I am really beginning to dislike Hornady

[Otakar]

Until recently I have not used much of the Hornady reloading equipment. I have used some Hornady bullets in the past with varying results and I do use the Hornady Colette Bullet puller which seams to work relatively well. But not perfectly. I have recently purchased some Hornady case holders (my first from Hornady) because they list one for the Carcano cartridge. I use this case to form the 7.62X45 "Czech" cartridge. There are only two manufacturers that make this case Norma and PPU. The Norma is hard to find and expensive so I use the PPU cases because they are actually quite good. When I first bought this shell holder (#21) the cases would not even fit in the holder. I contacted Hornady and was informed that the holder was designed/engineered around the PPU (Privi Partizan) case. I informed the individual that that is the case I am using and he in turn told me to send the holder back with some brass. I sent it back along with 3 pieces of virgin brass. I received the holder back in about two weeks and immediately dry fitted it. I found that the case now easily slips into the shell holder but rides on the upper part of the grove instead the base of the rim. I pushed the shell down onto the holder and easily slid a .018" feeler gauge under the base of the cartridge. Now for some reason it is impossible for me to log in onto their website or to make reliable contact. Am I going to be dealing with this at my own dime again? I never had any problems with other reloading equipment manufacturers before. Matter of fact LEE and RCBS have always been excellent and very easy to deal with. I think I will never buy another Hornady item again. I'm in my late 50s and been at this for a long time so I would think I know what I am doing and have plenty of experience. I work for an engineering firm and a simple engineering problem like this would only be made by a young, fresh out of school engineer but would never have been allowed to reach production without testing and confirmation. Shame on you Hornady to make the same mistake twice in a row and on the same item.

Otto Kudrna GySgt USMC

 

[Otakar]

I built this rifle out of a Turkish M-93 Mauser to shoot the 7.62x45 Czech cartridge. It is about as powerful as the Military load of the 7.62 NATO but not as powerful as the 308 Win. I shoot a Nosler 125gr spitzer BT at 2650 with this. I am developing a load for a 150gr bullet but have not yet been able to test one.

 

[jds holler]

No one will accuse you of taking the path "most traveled".

Beautiful rifle. jd

 

[Otakar]

Thank you for the compliment on the Rifle. It took me about 6 months of evenings to build. I should start a thread somewhere on my projects. But Hornady lists this shell holder for the cases I am using them on. (at least head-stamped the same)

 

[hogpatrol]

Opened the website ok.

https://www.hornady.com/contact/

 

[Sniper338]

The only thing hornady I use is some bullets. But that could be changing with time too.

 

[Otakar]

I also use a few bullets but otherwise the only thing which I use consistently is the collet bullet puller and the realoding manual and that is only because it is the only manual that has the .376 Steyr in it and my 375 American T.R. has the same capacity.

 

[MrMajestic]

Hey Gunny, get yourself a Forster Coax.

 

[nmkid]

Nice rifle.

 

[ridgeway]

Modify the shell holder yourself with a Dremel to make it work.

 

[pcrowe]

Leech cup wins 2014 and 2015. Made several other shootoffs. Top ten long range nationals since 2014. Canadian cup win 2017. 2nd place long range nationals 2017. A few Pama 20's. Tied national record at the time-200-17x. All ammo loaded on a Hornady progressive press (actually loaded as a single stage). All brass sized with Hornady dies. For this shooter, Hornady products are just fine.
Not trying to be argumentative, just relating my experience using Hornady products.

 

[ireload2]

To present a complete picture how many matches have you lost using those same crappy tools?
I have been to many bench rest matches and I have never seen a single Hornady tool in use.
They are just not used by anyone. My experience goes back years before Hornady ever marketed a single Pacific design...

Leech cup wins 2014 and 2015. Made several other shootoffs. Top ten long range nationals since 2014. Canadian cup win 2017. 2nd place long range nationals 2017. A few Pama 20's. Tied national record at the time-200-17x. All ammo loaded on a Hornady progressive press (actually loaded as a single stage). All brass sized with Hornady dies. For this shooter, Hornady products are just fine.
Not trying to be argumentative, just relating my experience using Hornady products.

 

[pirate ammo]

the only Hornady product we use is the XTP hollow point for handguns

 

[Barlow]

I like Hornady products. The last few years they have introduced many new and innovative bullets and related equipment. Barlow

 

[muleman69]

Leech cup wins 2014 and 2015. Made several other shootoffs. Top ten long range nationals since 2014. Canadian cup win 2017. 2nd place long range nationals 2017. A few Pama 20's. Tied national record at the time-200-17x. All ammo loaded on a Hornady progressive press (actually loaded as a single stage). All brass sized with Hornady dies. For this shooter, Hornady products are just fine.
Not trying to be argumentative, just relating my experience using Hornady products.

Sounds like you have done really well and the horned stuff is working well. I have Several high dollar dies and have found the new Hornady match dies are producing just as concentric rounds as my Redding Comp's

 

[K22]

I've use RCBS tools for over 40+ years. They're high quality but not perfect but their customer service is outstanding to perfect.

I use some Hornady bullets, mostly the 125 XTP, 38 caliber bullets for pistol shooting. They are very accurate and reliable. I'm not a big fan of their rifle bullets but have had success with the 60 Vmax in 223 Rem 8" twist and 55 Vmax in the 223 Rem 12" twist. Been experimenting with the 125 SST in 308.

My favorite rifle bullets are Nosler and Sierra.

 

[Otakar]

The main issue here is that if anyone uses this shell holder they will set the shoulder of the cartridge back by about .020" this obviously will increase the headspace of the rifle by the same amount. With the Carcano rifles already being somewhat substandard, not mattering if, 6.5mm or 7.35mm caliber. This could lead to catastrophic failure and severe injury or even death. Just because of a stupid little mistake by a careless engineer and gross oversight by quality control. This might seem like a minor issue but can lead to major problems. Increasing headspace by .020" in a 70 year old rifle with already questionable headspace is no small matter. Most loaders will not question the loading equipment they purchase as I am doing here. I own six presses and they each have their place and use. I only bought this shell holder because it was specifically designed for the cartridge in question and no other. However RCBS has a shell holder which fits only slightly loosely but no looser then the new "updated" shell holder Hornady sent me back, this RCBS holder which fits but is not listed for the cartridge is the (#9) and I will use from now on. If I take the suggestion as brought forth by "Ridgeway" I have already done that with a RCBS #32 (intended for 7.62x39 Soviet) which basically this new Hornady #21 shell holder now should duplicate and fits absolutely perfectly. I just wanted to by and was excited to see that there was a shell holder intended for this cartridge. The whole point here is the danger which this seemingly insignificant little component can pose to the shooter who uses ammo loaded with it.

 

[dolek]

I like Hornady products. The last few years they have introduced many new and innovative bullets and related equipment. Barlow

+1 I think they are helping the sport grow .

 

[Bart B.]

The main issue here is that if anyone uses this shell holder they will set the shoulder of the cartridge back by about .020" this obviously will increase the headspace of the rifle by the same amount.

The rifle headspace (bolt face to chamber shoulder) stays the same.

Head clearance (bolt face to case head) changes, increases by .020 inch

 

[LHSmith]

It does not take a avid reloader long to find out that not all shell holders are created equal- likewise for cartridge base dimensions (lot to lot, brand to brand). In fact when I set up dies, I got into the habit of dedicating a specific s/h to that die so I know it is a good fit and my shoulder bump stays constant from one reloading session to the next.
BTW- Redding is the only manufacturer that hardens their s/h's, the others are easily modified.