Which dies

[prairiefire]

I am new to the 17 Hornet club. I have reloaded pistol and rifle calibers for years - but the 17 Hornet may be a bit trickier. Any suggestions on which die set to get for optimal loading?

 

[B23]

I use the 3 die set from Redding # 38279. It has a body die, bushing neck size only die, and their Comp seater. It's definitely more expensive than the other die sets and you'll need to add a couple different size bushings but I neck size only my 17 Hornet brass and you'll find that the 17 Hornet brass varies quite a bit in neck thickness.

 

[prairiefire]

B23 - thanks!

 

[Kittitas George]

I also use the Redding dies. Given the difficulty getting brass, it pays not to 'work' it. I have a Vickerman seating die with a 'micrometer' adjustment that is wonderful to use with the small .17 size bullets. I also have one in .204. Kinda spendy but they are well worth it in my opinion. Tight groups and enjoy!!

 

[B23]

The little 17 cal bullets are kind of a SOB especially those tiny little 15.5's. I really like the Redding Comp seater and use them on pretty much everything I have but I may have to try one of those Vickerman seaters for my 17 Hornet's.

 

[Kittitas George]

The little 17 cal bullets are kind of a SOB especially those tiny little 15.5's. I really like the Redding Comp seater and use them on pretty much everything I have but I may have to try one of those Vickerman seaters for my 17 Hornet's.

The main body of the Vickerman will take different caliber inserts, buy one die and just switch to the needed caliber. Check out the Vickerman website, it explains it much better than I do. Very easy to adjust and use. I use RCBS for my 300 Win Mag and .270, good enough for a gun in the back of the safe. I use Redding dies when trying for the one hole group.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Bog standard 2- die Redding set. No issues. I shoot nearly the max load of CFE-BLK for factory like speeds. Must anneal the brass...

 

[TheCZKid]

I also use the Redding dies. Given the difficulty getting brass, it pays not to 'work' it. I have a Vickerman seating die with a 'micrometer' adjustment that is wonderful to use with the small .17 size bullets. I also have one in .204. Kinda spendy but they are well worth it in my opinion. Tight groups and enjoy!!

Initially I used the normal Hornady die set, and have had great results.

I recently decided to turn the necks, as was stated before, the necks vary in thickness quite a bit. So I ended up getting the Redding bushing sizing die, plus the competition bullet seating die. Unfortunately the body part of the seating die was sizing the cases TOO MUCH, as it took a lot of extra force to size the body. In comparing the dimensions on the cases after using both the Hornady and Redding die, the Redding was unnecessarily sizing the shoulder and especially the base of the bodies too much. I don't like over-working the brass if I can size it less and it functions fine.

I have tried the RCBS 17 Hornet neck sizing only die also, and I was getting a difficult bolt close when I used that alone, so I wouldn't recommend using it. Plus they are not made any longer, but I got one on Amazon.

I actually purchased the Full set # 38279 about a year ago, and the body die was so out of spec it was impossible to use, and I had to return them at a loss to Midsouth. For $260 dollars plus another $60 for two bushings, I had high hopes!

This time, I contacted Redding, and they agreed to let me send them the die, and samples of a once shot cases, ones sized more accurately from the Hornady die, and ones sized in their die. They said if I sent it in again, they would slightly enlarge the die body area, so it doesn't over-do it so much. I sent it in about 2 months ago... haven't heard from them or gotten it back yet. If you do end up turning your necks and use the bushing die, the normal bushing sizes would be 189 or 190. So add $30 a piece for each Nitride coated bushing, or $17 for the steel, it all adds up.

I also had an issue with the new Redding competition seating die I just got. The spring loaded collar which extends over the case, was getting stuck in the up position in die the body when it went up while seating. The cartridge lettering stamp on the bottom of the collar stuck out, and was snagging on the die... I had to carefully sand down and polish the stamped area so it would function, as I didn't want to return it.

So I have had 3 quality control issues with the last 3 times I purchased Redding dies, not a good experience for me! I know most folks on here love Redding bushing dies, but I'm not impressed so far. Quality control is lacking in my experience. If Forster made a 17 Hornet set I'd purchase those. I have MANY Forster sets in 6 calibers with 0 issues, I like their design better on the Ultra Micrometer seating dies, the micrometer dial diameter is a LOT larger than Redding, a lot easier to finely adjust the seating depth.

RCBS, Hornady and Redding make 17 Hornet dies, but Redding is the only one that makes a bushing die, so if you want to control neck tension, or turn the necks and need more tension than the standard Hornady or RCBS dies give, you're stuck with Redding as the only game in town.

If you DON'T figure you will turn the necks, then I'd suggest the Hornady set ($43.88 at Midsouth), and get their Microjust Seating stem ($32.08 Midsouth) for the seating die, as they work fine, and it's only $77 total rather than $290 for the Redding set with one bushing!

