Ep. 123 - Hornady Reloading Dies Showdown

[@paulw7591]

This is the first time I have heard somebody talk about brass headspace getting 'longer' when pulling the expander back out! I have seen that many times and wondered why nobody discusses it - thank you!

[@anthonyrstrawbridge]

Your hanging in the right place. Back in the 1900's I used a ball point pen to fill out an order form, from the Paper Sinclair International Catalog. I remember enclosed a check in the envelope for $3.95 X 3 for tapered expanders Plus $35.00 for shipping and handling the 2 oz. Package. They were the cat's meow then. Carbide if I remember correctly. No one had ever heard of free shipping unless you picked your stuff up at either Montgomery Wards or Sears and Roebuck's.

[@kenmcvie6350]

This fact had me stumped for a while with my 7x61S&H. Finally got it sorted.

[@SigmaBallistics]

im sure the expander button could do it too, but headspace "getting longer" is caused mostly from the the body getting squeezed. if you slowly creep up to getting shoulder bump you will see this occur every time.

[@darrellh1840]

Thank you for these podcasts! It’s great that Hornady shares this information. I’ve learned a lot!

[@hornady]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@MrCclimeGo]

I like Ol'Ben! Stay healthy brother ; we're gonna need you for a very long time ‼️🤙

[@caycejustus7703]

Thank you Ben/Seth! You just solved a big issue for my process. I was not doing myself any favors by using a bushing die to load 6Arc for my gas gun. I suspected the issue with the soft shoulder created by the bushing yet I also was suspect of the barrel chamber specifications being too tight. You guys articulated the situation to perfection. Thank you.

[@ewathoughts8476]

I can confirm that some Hornady FL sizing dies are cut to SAAMI minimum spec. However, sometimes this has given bad results. I purchased 200 Hornady 6 ARC cases and a Hornady Custom die set when I started 6 ARC. Since the cases all had neck dings I passed the new cases through the FL die lubed inside necks and outside. To my surprise each case came out of the die with a pronounced belt. The die was so tight at the base. The new cases were .440" just above the extractor groove, but the die was .434" at the same point. That left a .003" high belt all around the case. So I returned the Hornady set and purchased an LE Wilson FL Bushing die, and have been satisfied. I also have a Hornady 223 Rem Custom set and the FL die is small as well, but the LC cases I use are on the small side of SAAMI and this Hornady set does well. In fact the Hornady 223 Rem FL die is tighter than my Redding Small Base Body die. I wish the US manufacturers of brass would produce cases with tighter diameter tolerances. Some US brass is .006 to .008" smaller in diameter than the chambers which in factory rifles run on the maximum diameter side.

[@scruffyarms]

I know that voice! HUGE help with me when ever I had an issue with a die.

[@williamsweet7511]

Great video, have you guys ever tested spring-back over time. Say I expand with a mandrel to X and then load right away vs is I expand and then wain weeks or months to finish loading? My 30 yrs of reloading has me believing that some instant spring-back occurs as well as a slow creep over time.

[@stevecarpenter98]

Wonderful overview. I'm waiting to receive a custom seating stem for my match die in .308. Also looking for micro adjustment.

[@onebadjack1313]

Sweet! Great topic. I've been debating about ordering a custom die. I can't wait for the tuner and the barrel cleaning follow ups.

[@BRADASSOFFGRIDHOMESTEAD]

Tuner.... lmao - They don't work if you use Hornady dies, didn't you know!

[@kevinbritvec3292]

Most reloaders aren't aware of the donut that can form at the neck shoulder junction. I wish they would have spent more time explaining that. I love Hornady products.

[@Shipster40]

I've been reloading for almost 55 years and I have gone through and replaced 30 sets of dies with Hornady Custom grade dies. I really Appreciate the innovation of both the sizer and seating dies. Just about all of your competitors are using the same technology they were using when they started making dies.

[@hornady]

Thanks so much!

[@TheNutzandBoltz]

Not RCBS?

[@RMM--uv7uk]

Would love to see the new micrometer seater come with the dies. I love the original style. But the new one is just way cooler.

[@pawpaw2361]

Can you do a podcast about Hornady brass? Thank you

[@aaawman2280]

So I just re barreled a rifle chambered in 30-06, it was chambered as a match grade chamber, which from how it was explained to me was min spec saami champering. So when I size my cases the best I can get is 2.040 on my measurements using hornadys shoulder comparator guage set, my question is when I shot a cartridge it is around that 2.040 to 2.041 measurement, so when I size the fired round I can't bump that shoulder back to around 2.038 mark I'd like to be at for reliable loading, I've screwed the lee die down alot further than I ever have had to and can not get the shoulder any farther than 2.040, is this a normal thing with a match chamber? Head space was set with Forester go and no-go gauges, set the head space so the bolt closed without binding on the lugs and the no-go guage would not allow the bolt to close, so I feel the head space is correct. It is a preferred barrel brand. Shots great just worried about chambering issues in the future, if a hornady die would allow me to get that shoulder to bump would be nice, but I don't want to buy one and it size to 2.040 also.

