Just got a new set of Hornady Custom Grade dies for 500 S&W from Amazon. The sizing die does not seem to have a titanium nitrite gold ring like my .44 (on the left) and others. It is just strait bored and seems to taper as it goes up. Every case sticks half way in. There is no sizing ring or relief behind. Is this normal or do I have a factory defective die?

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MakOK
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It appears to be a standard die. I cannot determine if this is even available from their web site. Does the box label indicate that this is a Titanium Nitride die set? Call Hornady in the morning and ask them!



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Gunsmithing since 1961

Anyone have a Hornady 500 die for comparison?

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MakOK
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I think your problem is "from Amazon" I used to buy from them. Had product that was kinda like the description but not exactly. Just my opinion

Someone else's die won't tell you anything. The question is, is your die supposed to a TiN sizer or not. I will ask again, what does the box label indicate???? Until you answer this no one has any way of knowing!

The photo of your die appears it is a standard "steel" sizer that requires lubrication. As I said before, I don't know if Hornady made steel dies in this caliber, or only TiN.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

I don't think that the sizing dies for 500 Mag that fit a 7/8" x 14 thread press have any carbide or TiN inserts in them. I don't there is enough steel left in the die to support an insert in the die itself. That's what I remember reading somewhere at least. I don't have a 500 so I can't say this from experience though. But you have a steel die and will have to use a lube to resize your cases.

The box does not say TiN like my others so it must be a steel die. Even with one shot lube it is very hard to cycle and and am afraid it will get stuck. Lyman, Lee, Redding and RCBS all offer carbide dies in 500. Hornady's web site, and literature even included instructions in there products are very short on detail. I will probably look for a carbide sizing die of another brand and use lube also.

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MakOK
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Try you a tube of RCBS Case Lube 2. I use that when resizing my bottleneck rifle cases and even with the belted magnum 264 Mag cases the resizing pressures are very reasonable. And get a lube pad to put it on. BTW, Case Lube 2 is water soluble, so it's easy to get off the cases after resizing. And that's cheaper than buying a new sizing die.

That's what I remember Hornady telling me too when I asked, which is probably why all my 500 S&W dies are Hornady except the sizer die which is Lee's carbide sizer.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

Lee, Lyman, RCBS, & Redding all have Carbide sizers and die sets for sale at Midway. I just saw a RCBS carbide set on sale and a Lee FCD on sale too. It will run you about $55 for both. That is about what I paid for Steel RCBS 50 AE, 3 die set in 1992!

Not all brands of virgin brass are final sized when you buy them! That is why reloading manuals tell you resize brand new brass!

If you are convinced the Hornady dies are bad, RETURN THEM! If you are just unsure of how much resistance a large straight walled case produces with steel dies, Use real sizing lube. The spray wax lubes like One-Shot don't "lube" enough. I use Imperial Sizing Wax or RCBS water soluble lube.

I have not been happy with Hornady's die sets for 25 to 30 years. they change every few years and the internals aren't interchangeable with earlier sets. That's why, if I'm buying new dies I buy Redding (just about the most expensive and worth it!) or RCBS. Both have wonderful Customer Service.

Ivan

Got a Lyman Carbide die in 500 S&W.

Wow what a difference!!!

Still will lube since it is such a large strait case. Was buying Hornady since I have a LnL Ammo Plant. Other die sets have been great. Will do more research on dies in the future. I ASSUMED Custom Grade Dies would be top of the line.

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MakOK
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Me too. I give mine a light coat of Hornady's One-Shot case lube with the cases laying on their side in an old oil change pan.

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Waiting for the break of day

You need to use sizing lube with Hornady die. I have several die sets for .500 and for sizing, I rate Hornady as the best. As you notice, it creates slight taper case body which is better as it sizes minimum = better case life. TN die for the straight case sizing is, for the most part, combenience for the operator. Go to the Redding website and check out what they offer for .44 now. They have double TN rig dies for the reason I just explained.

Large high pressure rounds do require a good bit of effort to resize and with a steel die ,a proper lubricant is a must. Your die is steel. Imperial Sizing Die Wax , something thick and greasy (I had to resort to STP Oil Treatment once), you want to use a lubricant designed for reforming cases , spray on and Lee resizing lube are a little light for the job.
Lube the case and start it into the die , when/if it starts meeting resistance , stop....back out the case, relube and go again. Several small sizing steps works much better than trying to do it in one.
I believed the no lube necessary with Carbide and once pulled the carbide ring out of the die ! I like Hornady stuff but not their TiN dies, would prefer steel from them. Your steel die will work , just a little lube will take care of the problem.
The harder the case goes into the die, the harder it will be to extract...that's when the rim tears off and the real fun begins.
I even lube my cases with carbide dies , spray on and Lee lube are OK here, easier to size, less wear and tear on brass , press and arm.
Imperial Sizing Die Wax.....remember it !
Gary