@gbertolet When I got my first Auto Mag 25 years ago, all that was available were Hornady dies and they sucked. Once I got able to search the internet I was able to find a good 4 Die set of RCBS and never looked back. I probably have some sets of old RCBS I could sell but I would have to dig them out.
Please look, and PM me with the details.
I guess we can PM here? Maybe.
How do you guys that have the Hornady 44amp dies like them? I haven't ordered any reloading dies yet.
Well, I have a set.
The sizing die was way too tight and squished the case down 5-thou' too small, as can be seen:
I sent it back to Hornady with some virgin brass and the one shown above - they sent it back in a week and it now sizes perfectly well, but I don't know whether this is endemic to Hornady dies in general or just a single botched die.
One more issue re the sizing die is that, apparently like many dies, the neck expander-ball is a little large - I need to whittle it down 2- or 3-thou' and polish it up.
Their crimp die is a roll-crimp (which works fine) but I have an RCBS .44 AMP taper-crimp die found on eBay.
Please look, and PM me with the details.
I know I have several sets of RCBS, 3 and 4 die sets. I have some form die sets also. Let me see what I can find.
I have no idea how to PM on this thing.
Well, I have a set.
The sizing die was way too tight and squished the case down 5-thou' too small, as can be seen:
I sent it back to Hornady with some virgin brass and the one shown above - they sent it back in a week and it now sizes perfectly well, but I don't know whether this is endemic to Hornady dies in general or just a single botched die.
One more issue re the sizing die is that, apparently like many dies, the neck expander-ball is a little large - I need to whittle it down 2- or 3-thou' and polish it up.
Their crimp die is a roll-crimp (which works fine) but I have an RCBS .44 AMP taper-crimp die found on eBay.
Thanks for the info AndyC!
I have a Hornady set that I recently got in. Haven't tried them out yet, but hopefully they will be okay. With your experience and info, I will keep an eye out for any problems. Once I get around to playing with the dies I'll report back.
Mr Cohee, any luck finding the 44 automag dies you mentioned?
Mr Cohee, any luck finding the 44 automag dies you mentioned?
I have not had a chance to look.
I have found a used RCBS reloading die set, and case forming die set for $125. Is this a good price?
@gbertolet that is a good price. I got mine I think for around 150 and they were in mint condition. Were yours clean?
I did not buy them yet. Just checking my options. The dies look somewhat dirty, but I hope they would clean up nice after a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner.
I tried making up some cases by alternate means. I used a 14"chop saw to cut some 308 and 30-06 cases, that had split necks to approx length. I used my Forster case trimmer to trim to 1.298, and used the Forster 44 cal neck reamer, to open up the case mouths. Boy that was hard work. That reamer was hard pushing. It took several hours just to get 13 cases done. I think I will just buy the proper case forming dies, and be done with it. Mr Cohee was going to look and see if he had some dies he would be willing to part with. Maybe I will hear from him soon.
Email sent.
I tried making up some cases by alternate means. I used a 14"chop saw to cut some 308 and 30-06 cases, that had split necks to approx length. I used my Forster case trimmer to trim to 1.298, and used the Forster 44 cal neck reamer, to open up the case mouths. Boy that was hard work. That reamer was hard pushing. It took several hours just to get 13 cases done. I think I will just buy the proper case forming dies, and be done with it.
I have the RCBS case-forming dies and yep, it's some work. I took the advice of more experienced Automag shooters and bought 500x Starline cases (but it's nice to have the forming dies anyway just in case).