[@landothecommando2632]

Thanks for confirming the series of dies topic. I always thought the higher number was a higher grade. Was very confusing trying to find this information online.

[@richwc1]

My first choice for dies is always Hornady custom grade. One question, why the zip plunger? On new threaded one no problem but older smooth ones move to easily. Also I’d love it it you would highly polish the expander for my. I always polish the expander so I will withdraw the case more easily so as to hopefully not change headspace. I need to order the click adjust seater plug.

[@scottevans9155]

Have changed all my dies to Hornady dies, very happy with them, Chucked all my rcbs dies in the draw.Hornady quality makes others look like they are rubbish

[@codyy8006]

Great episode. Should do one on 8.6 ballistics with Jaden I want to here his option on the super fast twist.

[@troyrussell1009]

Why did it take 123 episodes to get to this topic

[@kenl1141]

After using the Hornady die for the first time, I’ve exclusively purchased them for all of my reloading uses. My issue is that when opening the case, I’m cutting through the shell holder size, which make it harder to read, as a 6 nearly looks like an 8. If the location could be changed so that it’s not located at the cover edge, so the number isn’t cut in half./

[@FMDad-dm5qo]

lol at the thumbnail - Gonna sweep the PRS circuit with those relativistic muzzle velocities

[@hornady]

😁

[@carson3406]

Lol I didn't even notice till you pointed that out. That's clever of them.

[@stuartmeier240]

I am a long time large fan of Hornady bullets and ammo. I don't shoot much else. But, the only dies I have ever experienced issues with are Hornady dies, and it has happened several times with several different calibers. I still have some Hornady and RCBS, but only buy Redding anymore.

[@MrTacklebury]

How do you get a Hornady Bullet specific seating stem for the dies. I have a 6.5 Grendel set and load the 100 gr. ELD-M and 120 gr. ELD-M bullets and would be interested in having one.

[@kenneider5317]

Oh yeah baby

[@rmbettac]

I buy bulk Hornady lock rings and use them for every die in my collection. It’s something that really has no peer IMO.

[@hornady]

Thank you!

[@kaiblackout6216]

7 PRC micrometer Match Grade dies destroyed a new Peterson case because the collet that supports the case while seating the bullet which does not provide enough room for the wall thickness of the mouth. Thought maybe it was my mistake, so I took die apart to look at die. Decided to purchase a Frankfort Arsonal universal seater knowing that packaging up the die, spending the fuel cost to go to the shipping company and the cost of shipping was not worth the trouble or expense. Do better Hornady!

[@hornady]

If you still have the die and want to look at some options to see what's going on, our techs are available at 800-338-3220 ext. 3

[@kaiblackout6216]

@@hornady Tried calling? Voice machine? Waste of time.

[@aaronunterseher1627]

You guys ever thought about making a madrel die and mandrels?

[@johnl5974]

There is always more to it than is obvious. - thanks.

[@redrock425]

Bushing dies + mandrel work for me 😉

[@laxwyo1]

yeah, me too. dont have a single FL sizer with an expander in them.

[@gman4785]

I’d buy some of your dies if you would thread the spindle on your size dies.

[@jaydunbar7538]

Call the custom department they would probably make it for you, and maybe once you buy one they will realize it’s something other people may want

[@kenmcvie6350]

In my case it was the expander button, as I could resize the cases without the expander button & they chambered perfectly.

[@barryhutchinson4251]

Best Thumbnail ever! #Johndoe😂😂😂

[@davecollins6113]

Funny how they talk about the neck juncture area and don't call the "con" of a bushing die as being the infamous donut.

[@richardlucas2155]

Good dies but I prefer Lee equipment

[@alaskatruoutdoors9238]

Like if Peter Griffin was really, really smart 😂

[@pjgco]

Anybody saying Hornady dies are best has clearly never used Redding...

[@kenl1141]

Redding dies are too short to use in my progressive loading press

[@jennyB96]

Most shooters would never know the difference between any of them! If you're shooting extreme long ranges and trying for small groups then possibly, banging steel at 1200 yards any of them will work fine.

[@stevecarpenter98]

Wonderful overview. I'm waiting to receive a custom seating stem for my match die in .308. Also looking for micro adjustment.