Hey guys I have been slowly learning how to reload for my .243 and 300 wm over the past year and am having trouble with a new set of Hornady New Deminsion dies for my 300. I also have a set of RCBS dies that I had my first stuck case afer reloading a few hundred but i changed to One Shot spray and first stuck case. Anyways, I bought this Hornady set and when sizing i raise the press arm up and its REALLY tough to get the die to let got of the case. I am using the Lee lubricant and am not using too much or too little I believe. I think the die is just junk. Any one have any ideas? or should i just get rid of the dies and wait for the RCBS dies to come back. They were good until i used the One Shot spray.
Question on Hornady Dies...
- Thread starter pjosh6
- Start date
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
I think you are fighting the "Expander ball".
I have heard a few different ways to go about avoiding the issue. Lots of case lube on the inside of the neck as worked for me with 5.56. Then I just tumble after sizing to clean the lube out of the inside.
Some people remove the ball all together, and neck-size separately. (So for each brass, you would FL size, then neck size.) It seems logical to me, and I will be trying it with .308 shortly.
And others still will measure the "neck tension", and then polish/fine sand the ball down to get the approximate "Tension" they are targeting. (Measured in post-sizing inner diameter).
I think you are fighting the "Expander ball".
I have heard a few different ways to go about avoiding the issue. Lots of case lube on the inside of the neck as worked for me with 5.56. Then I just tumble after sizing to clean the lube out of the inside.
Some people remove the ball all together, and neck-size separately. (So for each brass, you would FL size, then neck size.) It seems logical to me, and I will be trying it with .308 shortly.
And others still will measure the "neck tension", and then polish/fine sand the ball down to get the approximate "Tension" they are targeting. (Measured in post-sizing inner diameter).
M
milo 2.0
Guest
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
Sorry OP, but your post is tough to read, you're rambling.
First, did you clean your dies before use? That can cause problems.
I don't think your expander ball is your problem. It is lube, the amount of it. One shot works on most cases if used right. Bigger cases are a little more finicky.
The neck and upper part of the case require little or no lube, the bottom more. I turn my cases upside down when spraying them with lube. Just experiment with it. A Qtip sprayed with lube rubbed on the inside of the die and expander ball helps too.
I bought a set of Hornady dies recently, the jury is still out on them. Would not call them junk though.
RCBS dies are probably the closest to Saami specs of all die manufacturers. Hence ease of use while sizing.
Sorry OP, but your post is tough to read, you're rambling.
First, did you clean your dies before use? That can cause problems.
I don't think your expander ball is your problem. It is lube, the amount of it. One shot works on most cases if used right. Bigger cases are a little more finicky.
The neck and upper part of the case require little or no lube, the bottom more. I turn my cases upside down when spraying them with lube. Just experiment with it. A Qtip sprayed with lube rubbed on the inside of the die and expander ball helps too.
I bought a set of Hornady dies recently, the jury is still out on them. Would not call them junk though.
RCBS dies are probably the closest to Saami specs of all die manufacturers. Hence ease of use while sizing.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
Yeah i was rambling a lil in that post. But i have not used any One Shot in this die. I will try to lube more inside the die, maybe i didn't use enough but i did lube. The RCBS seemed alot easier to use instead of the Hornady. I wasn't trying to offend any Hornady users just saying mabye this one wasn't up to par.
Yeah i was rambling a lil in that post. But i have not used any One Shot in this die. I will try to lube more inside the die, maybe i didn't use enough but i did lube. The RCBS seemed alot easier to use instead of the Hornady. I wasn't trying to offend any Hornady users just saying mabye this one wasn't up to par.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
I don't much care for Hornady's dies but it's because of some design features, not their tolerances; on average I've found them to work as well as any others.
I've been doing this stuff for a very long time using a lot of different die (and press, etc) brands. I've seen no predictable or average tolerance advantages to any brand of sizers, nor much of anything else. SAAMI's die tolerance specifications are a range, +/- a few thou, not a specific dimension. Anything inside the specified tolerance range is fully in tolerance so there is as much difference between sizers of the same brand as between brands.
I don't much care for Hornady's dies but it's because of some design features, not their tolerances; on average I've found them to work as well as any others.
I've been doing this stuff for a very long time using a lot of different die (and press, etc) brands. I've seen no predictable or average tolerance advantages to any brand of sizers, nor much of anything else. SAAMI's die tolerance specifications are a range, +/- a few thou, not a specific dimension. Anything inside the specified tolerance range is fully in tolerance so there is as much difference between sizers of the same brand as between brands.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
Throw the Hornady One Shot in the trash where it belongs and buy a bottle of Dillon Case Lube, or make your own with rubbing alcohol and lanolin.
It's not a die issue...it's a garbage lube issue. With Dillon Case Lube I can run several totally dry cases in a row because enough stays in the sizing die, yet not enough to cause any hydraulic crushing of the cases.
ETA: I haven't used Lee lube...but I'd wager that the problem is still your lube/lubing procedure.
