doesn't workout, you can get another type of steel later.
Nobody makes just on die anyway.