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Thread: Took a trip to CH4D today.

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
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    Took a trip to CH4D today.

    Last night I was browsing the Internet and ended up on CH4D’s website. About ten years ago an older fellow who frequents the LGS gave me one of there 444H presses and a couple of sets of dies. I’ve always wanted to get more of their dies.

    So there I am on their website which says they are swamped, who’d have thought? The site says to allow 3-5 days for emails responses and 2-3 weeks for orders to process. So just for the heck of it I sent them an email about getting a set of their .45-70 dies and a shell holder. I woke up this morning to find they had called while I was still asleep!

    I returned the call and was informed that both the die set and shell holder were in stock, they even ask what diameter bullet I’d be using to get the expander correct. I informed them they I’m only about 45 minutes from their location and ask if I could stop in to pick them up. They said that was fine. Talk about service!

    It’s an interesting place if you ever get the chance to visit. It sits right off the right hand side of state route 13 south in Mount Vernon Ohio. Just a plain tan two story building built on a hillside with no sign. Though apparently someone has an affinity for vintage Jaguars as there are quite a few in various states of decay sitting out front. While I was waiting for my change one of the employees named Dennis showed me there stock room which was very impressive, it must have been at least a 30x60 foot space filled with rows of 6 foot high shelves of dies, parts, and accessories.

    The largest dies I saw were for 25x137 Bushmaster they were about the size of a Pringles can! It sounds like they have two employees upstairs handling orders and shipping and four guys downstairs in the shop. I should have ask for a full tour but didn’t want to press my luck. Dennis said if you have chamber dimensions, a fired case, or a chamber cast they can make dies for anything, as well as form dies. On average they stock about 1200 calibers and have a list totaling just shy of 2100 available die sets! It sounds like they are currently running about 24 months behind on out of stock items and I was told even during normal times they’re always swamped with work.

    I should have ask more about their history as there isn’t much online but I didn’t even think about it. They did throw in a sample of their sizing wax and a couple of powder funnels. When I got home I sized and expanded fifty pieces of brass and I have to say I’m very happy with these dies so far. I didn’t seat any bullets as my new NOE mold is still in the mail. Hopefully I can do that this weekend and have something to shoot next week.

    I have to say I’ll definitely be purchasing more of their stuff in the future. While some die sets are a bit pricey they seem to be the only place to find some of the really odd wildcats and European metric dies.

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    Thanks for sharing your experience. I've ordered from there a couple times and been very happy with the service and product.

    Always been curious about the business model and how they can have such a huge catalog as well as do so much custom order work.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    I drove through there in 2003. Stopped in and had an interesting conversation with the owner Don. He made me a HP punch, for the. 358 lead bullet swaging die I had purchased, while I waited. He was a very small guy with the deepest base voice.
    QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES?

  4. #4
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    Years ago I thought I spoke to a Dave, but I am lousy with names. Bought a 3 die 32 long colt set and talked to the guy for probably half an hour. Extremely nice and knowledgeable. I was always impressed with them.
    Ron

  5. #5
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    I like CH dies. I bought a set in 1987 for .250 Savage and have bought more sets since then based on my initial experience.

    Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Boolit Master



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    I have been a C&H fan since the 60's and I have ordered and talked to them on the telephone several times when I needed help. They always came thru for me and I tell everyone that will listen about them and urge them to do business with them. james

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

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    Great products and great service.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
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    Looks like I’ll get to try out the seating die soon my new mold is at the post office.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    FredBuddy's Avatar
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    Here I am 20 miles away and never knew.

    Guess I better get on the stick !

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    Got a set of their 6.5x30-30 AI dies few years back. When i called luckily they were in stock. Worked very well.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tctender View Post
    Got a set of their 6.5x30-30 AI dies few years back. When i called luckily they were in stock. Worked very well.
    Now that sounds like an interesting round, what rifle is that chambered in?

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master
    rockrat's Avatar
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    Bet those 25 x 137 Bushmaster dies are some kind of pricey!!!

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rockrat78 View Post
    Bet those 25 x 137 Bushmaster dies are some kind of pricey!!!
    $1099.33 for the two die set, they're threaded 2-3/4"x12, which they sell a press for for $1992.55! It has an adapter to use 7/8"x14 dies which I did see and it's quite a chunk of steel. They did not have one of the presses in stock and said they are back ordered several years.

  14. #14
    Boolit Bub
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kyle M. View Post
    $1099.33 for the two die set, they're threaded 2-3/4"x12, which they sell a press for for $1992.55! It has an adapter to use 7/8"x14 dies which I did see and it's quite a chunk of steel. They did not have one of the presses in stock and said they are back ordered several years.
    I would love to see a pic of that press. I'm uncertain what would happen if I seen it in person...
    Benefactor Member of NRA

  15. #15
    Boolit Master 444ttd's Avatar
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    i bought 35/30-30 dies from them about 2 years ago. since it was in stock, they mailed it and two days later, it came. i was impressed to say the least. the service was beyond great.
    Ad Reipublicae his Civitatum Foederatarum Americae, ego sum fortis et libero. Ego autem non exieris ad impios communistarum socialismi. Ora imagines in vestri demented mentem, quod vos mos have misericordia, quia non.

    To the Republic of these United States of America, I am strong and free. I will never surrender to godless communist socialism. Pray to images in your demented mind, that you will have mercy, because i will not.

    MOLON LABE

  16. #16
    Boolit Master

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    I bought my 375 Whelen dies from them , talked to a older gentleman there late at night here on the west coast , very nice man and knowledgeable , good place .

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rboeser View Post
    I would love to see a pic of that press. I'm uncertain what would happen if I seen it in person...
    Here are the specs on the rock crusher along with the only pic I could find.

    2 3/4"-12 top thread.
    1 5/8" ram diameter.
    Accepts 7/8"-14 threaded shank shell holders.
    8 1/4" stroke.
    27 1/4" overall length.
    Shipping weight: 103lbs.



    Here’s a set of their 2” thread dies, the die set I saw was 2-3/4”


  18. #18
    Boolit Mold
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    wow, nice, where are the pics haha?

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy Kyle M.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BolysVnss View Post
    wow, nice, where are the pics haha?
    I should've asked the guy if I could get a pic of those dies, but I didn't even think about it.
    Last edited by Kyle M.; 04-17-2021 at 01:11 AM.

  20. #20
    In Remembrance
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    Several years ago I bought a nice Rolling Block rifle that had been rechambered. The seller had a few rounds of loaded ammo and the custom made dies. The dies "walked" away from his table at a gun show where he had the rifle for sale. As per instructions, I sent a couple of fired cases (and maybe a chamber cast, don't remember) to CH4D to make a set of dies. A little while later, the owner (Dave) called me with a question and we talked for over half an hour! Very personable and high quality work.
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
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GC Gas Check