375supermag
03-07-2015, 09:43 PM
Hi...
For some difficult to fathom reason, I have at the ripe old age of 60, decided to start trying some new things.
Maybe a mid-life crisis, maybe just wanted something new and different, I dunno...
Anyway, last week on the spur of the moment (sorta), I bought my first polymer handgun, a S&W M&P in 40 S&W.
Today, I was out shopping for 40S&W reloading dies. I have only ever used RCBS dies for the last 35 years, ever since a bad experience with Lee dies. I have never had any issues with RCBS quality or customer service. I am VERY happy with all my RCBS products.
And yet, today, I bought a set of Hornady Custom Grade dies in 40S&W. Hornady is not a new company to me...I have used a few of their products in the past...I think their taper crimp dies for semi-auto pistol cartridges are great. They make reliable feeding of pistol cartridges an absolute certainty. I run all of my semi-auto rounds through a Hornady taper crimp die as a final step.
Still, I have no idea why I would choose their reloading dies over RCBS. Maybe it is just a desire to try new things, sort of like buying a polymer-framed pistol after spending my entire adult life extolling the superiority of the 1911 design.
I think it may have something to do with the fact that the Hornady dies were $44.99 and RCBS were $52.99. It also may have something to do with the fact that Hornady wants to give me 100 free bullets just for buying their dies, as much as a $35 gift.
At any rate, for $35 worth of bullets that I will buy anyway, the less expensive die set seems like a pretty good deal. If the Hornady dies don't match RCBS quality, the most I am out is about $10...the difference between the cost of the bullets and the cost of the die set.
I already have a bunch of 40S&W brass, plus a couple boxes of factory ammo for use in breaking in my new pistol, so as soon as my new Wilson case gauge that I ordered from Brownell's arrives, I will be set-up to reload 40 S&W. I also ordered a Hornady taper crimp die from Midway,along with a few other goodies.
Does anyone have any remarks or reviews on Hornady Custom Grade dies? Good? Bad?
As far as comments on trying new things so late in life, I would be willing to listen to any advice on that front. This all really started last year when after about 40 years of only American made cars...mostly Dodge trucks, I bought my first import... a Nissan Altima.
I really have no idea where this is all headed... import cars, polymer handguns, next thing you know I'll be listening to rap music and voting Democrat.
For some difficult to fathom reason, I have at the ripe old age of 60, decided to start trying some new things.
Maybe a mid-life crisis, maybe just wanted something new and different, I dunno...
Anyway, last week on the spur of the moment (sorta), I bought my first polymer handgun, a S&W M&P in 40 S&W.
Today, I was out shopping for 40S&W reloading dies. I have only ever used RCBS dies for the last 35 years, ever since a bad experience with Lee dies. I have never had any issues with RCBS quality or customer service. I am VERY happy with all my RCBS products.
And yet, today, I bought a set of Hornady Custom Grade dies in 40S&W. Hornady is not a new company to me...I have used a few of their products in the past...I think their taper crimp dies for semi-auto pistol cartridges are great. They make reliable feeding of pistol cartridges an absolute certainty. I run all of my semi-auto rounds through a Hornady taper crimp die as a final step.
Still, I have no idea why I would choose their reloading dies over RCBS. Maybe it is just a desire to try new things, sort of like buying a polymer-framed pistol after spending my entire adult life extolling the superiority of the 1911 design.
I think it may have something to do with the fact that the Hornady dies were $44.99 and RCBS were $52.99. It also may have something to do with the fact that Hornady wants to give me 100 free bullets just for buying their dies, as much as a $35 gift.
At any rate, for $35 worth of bullets that I will buy anyway, the less expensive die set seems like a pretty good deal. If the Hornady dies don't match RCBS quality, the most I am out is about $10...the difference between the cost of the bullets and the cost of the die set.
I already have a bunch of 40S&W brass, plus a couple boxes of factory ammo for use in breaking in my new pistol, so as soon as my new Wilson case gauge that I ordered from Brownell's arrives, I will be set-up to reload 40 S&W. I also ordered a Hornady taper crimp die from Midway,along with a few other goodies.
Does anyone have any remarks or reviews on Hornady Custom Grade dies? Good? Bad?
As far as comments on trying new things so late in life, I would be willing to listen to any advice on that front. This all really started last year when after about 40 years of only American made cars...mostly Dodge trucks, I bought my first import... a Nissan Altima.
I really have no idea where this is all headed... import cars, polymer handguns, next thing you know I'll be listening to rap music and voting Democrat.