Sizer dies- Hornady vs RCBS- Inside Diameter, etc.

[Luggernut]

In one of my other threads I have mentioned that I'd measured the ID of my Hornady .45ACP sizer/decapper die and compared it to my RCBS die. It was clear that the RCBS Inside Diameter (ID) was smaller- hence size the cases "tighter". The ID of the RCBS was several thousandths smaller (~.006"). This did have a direct impact on the tension on my bullets. I also put a RCBS resized case into the Hornady die by hand and the room for wiggle was amazing. On the other hand the Hornday resized case would not go into the RCBS by hand at all.

Has anyone seen much variance like this in sizer dies? With Hornady?

 

[Walkalong]

That is a pretty big difference when one sizer can get it down to where it will go into the other by hand. I have had 4 different .45 dies and they varied around .004 from largest to smallest and that was not enough to do that. 2 RCBS- smallest and biggest .461 & .465, 1 Lee .462, 1 Redding .4635- works best.

 

[Walkalong]

:banghead: DP

 

[Luggernut]

What does do you mean Walkalong? DP?

 

[Luggernut]

Update: I called Hornady today and they validated that my sizer die was out of spec and would be sending me a new one. Logically this would have a direct impact on the bullet tension. They said they might have installed an incorrect sizer ring in the die. For good measure they are sending me a new large primer slide to address a potential burr problem I may have had (I think I might have fixed that anyway- but a backup is on its way).

The person I spoke with was very helpful and professional.

 

[Walkalong]

Double Post. I'm challenged I guess.

They may have installed a .45 Colt sizer ring by mistake. They are slightly bigger than .45 ACP.

 

[Luggernut]

Walkalong- you are right on the money- that's what he said as well!

 

[PsychoKnight]

Never heard of such a mistake in manufacturing a die. I imagine it must have happened to an entire batch run, and very many puzzled 45acp Hornady customers wondering why their bullets fall out of the case after being loaded. Due to the safety concerns of bullet setback, you would think there should be a recall notice for Hornady die purchasers to check the I.D. of all die runs made by the same employee and quality control inspector. Loosing faith in my new reloading equipment manufacturer very quickly.

LuggerNut - thanks for bringing this to our attention. Once you get the correctly sized resizing die, hopefully you don't have case belling problems like I and others did. It will be a bigger problem for cast bullet shooters.

 

[Luggernut]

Psycho-I'm using the RCBS sizer die now... no problems anymore.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

I'd heard that some Hornady 45 colt die users were unhappy with the die not sizing to small enough diameter. They called Hornady and Hornady sent replacement 454 sizer dies to them, which work great. I bought the 454 set for my 45 colt reloading, and I like them very much.

Andy

 

[Luggernut]

Update. New Hornady die came in today. All is good and it works like it should now.