Oh Whidden, 100% man!
I load BMG so I'm always needing some custom some shit or another. CH4D had the best prices. So I went with them. While I can't complain too much about the quality of the dies vs. the cost and they get the job done, especially for an M2HB and used components, I can complain about CH4D and their morals and work ethic. I designed the universal die punch for BMG they sell. It's a basic job really, a seating die with an expander rod and primer punch from a sizing die with the expander ring removed. I didn't ask for royalties or anything, but a "thank you" would've been nice since they added it to their catalog.
I'd come to find out a "thank you" from them would be more of a stretch than Stretch Armstrong could pull off.
Fast forward, they send me my shit. The primer punch breaks on the sizer. I send it back. They said it was loctited, and that I was stupid for loctiting and there's nothing they can do for stupidity. Exact words. Which I agree with, see, they sent 'em back and the rod was glued in --with their JB Weld! Still accusing me though. I have tons of dies, not one has threadlocker of any kind on it for any reason. And JB Weld? For a threadlocker? Whatever. They also refused to fix both the punch and the sizer, instead sending me and charging me for new items. I sent these back on warranty, I did not give them nor authorize them to use my CC from a purchase made a year earlier, but they did. Said they "were too busy to call" and "I wanted it, didn't I?" Just real dickheads.
I charge 'em back through CC. I call BBB. Basically because they had a tracking number, nobody gave a shit and wouldn't investigate further. So I told BBB to fuck off, that a business endorsement from one scoundrel to another means fuck all. I told CC if they didn't give me my money back, and now goddamn it and put a rest to this, then I'd find another CC company willing to execute a proper investigation. That did it. I pay all my bills with it and they don't wanna lose that constant business. BUT they vagina'd out of it and paid me off and paid them off too. Whatever, I got mine and learned a lesson.
SO... Whidden... Still needed a 6.5G Dillon trim die. A specific one with specific tolerances that allows it to size unsized Grendel brass but such that it'll only grip already sized Grendel brass... A true feat of engineering and machining skills if you ask me. The metrc was on the ten thousand scale? Anyway, they squared me away. Not only was it a custom trim die for a Dillon auto trimmer, it looked GOOD! Smooth and well made, attention to detail. Not the rough right off the lathe quality you expect from CH4D.
Just make sure you ask to speak to the "Die Manager" or whatever his title is... He will help square you away and he knows far more about the ins and outs of die mfg. than does some of his other, equally skilled collegues, albeit in other areas.
Whidden is my goto now for custom dies of any nature. Love those guys. They make it so any wildcat is just another round too if you have a good loading setup.
