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Larry Willis collet die
- Thread starter 88mustang
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SDPlinker
Well-Known Member
Agree! 
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
I load for 257 Bee, 264WM, 270 Bee, 7STW, 300 Bee, 300WM (5), 338WM, 340 Bee, 375 H&H & 375 Bee.
Not once have I ever needed this collet die…for my rifles.
I was given several hundred Lapua 300WM cases way back in 1991, 90% were new unfired, but found some that were fired, they would not chamber in my match grade rifles, measured the spot above the belt and ran them through my 375 Bee die and then they chambered, neck sized them and went to shooting…
Cheers.
Not once have I ever needed this collet die…for my rifles.
I was given several hundred Lapua 300WM cases way back in 1991, 90% were new unfired, but found some that were fired, they would not chamber in my match grade rifles, measured the spot above the belt and ran them through my 375 Bee die and then they chambered, neck sized them and went to shooting…
Cheers.
PM Sent
I load for .257 WBY, .264 WM, 7MM RM and 7MM STW (when I had them), three .300 WM, .338 WM, and .30 LARA. I only needed it twice, for one of my .300 WM. The OP might have a few of them, which might be worth it. I like to have them just in case I do need them. Yes, they do work as advertised. I particularly appreciate the gauge built-in.
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The die is great, when it is actually needed. I purchased mine from eBay new. When I tried buying directly from them the guy kept telling me that it would be in in a week or 2. Well after 6 months I got a refund.?
I got mine 2003 directly from him long before he retired/was supposed to retire; I'm not sure of his current status.
Culpeper
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2008
- Messages
- 219
I only use it on 300 H&H. This cartridge headspaces off the belt for a reason. Thus, slight bulging of the web after a few firings is not necessarily running too hot without going into a lot of details. I think Willis is misleading people a little on the die use on modern magnums that headspace off the shoulder. And that is all I have to say about that.
cohunt
Well-Known Member
It works well for me
I used it on my.264WM to start I was having challenges chambering fired FL resized brass. Solved my issue I now use it to check all my belted magnums. I have found that after 2x reloads I need to use it especially if I am shooting hotter loads, if not every 3X. Ii have a 7MM Mag, 300WM, 300 Weatherby, and .375 H& H. I would not be without one. Yes its an extra step but I have many cycles on my brrass.
I have a extra if your interested
I have a spare If your interested
Well it appears Larry Willis passed away in 2022. I wonder what will happen to his company.
www.dignitymemorial.com
"Larry A. Willis, 71, of Casselberry, Florida was born on September 11, 1950, and passed away on July 18, 2022 after a difficult six year battle with ALS.
He was a proud Marine from 1970 to 1972 and an avid shooter even longer. He worked in the computer industry for over 20 years before chasing his true passion of inventing reloading tools. Through his own company, Innovative Technologies, he designed, patented, and manufactured multiple tools that he sold worldwide. The belted magnum collet resizing die, digital headspace gauge, and the wide view light reflector to name just a few."
Larry Willis Obituary - Altamonte Springs, FL
Celebrate the life of Larry Willis, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Baldwin-Fairchild Altamonte.
www.dignitymemorial.com
"Larry A. Willis, 71, of Casselberry, Florida was born on September 11, 1950, and passed away on July 18, 2022 after a difficult six year battle with ALS.
He was a proud Marine from 1970 to 1972 and an avid shooter even longer. He worked in the computer industry for over 20 years before chasing his true passion of inventing reloading tools. Through his own company, Innovative Technologies, he designed, patented, and manufactured multiple tools that he sold worldwide. The belted magnum collet resizing die, digital headspace gauge, and the wide view light reflector to name just a few."
It works as advertised. I use it for my 300 win mag, and noticed that hornady brass tends to bulge above the belt after 2-3 firings, and then the LW die does the trick really well. Higher quality brass (Peterson, Lapua) tends to be way more stable, and it takes way more firings to develop any noticeable bulge in that area.
The other great utility of the LW die is to quick test for detecting bulge (even when not visible yet), by just dropping the case in the die from the top - if it has the correct dimensions, it will drop in freely all the way to the belt; if it stops before the belt, then you set it aside for correction with the same die. Brilliant in its simplicity!
If indeed Larry died, RIP Larry! I hope someone keeps manufacturing a good product. If not, well, then someone with the right skills and machinery can pick it up, deal with the IP, and pump out a useful product.
