Tried to reload for the first time... failed.

R

Redlich

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Urgh,

So I finally got down to setting everything up and trying to load up some rounds for a ladder test tomorrow. Using hornady new dimension dies, the decapping pin keeps pulling all the way out of the die on the down stroke! In the instructions it says to make sure the spindle lock is screwed down tightly to prevent this from happening, but I bottomed the spindle lock out... it's screwed as far as it can go, and the pin isn't being held anything beyond "snugly", still able to move both directions under pressure.

I googled the problem, other people apparently have had the same issue according to some reviews.

Looks like I'm shooting my sks tomorrow :(

Red
 
sounds more like a QC problem then a new reloader fail.. call them up and tell them whats goin on! iv never delt with harnady customer service but hopefully they get you sorted out!

best of luck and happy reloading
 
I'm not sure which decapping tool you use, but I have the zip spindle for my Hornady dies and it stays tight. As far as dealing with Hornady service, I had a part that was out of spec a few months ago, emailed them and the correct part was in the mail no charge the same day. I'm not sure it can get much better? I would contact them for answers or part replacement.
 
You can read all you want about reloading (and that is a good idea) but having a knowledgeable reloader walk you thru it & verify your set-up when first starting out is invaluable.

Is it possible that there is something out of whack with regards to adjustment etc? Often times a new set of eyes will spot something you may have missed.. especially after you get frustrated! Just my $0.02

Regards,
 
Try to find a position where the spindle locks securely. Tighten the die a little bit and then try to adjust the spindle, u should be able to tell when it clicks in place.
 
on my Hornady New Dimension de-capping pin, it kept coming loose. Not sure if that is what you are talking about as im fairly new too. I had to tighten it down with a coulple of wrenches and now it doesn't move at all. Also, Hornady customer support is top notch, they've sent me three different things for my LNL AP already, all without charge.
 
If you cannot figure it out, call Hornady - it's toll free, they have techs on hand to walk you thru, if that fails as well - they are excellent to deal with on warranty issues.
I had decapping pin broken and zip spindle bent due to my negligence, told them so, they mailed me new pins and spindle and it cost me only 10 minutes of my time on phone with them.
 
Experianced reloaders...... Warning! Some laymen terms to follow........

The "zip spindle" (the bit the de-capping pin is attached to that sticks out the top of the die) sits in a hex head holder that is on the top of the die body.

This 'zip spindle' is terribly easy to adjust when taking the new dies out of the package. spin it with your fingers till the right amount is sticking out of the bottom of the die. You want enough of the pin sticking out of the bottom so that it will go through the grass but not damage the brass caseing you are re-sizing.

Now take hte biggest pliers (water pumps work the best IMHO) you own and grab the body of the die, make sure that you aren't grabbing where the threads are. Now take a 7/16 wrench and tighten the hex head bit that the 'zip spindle' screws into.

Once you get that "HE-MAN" tight it will never move again.

Re-read the instructions that came with your dies, it tells you this....... They don't come from factory tightened as different brass has different web thickness.

Cheers!
 
notsorichguy said:
Now take the biggest pliers (water pumps work the best IMHO) you own and grab the body of the die, make sure that you aren't grabbing where the threads are. Now take a 7/16 wrench and tighten the hex head bit that the 'zip spindle' screws into.
Click to expand...

Ya, when i phoned Hornady about the problem, they said im not tightening it enough. Pulled out both wrenches, gave it a good tightening and it hasn't moved since.
 
I really like that spindle. Back the tightening nut off by a quarter turn, make your adjustment, then retighten. A ten second process.
 
It's nothing exotic for the brass, just remington factory brass fired once through the rifle. As I mentioned, I bottomed out the spindle tightener in its threading, or so I thought. I also cleaned it with gunk-out first but...

I'm going to clean it again to make sure, then scuff up the spindle so it holds a little better hopefully, then tighten it again.

Thanks for the replies! I've heard good things about Hornady customer support, but they're not open on weekends. If it's not fixed by monday I'll give them a call.

Red
 
I wouldn't scuff up the spindle. Just clean, make sure the pin sticks out about 6mm or so, and tighten with two largest Mo-Fo wrenches you can find.

Also make sure the decapping pin isn't loose. I didn't check when setting up my .45ACP dies for the first time - and bent the spindle. I sent an email to Hornady, and a replacement set was in the mail the next day.
 
Tried to reload for the first time... failed

You only fail if you did not learn anything and give up without asking or trying again.
It is okay to make a mistake . . . just don't make the same mistake twice!
 
I had the same problem with a new set of hornady 6.5x55 dies primer decapping pin busted off with little force, i returned them and ordered a set of old reliable rcbs dies,
 
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