Ok this question has bothered me for quite some time. Maybe someone more learned than me can explain this to me.  A 3 die set for a rimed case, in a relative common caliber, say 45-70 cost $XXX. but when you move up to  a less common caliber, say the 44-77, the price almost triples.  The steps in making a set of dies is pretty much the same. Material cost difference would be minimal for the bit of extra length. Bottle neck reamers would not be all that much different in price. Threading the dies and cutting the knurl is all the same. The internal tooling will change a little but thats mostly a matter of a few drills. The reaming of the die would be pretty much the same. So why do they cost so much more?
Inquiring minds what to know.
Sam

Otony wrote on Nov 19^th, 2024 at 4:58pm:


I agree. And I think that's why it takes so long for oddball dies to be made. They're waiting for orders to build up so they might run a few sets at the same time.

Not sure if its the tooling set up or what, I guess to an extent it depends on what machines they use to make the dies. CNC equipment tooling change overs wouldn't seem to be all that extensive.  If its more along the line of manual machines then yes I can see the change over and set up costs going up. 
Only makes sense to only do a run of a specific die sets when you have a number of orders to fill. Much like starline does with their case orders.
Sam

This has often dictated whether I bought a certain rifle or not. Even a great buy on a nice old single shot can become very expensive after buying a die set, brass, and whatever else needed to reload for it!! My last surprise was having to even buy a new press when I began loading for the .50-140 and discovered my ancient RCBS Rock Chucker press wasn't tall enough to get cases under the dies! Tough to spring for a new press when you're old and not sure how many years you've got left to use it? But I do like the better leverage the Supreme has over my old Rock Chucker.