Why does Hornady do this?

[RabbitSlayer]

Ok I thought you were having an issue with it in use. For your issue it's an easy fix. Don't turn it upside down. LOL

I know. Hornady knew exactly what happened and I think its actually in the die instructions to check it. I don't think I'm the first person to have this user error.

 

[Rob01]

I know. Hornady knew exactly what happened and I think its actually in the die instructions to check it. I don't think I'm the first person to have this user error.

Maybe not but at least it's not a common issue or a design issue when using the die.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Im holding the 17 hornet seater and a 204 ruger in my hand. They both fall out if the sleeve remains in the down position while the die is turned over. If the sleeve moves with the stem its fine. If it falls out it can get wedged like the photo. Pull the handle it will crush the stem. To be clear it can't fall out onto the ground it can fall out of the sliding sleeve and become wedged in there.

View attachment 1592293

I see what you’re saying now. I don’t think my bigger caliber’s will do that, but I will hold them up above my head now before using and make sure the stem is in the sleeve.

 

[Evan]

I see what you’re saying now. I don’t think my bigger caliber’s will do that, but I will hold them up above my head now before using and make sure the stem is in the sleeve.

A quick jiggle of the die will tell you too. It rattles more/differently than it usually does with the stem down where it belongs.

I have had this happen to me a few times but caught it before getting the die threaded in the press because I am in the habit of shaking my dies a little when I pick them up. I have caught quite a few issues before they became issues by jiggling tools before using them.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

I have bought several of the rifle cartridges type of Hornady seater dies lately to use with the new click adjustable micrometer top and just looked at the three seaters that I have. It is not possible for the seating stem to fall out of the dies on these. I guess if you didn’t have the snap ring that holds the alignment sleeve in, it could all drop out. But that’s not going to happen if it’s assembled back properly.

I agree, and don't see how it can fall out. They are made to go in from the top, so to replace the stem with a VLD type stem you need to open them up and replace the stem.

I imaging more people that purchase their dies don't use VLD bullets or they would include the stem by default. Probably because most of them are using Redding dies for VLDs...*gd&r*

 

[Superjet]

If you don’t like the way their dies work, you’re in for a real treat when you start shooting their bullets