Don't screw with "lubing the die," applying a bit to the case with your finger, or any of that nonsense. Put your cases in a tupperware container, spray them one or two times with DCL, let the alcohol evaporate, and go to work.
It's worked for me for many thousands of rounds now.
Throw the Hornady One Shot in the trash where it belongs and buy a bottle of Dillon Case Lube, or make your own with rubbing alcohol and lanolin.
It's not a die issue...it's a garbage lube issue. With Dillon Case Lube I can run several totally dry cases in a row because enough stays in the sizing die, yet not enough to cause any hydraulic crushing of the cases.
ETA: I haven't used Lee lube...but I'd wager that the problem is still your lube/lubing procedure.
Don't screw with "lubing the die," applying a bit to the case with your finger, or any of that nonsense. Put your cases in a tupperware container, spray them one or two times with DCL, let the alcohol evaporate, and go to work.
It's worked for me for many thousands of rounds now.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
Okay guys thanks. Ill try that thompkins22. I have always just put some on finger and used a little bit. Thought i read somewhere not to use too much because it will plug up. I will not use that OS lube. Prolly use it at a target in my back yard.
Okay guys thanks. Ill try that thompkins22. I have always just put some on finger and used a little bit. Thought i read somewhere not to use too much because it will plug up. I will not use that OS lube. Prolly use it at a target in my back yard.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
I have the same problem with my hornady die and my 300 win mag and i use imperial neck lube and imperial wax on the body. Die works good and makes great ammo just takes a man and a boy to get the expander thru the neck
I have the same problem with my hornady die and my 300 win mag and i use imperial neck lube and imperial wax on the body. Die works good and makes great ammo just takes a man and a boy to get the expander thru the neck
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
I use the One Shot with success for my 5.56 rounds but use the RCBS case lube pad and Frankfort Arsenal neck lube kit for every other rifle round. It uses white mica I think and neck brushes. I've had problems with the Hornady 22-250 and 308 dies. They didn't size the base enough and I had a hard time closing the bolts. Switched to RCBS dies and the problem is gone.
I use the One Shot with success for my 5.56 rounds but use the RCBS case lube pad and Frankfort Arsenal neck lube kit for every other rifle round. It uses white mica I think and neck brushes. I've had problems with the Hornady 22-250 and 308 dies. They didn't size the base enough and I had a hard time closing the bolts. Switched to RCBS dies and the problem is gone.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
Yeah that was my problem. I just lubed the inside alot more and it worked alot easier. It was tough and when i used my RCBS dies it worked alot easier so i was thinking there might have been a problem.
Yeah that was my problem. I just lubed the inside alot more and it worked alot easier. It was tough and when i used my RCBS dies it worked alot easier so i was thinking there might have been a problem.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
One Shot works just fine if you use it properly. It needs to be sprayed on and then given about a minute to let the propellent evaporate off per the directions. I have sized tens of thousands of cases using it from .223 to 300WM and using different dies from Hornady, Redding and RCBS and never had a stuck case.
One Shot works just fine if you use it properly. It needs to be sprayed on and then given about a minute to let the propellent evaporate off per the directions. I have sized tens of thousands of cases using it from .223 to 300WM and using different dies from Hornady, Redding and RCBS and never had a stuck case.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
"One Shot works just fine if you use it properly. It needs to be sprayed on and then given about a minute to let the propellent evaporate off per the directions."
True. And, per the instructions, it has to be shaken up to mix the ingredients before use. But...who reads instrucions these days?
"One Shot works just fine if you use it properly. It needs to be sprayed on and then given about a minute to let the propellent evaporate off per the directions."
True. And, per the instructions, it has to be shaken up to mix the ingredients before use. But...who reads instrucions these days?
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JoeW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have had the -best- luck with imperial sizing wax. </div></div>
+1 Imperial Sizing Wax is the Shit!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JoeW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have had the -best- luck with imperial sizing wax. </div></div>
+1 Imperial Sizing Wax is the Shit!
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aloreman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have the same problem with my hornady die and my 300 win mag and i use imperial neck lube and imperial wax on the body. Die works good and makes great ammo just takes a man and a boy to get the expander thru the neck </div></div>
I ran into this issue with one of my Hornady dies. It turned out to be that the insides of my necks were dirty with carbon. A few swipes with a neck brush and the problem went away.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aloreman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have the same problem with my hornady die and my 300 win mag and i use imperial neck lube and imperial wax on the body. Die works good and makes great ammo just takes a man and a boy to get the expander thru the neck </div></div>
I ran into this issue with one of my Hornady dies. It turned out to be that the insides of my necks were dirty with carbon. A few swipes with a neck brush and the problem went away.
Re: Question on Hornady Dies...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1 Imperial Sizing Wax is the Shit! </div></div>
It depends on quality of Shit.
I never got stuck case with Imperial Sizing Wax,
even when using it very sparingly. And easy to wipe it off after sizing.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1 Imperial Sizing Wax is the Shit! </div></div>
It depends on quality of Shit.
even when using it very sparingly. And easy to wipe it off after sizing.