The concentricity you get from a standard sizing die will end up being better than the Redding bushing dies (whether people say it doesn't on here or not), as the bushing tends to increase runout and inconsistency in my experience. I get no runout with the standard Hornady sizing die, it varied up to .005 with the Redding bushing die for me.

 

[Kittitas George]

Initially I used the normal Hornady die set, and have had great results.

I recently decided to turn the necks, as was stated before, the necks vary in thickness quite a bit. So I ended up getting the Redding bushing sizing die, plus the competition bullet seating die. Unfortunately the body part of the seating die was sizing the cases TOO MUCH, as it took a lot of extra force to size the body. In comparing the dimensions on the cases after using both the Hornady and Redding die, the Redding was unnecessarily sizing the shoulder and especially the base of the bodies too much. I don't like over-working the brass if I can size it less and it functions fine.

I have tried the RCBS 17 Hornet neck sizing only die also, and I was getting a difficult bolt close when I used that alone, so I wouldn't recommend using it. Plus they are not made any longer, but I got one on Amazon.

I actually purchased the Full set # 38279 about a year ago, and the body die was so out of spec it was impossible to use, and I had to return them at a loss to Midsouth. For $260 dollars plus another $60 for two bushings, I had high hopes!

This time, I contacted Redding, and they agreed to let me send them the die, and samples of a once shot cases, ones sized more accurately from the Hornady die, and ones sized in their die. They said if I sent it in again, they would slightly enlarge the die body area, so it doesn't over-do it so much. I sent it in about 2 months ago... haven't heard from them or gotten it back yet. If you do end up turning your necks and use the bushing die, the normal bushing sizes would be 189 or 190. So add $30 a piece for each Nitride coated bushing, or $17 for the steel, it all adds up.

I also had an issue with the new Redding competition seating die I just got. The spring loaded collar which extends over the case, was getting stuck in the up position in die the body when it went up while seating. The cartridge lettering stamp on the bottom of the collar stuck out, and was snagging on the die... I had to carefully sand down and polish the stamped area so it would function, as I didn't want to return it.

So I have had 3 quality control issues with the last 3 times I purchased Redding dies, not a good experience for me! I know most folks on here love Redding bushing dies, but I'm not impressed so far. Quality control is lacking in my experience. If Forster made a 17 Hornet set I'd purchase those. I have MANY Forster sets in 6 calibers with 0 issues, I like their design better on the Ultra Micrometer seating dies, the micrometer dial diameter is a LOT larger than Redding, a lot easier to finely adjust the seating depth.

RCBS, Hornady and Redding make 17 Hornet dies, but Redding is the only one that makes a bushing die, so if you want to control neck tension, or turn the necks and need more tension than the standard Hornady or RCBS dies give, you're stuck with Redding as the only game in town.

If you DON'T figure you will turn the necks, then I'd suggest the Hornady set ($43.88 at Midsouth), and get their Microjust Seating stem ($32.08 Midsouth) for the seating die, as they work fine, and it's only $77 total rather than $290 for the Redding set with one bushing!

The concentricity you get from a standard sizing die will end up being better than the Redding bushing dies (whether people say it doesn't on here or not), as the bushing tends to increase runout and inconsistency in my experience. I get no runout with the standard Hornady sizing die, it varied up to .005 with the Redding bushing die for me.

While I haven't experienced the problems you have, I'm certainly appreciative of your sharing them with us. I've had some problems using Redding dies with my 204R, I adjusted the die down and full length sized them. I've never had 'run out' problems, but, I'm a gopher shooter, not a BR shooter, so not so fussy. I use the Wilson bushings, availability is better and I can go to the factory for pick-up. Again thank you for sharing your experience with us.

 

[searcher]

When I got into .17 hornet reloading - it was very tough to find dies. I bought a standard Redding sizing and seating die set to get me loading - thinking I'd upgrade if I found bushing dies, competition seater parts in .17 Caliber from RCBS, etc.. As it turns out - the standard sizing die gives me excellent accuracy after I skim turn the necks on the brass. There is still plenty of tension left - but the skim removes the irregularities and excessive tension "factory" dies are famous for. I have no want for better dies - at least in respect to gaining accuracy. Maybe I can get better than 1/3 MOA with different dies - but by the time that accuracy becomes valuable - the little bullets lose enough velocity to not matter a whole lot.

 

[1raggedhole]

Lots of people poo-poo the dies from Lee, but they have always worked very well for me.

17 Hornet Dies

Lee 17 Hornet PaceSetter 3-Die Set includes a Full Length Sizing Die, Easy Adjust Dead Length Bullet Seating Die, Factory Crimp Die, Universal Shell Holder, Powder Dipper and Instructions/Load Data.

leeprecision.com