Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Hornady dies?

Are any of you using Hornady dies? Looked at some of them at the local sporting goods store, the seating die looks interesting with the slide gizmo. I've used RCBS,Lyman and Redding but never Hornady. Is the seating die a step up or just another gizmo to entice a reloader?

I dislike 'em cause of that feature but that's just me...hard to top RCBS or Redding

Absolutely hate them. The ones I have always stick when I'm seating a bullet and the only reason I kept the ONE I have left is because nobody else makes one for the 450NE 3 1/4"

After using the Hornady and several others, my advice is to ante up and buy a Forster or Redding "competition" seater.

well i like them especially the seaters have several sets of them and get a long fine and note i do have a nd use a runout gauge they can produce good strait ammo when set up properly

In my runout measuring experience, they don't do it quite as well or consistently as the two I mentioned.

Thanks for the comments guys! Think I'll pass on the Hornady dies and stick with RCBS for my hunting rifles and the Reddings for my long distance rifle. The slideing bullets seater looks neat but if it sticks and is a PITA I'll just keep with what I have.

I really like the seaters, but their FLS dies have all been really sketchy on tolerances.

I have one in 338-06 which leaves the necks so tight that I can't seat a bullet w/out a ton of visible runout. When forming cases, I run freshly sized cases through a Redding Neck Sizer die before annealing.

I sent the die & formed cases w/ explanation of issue to Hornady & they sent it back to me w/out any retort... it still does the same thing.

I've read about guys here making this identical complaint about a FLS in both .223 & 7x57, too?

Like I say, I like their seater die. My favorite FLS dies are RCBS, and Lee's Collet Neck Sizer can't be beat.

I threw my FL size die almost 50 yards into my pond. It actually oversized rounds to below small base size and was a "bitchz" to size even with imperial wax.

Was a .308

lefty C

I've only used two sets of Hdy dies, one in 7Wby and one in 45/70. They were ok, but not Forster by any means. The sleave seater does ok.

I didn't like the expander for the 45/70.

RCBS is close in price and a better option IMO.

Hornady dies are akin to a bad haircut... eventually you'll get use to it..

I've got a .308win that I can not use on Federal Brass, they get stuck and rip the bases out of the shell holder. I have gotten a replacement from Hornady and it is about the same. I use Imperial Wax. If I was buying again I'd go with the Redding the cost is not much of a factor when you consider how long they will last.

t_bare

The Hornady dies I have work decently, but I like my redding and RCBS dies much more.

I have a set in 7mm-08 and never made it through sizing the brass. Couldn't get them to de-prime the old brass without ripping the press off the bench. Bought a used set of RCBS dies to match my other sets and haven't looked back. I've only used Hornady and RCBS so I cannot comment on other brands.

There you go!

+1, Bonanza Benchrest. Sometimes you can find a good deal on Ebay.

DF

I've got quite a few sets of hornady. Their seating die works great for a budget die. The eliptical expander is better than most.
My only complaint is they seem to be set up to really really work the brass to a smaller dimension. Almost like a small base sizing die.
I guess overall I don't like them better or worse than anyone elses die.

Purchased two sets (270WSM and 300WSM). Both FL Sizers kept stretching the brass. Worked with Hornady for almost a month over the phone trying to resolve the issue. Called Midway asking them if I can send the dies back. They said I could swap them out (the price difference brand new) for some RCBS dies. NEVER had a problem with the RCBS dies.

HaYen

I have three sets of Hornady dies... first was a .25-06 set that seems to work okay, but I think I will replace eventually, second was a set of .223 dies that I was given when my parent's neighbor's husband died, and the newest is a set of Creedmoor dies. I somehow managed to stick a case in the .223 FL size die (not really a big deal, I have two sets of RCBS .223 dies). I haven't even opened up the Creedmoor set case yet. I bought them because I cheaped out when I picked up my Ruger... the next cheapest dies were a bunch more money. Stupid.

I mostly buy Forsters with the micrometer seater anymore, second I buy Reddings, third RCBS. I do like the RCBS carbide handgun dies. That reminds me, I need to order Forster .300 RUM, .300 SAUM, and .221 Fireball dies.

I like about everything Hornady but I will never buy another set of there dies.