Quality die for 1/2-28 ??

It's time to buy a new 1/2-28 die, I ordered one from amazon as Brownels was out of stock.
I went to use it to clean up threads on an AR because 3 threads about half way in had been hit at some point. The amazon die immediately felt like it was going to start cutting and not just thread on to clean up. I tried it on 2 other barrels. It appears to be 0.005" too small.

I don't want to buy another from somewhere else without asking here, so where can one find a die that is good quality and correct size ?

 

A first quality die that size will cost you.

McMaster Carr does not sell junk tooling and the nearly $84 dollar die they sell in that size is probably about as good of quality as you will get before hitting severe diminishing returns. Unfortunately it is round and will need a special die wrench to use it effectively which you may already have since the one I see one Brownells is also round and in stock so I suppose you are wanting the hex one. The round ones are adjustable though so you won’t be left with a dies that is .005 small. Adjusting a precision tool with just a screw can be finicky though.

Here is a round one from MSC which may be the same one M-C sells. It’s not often but sometimes MSC has identical products to M-C at better prices. m-C has never been known for low prices. Lower maybe but nit low. Plus they have just about anything.

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/03694304?gclsrc=aw.ds&product_id=03694304&rd=k&pcrid=-99&gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRkvahbr6yq1Hj1JPe263bGcgF8d_N14wB9H3bqgH23FiqLNHJtTocxoC1NsQAvD_BwE&mkwid=|dc&cid=ppc-google-

This one from MSC is labeled an “economy” die but may be better than the one from Amazon just because it is actually sold from a reputable industrial supplier. I cannot vouch for the die personally but MSC does have some less expensive stuff that still does the job well.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/79770491

The Brownells die sells for around $33 though so I guess I may not have a proper grasp on how quality and cost correlate for this size die.

 

That is all great information ! Thanks very much for your response. Right, I have all types of die wrenches so I'm good that way. I've ordered end mills and other things from both of them over the years and completely forgot to check them. I'll go with one of them, thanks again !!

 

mcmastercom.com
Industrial supplier, who will sell to anyone. Top quality.
https://www.mcmaster.com/

 

Mcmaster carr or snap-on are the best dies i have used .

 

Got this split die from Brownells.