Hornady case prep center - Chamfer tool too soft

[Holderofthehorns]

So I got the sweet Hornady case prep center. Mostly Cabelas points. About $20 cash on my side.

The device is good. However, the chamfer tool is not sharp at all. It does not chamfer.
The tool threads into the device quite nicely, but it is softer than the brass I push onto it.

Does anyone know of a replacement chamfer tip that will screw into the unit?
Hopefully something that is case hardened like my Lee Hand Chamfer tool?

Thanks in advance.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So I got the sweet Hornady case prep center. Mostly Cabelas points. About $20 cash on my side.

The device is good. However, the chamfer tool is not sharp at all. It does not chamfer.
The tool threads into the device quite nicely, but it is softer than the brass I push onto it.

Does anyone know of a replacement chamfer tip that will screw into the unit?
Hopefully something that is case hardened like my Lee Hand Chamfer tool?

Thanks in advance.

If McMaster's don't have it, it's probably not made.
https://www.mcmaster.com/chamfering-tools/for-use-on~brass/

 

[Docendo Discimus]

All of the bits that come with the Lyman tool will fit your prep center. The chamfer tool is sharp and well made.

 

[Holderofthehorns]

Indeed!! It does wobble a bit, but with the slow speed of the turn it is still usable!

The Hornady Chamfer tool was female, the Lyman was male. But the Case Prep Center had a female spot just below, which I had not populated.
The fit is not perfect, but good enough.

I need to chamfer all my 9mm shells as the 6 cavity mold gives 124 grain bullets that need swaged and sometimes give finished rounds that don't pass the plunk test. Only occasionally. ??
Sometimes, the 124 swaged slug will even crush the brass. This should never happen.

I think I need to check the tightness of the seating die. It could be a bit loose.

 

[DanK3Pos]

All of the bits that come with the Lyman tool will fit your prep center. The chamfer tool is sharp and well made.View attachment 1015971

Another vote for this tool. I've got several chamfer tools, including the one that came with my FA case prep center. The one that comes with this tool is my favorite.
BTW, that tool is on sale at Midway for a pretty nice discount.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101286290?pid=135615

 

[DanK3Pos]

Indeed!! It does wobble a bit, but with the slow speed of the turn it is still usable!

The Hornady Chamfer tool was female, the Lyman was male. But the Case Prep Center had a female spot just below, which I had not populated.
The fit is not perfect, but good enough.

I need to chamfer all my 9mm shells as the 6 cavity mold gives 124 grain bullets that need swaged and sometimes give finished rounds that don't pass the plunk test. Only occasionally. ??
Sometimes, the 124 swaged slug will even crush the brass. This should never happen.

I think I need to check the tightness of the seating die. It could be a bit loose.

You don't chamfer straight wall pistol cartridges. You expand them then crimp them as the final loading step.

 

[Shooterbob]

I chamfer all new cases ?And any case I trim rite or wrong that’s what I do.I do shoot lots of cast and it seems to help with lead shaving.

 

[Shooterbob]

Also call hornady if there steel is softer than brass they got a very bad batch of steel.they may replace it

 

[mdi]

I have been casting and shooting two bullets for my 9mm and purchased a couple others. I merely flare the case mouth and remove the flare after bullet seating with a taper crimp (deflaring) die...

 

[jmorris]

Does anyone know of a replacement chamfer tip that will screw into the unit?

What unit do you have? The duo and trio look to have 8-32 threads, so any tooling with that thread pitch should work with them.

Looks like the Lyman uses the same threads.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101287300?pid=442091

 

[.38 Special]

I often chamfer revolver cases. I prefer minimal flare in order to extend case life, and inside chamfering helps prevent bullet shaving during seating. Similarly, I often load heavy Magnums with lots of crimp and find that outside chamfering can make for a cleaner crimp with no damage to the case mouth.

Having said that, I wouldn't know how to make steel softer than brass if I tried. Regardless of the exact issue, though, it sounds like a defective part. As @Shooterbob points out, Hornady almost certainly will replace it at no charge.

 

[HOWARD J]

I use a RCBS Trim Mate---best investment I have ever made

 

[DanK3Pos]

I often chamfer revolver cases. I prefer minimal flare in order to extend case life, and inside chamfering helps prevent bullet shaving during seating. Similarly, I often load heavy Magnums with lots of crimp and find that outside chamfering can make for a cleaner crimp with no damage to the case mouth.

Having said that, I wouldn't know how to make steel softer than brass if I tried. Regardless of the exact issue, though, it sounds like a defective part. As @Shooterbob points out, Hornady almost certainly will replace it at no charge.

Oh well. Live and learn. I load thousands of rounds at a time (each time I set up the press), typically 700 rounds per loading session. Simply not worth my time to chamfer. I'll consider doing this for .44 Magnum loads, as I handload those, as opposed to reloading on a progressive.

 

[Nature Boy]

If your pistol brass is shaving lead could you not be expanding enough?

If I had to start chamfering pistol brass I might give up loading for it.

 

[FROGO207]

Yeah he's probably trying to use the expander that works for FMJ. The one for lead needs to be a couple thousandths larger to keep from shaving the lead. I have used a 38 SPL expander for correct fit before.

 

[.38 Special]

Oh well. Live and learn. I load thousands of rounds at a time (each time I set up the press), typically 700 rounds per loading session. Simply not worth my time to chamfer. I'll consider doing this for .44 Magnum loads, as I handload those, as opposed to reloading on a progressive.

For sure. There's no way I would chamfer thousands of pieces at a time. "Back in the day" I just set the Dillon to flare the mouths as much as was needed, and if that resulted in shortened case life, oh well. Starline makes new ones every day.

But now that a session involves fifty or maybe a hundred rounds, chamfering is often a part of the process and makes the results just enough better to justify it, at least for me.

 

[lordpaxman]

I need to chamfer all my 9mm shells as the 6 cavity mold gives 124 grain bullets that need swaged and sometimes give finished rounds that don't pass the plunk test. Only occasionally. ??

I never chamfer 9mm - actually don’t chamfer any case that isn’t trimmed first. You’re certainly welcome to do what you like, but usually a better expander die (M type) will help more than chamfering would. Also, I would doubt chamfering will help with a the plunk test. It’s probably something else preventing the plunk.
But the Hornady prep center is a sweet tool! Good luck.