C&H Dies (CH Tool & Die)

[dh1633pm]

Is there any reason that C&H Dies are so inexpensive on the secondary market? While RCBS, Redding and other dies in this same market bring a much higher price.

http://www.ch4d.com/products/dies

I purchased a set in 223 and they seem to work very well. I also found an old press of theirs at an estate sale for $5.00. Its a single station. Any insight would be great. Thanks.

 

[Englishmn]

I think a lot of people don't know the name as well.

 

[jeeptim]

So.....
I bought a set of well used c&h 38/357 dies a few weeks back used them yesterday.
1. At the bottom of the sizer die where it meets the shell holder chrome is chipping off.
2. Scratching the brass pretty good.
3. Cardboard boxes hold the dampness.
Rolled up some emery cloth put it in a cordless drill and sanded the inside helped a lil.
I think C&H with the chrome plating are at the end of their serviceable life.
I have a set in 30/06 that's been well taken care of and lightly used that makes fine ammo.
Over the years I have had several C&H die sets I replaced.
New dies for the most part are of better quality harder steel tighter tolerances.

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks. I found my 223 dies to be chrome plated, but no issues with the inside of the dies or scratches. I have used them to load hundreds of rounds with no ill effect.

 

[rfwobbly]

C&H is one of those names that goes way back, but simply hasn't gained any traction over the decades. I started out with a C&H press and a C&H powder measure. Years later I put the powder measure on Craigslist, but had to include a pound of powder to sell it. The press I ended up giving away to a nubbie.

It was good equipment. No doubt both pieces are still going strong... but incognito !!

 

[jeeptim]

Now don't get me wrong.
C&H was fine equipment it's just old and out dated.

 

[NapalmMan67]

I think I have one of their dies in .38/.357... I personally never used it. My Grandpa did, and I'm sure he loaded thousands of rounds with it for the PD shooting league he was in. I have the C&H SS press he used way back too, I've been contemplating setting it up as a dedicated sizing/decapping station.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

I've been using a C-H powder measure and have been quite happy with it. The micrometer setting is very repeatable. I wonder, though, if the thin plastic powder reservoir will last; it just looks like it'd be prone to cracking eventually. I also stuck a small bit of moleskin at the top & bottom of the micrometer cutout in the body; that cleared up the stiction problem nicely. Overall I do prefer it over the Lyman 55 I've been using for the last 20 years.

 

[dh1633pm]

I have a single station H press of theirs. Got it at an estate sale for $5. It was froze up and bolted to a cookie tray with a decapper die in place. I took it apart and now use it for special things. Like pulling bullets or sometimes a small base die. Has plenty of leverage.