Another disappointing die purchase

RockRat64 said:

Have a 357 on the way. Sheels is having a sale on reloading stuff so I picked up everything to reload 357 including some Hornady “custom grade dies”. Deep scratches on one side of my brand new Starline brass. Between this and Whidden having a similar issue, I’m very disappointed. Lee seems to give me zero problems! Tried different lubes with the same result.
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that’s bad! email Hornday ASAP!

It would be an easy task to polish out the die ID, but you shouldn't have to do that to a new tool. I believe I would send the die back to Hornady with a scratched case, asking for a new replacement...

Yea, I would be sending that back. May be able to polish it out, but should not have to on a new set of dies with new brass.

Ouch! Had issues with a set of 9mm dies. They did right by me.

Unfortunately it happens, Hornady is a good company though

Hornady produces cases. Hopefully they replace both your die and the brass

RockRat64 said:

That’s my opinion also. I can try polishing it with some Flitz, but I shouldn’t have to.

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Polishing works by removing metal. To get rid of that you will increase the bore of the die by at least the depth of the scratch.

Did you disassemble the dies and clean them prior to using them?

Nitride can be polished? May remove the coating. Chamfer &debur before sizing.

RockRat64 said:

Hornady

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RCBS is tungsten carbide. Better imo.

thump_rrr said:

Did you disassemble the dies and clean them prior to using them?

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Before using a Hornady die they do recommend they be cleaned before use. All my dies are Hornady, and I did clean them before use. Another thing Hornady sizing die is also the decaping die. Recommend purchasing a universal decapping die and always run clean cases in sizing dies to prevent scratches.

I thought I read recently that Hornady started making some of their dies in China?

I know it's new and shouldn't put scratches in your brass, but I'd just try polishing it.
I cut a piece of t-shirt and grab an old .357 bore mop and add some Mothers aluminum mag wheel polish (polishes all metals) I chuck the mop and some mothers in a drill an give it about three good in and outs at a high rate speed.
The inside of the die will be like a mirror, and the scratch marks highly likely will be gone. Then clean w/ alcohol or acetone to remove all compound. And the polishing doesn't change the spec of the brass by any measurable amount.

I have had similar galling in the past and tracked it to be from burs on new and once fired bass.
I now debur the inside and outside of case mouths of all new/once fired brass.
That might work for you here.
jmo,
.
Edit: Of course, you will need to polish out the galling particles now stuck in the Hornady DIE.
The "custom grade dies" claim of Hornady translates for me to "not carbide".
.

RockRat64 said:

It says “made in USA” on the box

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Maybe the box IS made in the US.

I've come to the opinion that Hornady dies suck.

I've currently been fighting with a set of .40S&W dies from them. I have another set of rifle dies from them and I've not been very happy with those either. I'm going to go back to Lee or Redding next time.

I have a bunch of Hornady dies and never had a problem with them.
Atleast Hornady has a good customer service team and will take care of any issues that might arise just like RCBS customer service department.

Lee I've never been satisfied with their customer service.

RockRat64 said:

Yes, I’ll still buy their stuff. Just frustrating.

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Could you shine a light inside that sizer die & take a photo. Very curious

slowr1der said:

I've come to the opinion that Hornady dies suck.

I've currently been fighting with a set of .40S&W dies from them. I have another set of rifle dies from them and I've not been very happy with those either. I'm going to go back to Lee or Redding next time.

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you know what dies are really good? Dillion, surprise the heck out of me

I've generally found such scratching to be the result of brass particles stuck to the sizing die surface, usually at the edge of an insert. The brass particle build-up seems to come from sizing cases with sharp case mouths. Hopefully Hornady can help correct the die.