Problem with Hornady TiN .357 dies

[fatelk]

I have a set of Hornady .38/.357 dies with the titanium nitride sizer. They are in good shape and I've used them for years, but for .38 only, not .357's.

The problem is this: if I'm sizing brass that was fired with light loads, in a tight chamber, they work fine. With .357 brass, or 38's with heavy loads in a more generous chamber, they always leave a bulge near the base that is unsized. Yes, the die is adjusted properly. Also, on brass that is a little thinner I don't seem to get enough neck tension on the bullet.

When I break out the lube and old standby RCBS steel dies, everything works perfectly. The bulge is gone and there is plenty of neck tension. Is this just a lousy design on the Hornady dies, or is common to all carbide dies as well?

 

[loadedround]

I don't know if this will answer your question or not, but I have both Redding and RCBS carbide dies, plus Dillon carbide dies mounted in my 550B, for all my revolver and pistol cartridges, and yes they all sized cases have slight bulges at the base, especially my 357's. Since I don't have any Hornady dies to compare them to, I assume this is normal for all carbide dies that have the carbide sizing ring in them. Why not give Hornady a call, they are nice people and will answer your question. BTW, I do own several sets of Hornady rifle dies and am very satisfied with them.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, it is normal for carbide dies that have a ring of carbide induction welded to the bottom of the die opening.

If you don't have enough neck tension, your expander is probably larger then it needs to be.

Chuck it up in a drill and use some medium - fine emery paper on it to remove a couple thousandths.

rc

 

[Runningman]

Unfortunately most pistol dies that are designed for use in progressive press these days need a bigger radius at the bottom of the die for reliable feeding in progressive a press. This bigger radius at the bottom of the sizer die is the problem. With my old steel dies and single stage press this is a non issue. With higher pressure rounds such as 357 Mag, 40 S&W, 10mm the case expands enough to fill the chamber than does not get resized all the way down to the bottom. Bigger chamber clearances also seem to aggravate the problem.

 

[fatelk]

Well, I guess it's back to the old-fashioned steel dies for me, at lease 38/357. Never had a problem in any other caliber. I do see the radius in the bottom of the sizing ring; obviously that is the issue.

A friend of mine has a S&W model 60 .357 mag (nice gun- 3" barrel, adjustable sights). The chambers are real tight and some of the cases with bulges will not chamber. I just use an old Rock Chucker press so its not that big of a deal.

If you don't have enough neck tension, your expander is probably larger then it needs to be.

I wish that were the case. Actually the expander doesn't even touch some of the brass, except to bell the mouth. I got out the dial calipers and measured the brass sized with the Hornady dies, and brass sized with RCBS steel dies, and the difference was .003". They work fine with thicker brass, especially military cases, but maybe a call to Hornady is in order.

Thank you everyone for the help. Now I know that this is pretty much a standard issue with carbide dies.

 

[Steve C]

That bulge at the bottom is only a problem if it interferes with the rounds being chambered. Even though you have TiN dies, try lubricating the case lightly to see if it stops any brass flow during sizing. I frequently lube for my carbide dies with magnum cases as it makes sizing effortless and tends not to "draw" the case as much as without lube.

 

[rcmodel]

but maybe a call to Hornady is in order.

I would for sure call them, or send them the offending die set, along with some problem cases. (both ringed that won't chamber, and loose that the expander won't touch.)

Something there really isn't right.

rc

 

[fatelk]

I called Hornady and explained the problem. They are sending me a new sizer die! I'll post when I get it, whether it solves the problem.

 

[GaryL]

Even though you have TiN dies, try lubricating the case lightly to see if it stops any brass flow during sizing. I frequently lube for my carbide dies with magnum cases as it makes sizing effortless and tends not to "draw" the case as much as without lube.

I second this advice. A little Imperial Sizing wax on every 4th or 5th case really makes a difference.

 

[fatelk]

I finally tried the new sizer die. It almost completely solved the issue with the bulge near the base of the brass, And the sized diameter of the brass is about .001" smaller than with the old die. The RCBS steel die is another .002" smaller still, but this will help. The old TiN sizer was just a bad one from the start.

I need to get a .358" sizer for cast bullets, instead of .357". That will help too.

 

[mkl]

Your old RCBS steel die (like mine) will put a very slight taper on the case so there is no abrupt transition from sized to unsized.

The carbide and titanium nitride dies have a ring that sizes to one OD and thus will produce a more abrupt transition point between the sized and unsized part of the case.

I have the same die sets as you, and the transition point is much more obvious with the Hornady, although both seem to work well.