Tomorrow will be one week since I reached out to Hornady via their web contact form. No response yet.
Mr. Sefuller,
I had Round 2 with Tech Support in the honored personage of Jason today. Know him? He and I are developing quite a relationship (not so much actually!). Anyway, I'll relate what transpired. BTY, Jason is trying - to hang onto his temper.
First, let me restate that I've had no issues crimping w/ my die set that's identical to yours. I
do not crimp with a heavy hand, not 9mm, .40, etc., and especially not .380. I just don't feel that heavy taper crimps add any benefit.
Anyway, I sat down today at my reloader and started in with jacketed and lead bullets. I used a chamber gauge. When my eye said I had a good taper crimp and when the rounds dropped into the gauge nicely, I mic'ed the taper and it was .374/.375. As the specs state .373, I thought I'd try for just a little more and readjusted my seater slightly downward. At that point, of course, the dies started to roll crimp and I barely had any mouth exposed. A touch more and the case buckled. These were as slight, minimal adjustments as I could make.
At that point, I called my buddy Jason. I asked him how was I supposed to get a taper that would go .373. We entered a Mobus loop and around and around we went. He said that they had researched the issue and that a taper crimp was not offered in .380 because of the shortness of the case. Sound familiar? I said that RCBS did, and he said that, no, they didn't. Yes they do, no they don't ....... Then, we went into the truth-in-advertising issue, and basically the short of it is that nowhere does it say taper crimp and buyer beware. Flash Point!
I said I wanted to return the dies. Jason said that I could not return them to Hornady, but would have to go through my supplier.
BTW, as an aside not central to this issue, Midway (and I do a fair amount of business w/ Midway) agreed to take the dies back. I think they'd just eat them and wouldn't address with Hornady. Since there are no alternatives available, I stated that I'd hang onto them, get another set when I could from them, and just throw the Hornady in the trash. Oh, a glorious day to come!
Back to Jason. After the call, I started in looking and, low and behold, Jason is right (God, I hate it). RCBS nor Lee offer a three die .380 set w/ a
taper crimp. I swear I used to own one (If anyone can find a .380 set with a taper crimp, I'd like to know because I told Jason I'd be BAAACCCKKK). You have to get a separate taper crimp die.
I knocked out a couple hundred of both bullets at .374/.375 but was loathe to waste SPP on .380 and so quit. I will have to say I still like how Hornady dies align a bullet.
So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I know when to take my elephants and head back to Rome. Should you call Jason, be sure and blow him a kiss for me!
Over and out.
