Help finding .38 Special Carbide Dies for Hornady AP press

[rabid_rob]

I have a Hornady progressive press on my short list, and the first set of dies are going to be .38 special. From what I can tell, the Hornady dies are plain steel (from their website). I was hoping to stick (pardon the pun) with Hornady dies, as I understand the press may have trouble with other brands.

However, I do not want to mess with lube, so it's carbide for sure.

Who makes a good quality carbide die set for .38 special, that maybe you know works just fine in a Hornady AP press?

 

[Chief-7700]

I happen to like the dies from Dillon three die carbide is $58.95!
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/Reloading_Dies-8-4.html

 

[ReloaderFred]

The Hornady dies are indeed steel, but the interior of the sizing die is coated with Titanium Nitride, a super hard industrial coating. It doesn't require lubing the cases. If you look closely at the picture of the dies on their website, you'll see the gold colored ring of TN. https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_se...&category_id=304a3c8f4c7b7c2fbe9b698eba1fdf71

I've only used one of the TN coated dies, an early 9mm, probably close to 20 years ago. I didn't particularly care for it at the time, and haven't tried one since. I'm sure there have been improvements since then.

I use the Hornady LNL press, and in the 5th station, I'm using a Lyman roll crimp die for .38's, since lately that's what I'm loading the most of. The Lyman die is shorter than most, and doesn't contact the ejector wire.

With the new EZJect LNL, this shouldn't be an issue, though.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

I use the Hornady dies for 45 colt and the TiN treated sizing die works great. I also like their seating dies better than most handgun dies except Redding Comp series, but at a price closer to Lee. I like the roll crimp from my Hornady seater (crimped while seating the bullet) better than the crimp from my Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die. I use a Lyman M type expander.

Andy

 

[Walkalong]

Over 20 years ago I had a 9MM Hornady Nitrided die. I wore the coating off in less than 3000 rounds. I bought a Lee to replace it, and it still works. I have never tried another Hornady sizer die. I may have gotten the only bad one in the world, but maybe not.

I also like their seating dies better than most handgun dies except Redding Comp series, but at a price closer to Lee.

Ditto, as far as seaters go.

I use a Lyman M type expander.

Me too, on most of my die sets.

 

[SASS#23149]

I"ve used the Hornady dies and like them a lot,no problems what so ever.

 

[utk]

I've never heard of a failing titanium nitride Hornady die. I have them in 9mm and .38/357 without any problems.
IMHO you can safely buy them, no worry! They wouldn't have kept them so long if they didn't work.
And their seating dies with the sliding sleeve is very good at aligning the bullet prior to seating.

 

[utk]

... And .30 Luger and .308. But those are steel dies.

 

[rcmodel]

I much prefer anybodies carbide dies over the Nitride plated Hornady's.

I had a bad experience with them years ago, and don't plan to buy any more.

rcmodel