Handgun die idea

[Brad]

I have lots of Hornady TiN handgun dies. They do good work for me but do tend to over size the brass for what is really required.
I could go to steel dies but lubing cases isn't something I'm excited about doing as it means removing said lube. Just doesn't fit my loading style.

What happens if I make a steel die with an opening the size I want but relieve the inside of the die other than a 1/8-3/16" ring at the bottom? Think of a carbide die but with steel for the sizing ring.

Would lube be needed? How well would the die hold up over time if made from unhardened steel like 12L14? What if I used O1 in the annealed state?

This is something I will likely try, I have the stuff to give it a go. I figure for thinner walled cases, maybe 32 H&R, is should be fine.

 

[358156 hp]

You might get lucky and find a LEE factory crimp die that's the size you need to size cases to the dimension you want. If you find what you want, you could remove the bushing from the LEE die and install it in your custom die.

 

[Brad]

Never thought of that.
I could also turn a hunk of O1 into a ring the right size and use that in a die made from 12L14. It would take far more work but would be doable.

 

[fiver]

a phone call to lee might get you a carbide ring of the right or close to right size.
they try to get them right but end up with a jillion oversized ones.
that's how err why they invented the FCD die.

 

[Ian]

What I'd be after is a dual carbide die that will neck size and body size "straight wall" brass to fit the chamber taper, more or less.
I don't see why you couldn't make exactly what you want except oversized the required amount and see about having it TiN coated. I know the deposition coatings are expensive, but you might get someone to sneak a die in on a run of production parts for a few bucks.

 

[fiver]

BT sniper might could get it black nitride coated with a batch of his swage dies.

 

[Winelover]

Seems a lot less trouble to switch to RCBS carbide dies. I average 20+ loadings on all pistol brass (9mm, 38, 357, 44 SPL, 44 MAG and 45LC. Never had to trim or anneal the brass. BTW........I don't, normally, do powder puff loads.

 

[RBHarter]

I have 2 sets ot 45 Colts RCBS carbide dies and they both Coke bottle the brass if I FL . Bad for the brass since I have a couple .488 chambered Rossi 92's . I've resorted to necking the top .400 of the case and using a Lee 45 ACP FCD body as needed for full length . It takes about 20 cycles for the Winchester brass to get so hard that the Ruger loads don't seal and smoke cases . For sizing on the 45 AR I only use the FCD body also .

 

[freebullet]

Interesting. Haven't had problems with my hornady dies much. Can't just raise die up for less sizing?

 

[Brad]

Interesting. Haven't had problems with my hornady dies much. Can't just raise die up for less sizing?

Let's not be reasonable here. I'm trying to find a way to play on the lathe and try something different.
Damn I hate the voice of reason!

 

[Ian]

I can help you find things to do with your lathe

 

[smokeywolf]

Ian, Brad's never going to get that mill if we don't start finding things that he needs to do on a mill.

 

[Ian]

I no nahsing. Dawn already wants to pay me back for her husband's misbehavior in the kitchen some years ago, which may or may not have been influenced by me...

 

[freebullet]

Let's not be reasonable here. I'm trying to find a way to play on the lathe and try something different.
Damn I hate the voice of reason!

Ooo, dang...sorry bout that! It's not often I'm accused of being the voice of reason. It's a strange feeling. I'll work on that.