Bought a set of .222 Rem dies at a gun show several weeks back. They were in an RCBS box with wrapped in wax paper. Got them home and discovered they were really Hollywood Gun Shop dies. I thought oh sh*t I got taken, but I searched Hollywood dies and found they were quite good. So atleast I felt better.
My question is does anyone have instructions how to set these dies up for resizing and bullet placement? Thanks.

Hollywood loading dies? havn't a clue
I figured this was a eulogy for a Hollywood gun shop.

Anyone know if Hollywood Gun Shop still exsists? Is there a collector club somewhere? Anyone???????

quote:

Originally posted by tieoneon:
Anyone know if Hollywood Gun Shop still exsists? Is there a collector club somewhere? Anyone???????

I don't know if they are still in business, but they used to make one helluva fine, massive turret press!!

They are no longer around. The dies can be used just like RCBS, adjust as needed.

They still exist. I have a Hollywood "senior" reloading press. I bought it second hand more than 40 years ago. It is great piece of equipment. I bought a part for my press about 18 months ago from them in California. Cant remember exactly how I located them but I believe it was through searches on Google. I actually talked with them on the telephone.

Hollywood Gun Shop dies were the Rolls-Royce of their era. Are they in good shape? Wanna trade?

Starbuck - If you could come up with the number, I'd appreciate it.

Alberta - I think I'll keep 'em. Thanks anyway.

They are called Hollywood Engineering now. A search on Google usually just brings up a company with this name that builds bicycle racks but don't know if they are same company or not. My understanding is they still make the SR turret press. Cost right at $1000. A brand new one sold on Ebay first of March for $999.99. I have not found a website and maybe can only be contacted by phone.

Thanks SDWhirlwind, did you by chance come across a phone number?

I have a set of Hollywood 7x57 dies I got off of ebay for 10 bucks + shipping.

They seem to be of excellent quality.

No complaints.

Rojelio

quote:

Originally posted by tieoneon:

Alberta - I think I'll keep 'em. Thanks anyway.

Figured you were way too smart to bite on my offer...at least I hoped so, since you are reloading...a field where "smarts" count.

Seriously, as you have likely gathered, they are very excellent dies and when one sees any in a caliber he/she needs at a decent price, I think it always pays to snap them up.

I have been thinking this over. The number was given to me by a fellow in California. He had a turret tool (hollywood) for sale. I lost an EBAY bid for one at over $400. I believe that Hollywood Engineering sounds familiar. Some of the older reloading companys probably might have some info. Try Wilson in Cashmere, or Vickerman in Moses Lake Wash. Wash

To get back to your immediate problem. Some one with some loading experience should be able to simply look at them and figure out how to make them work.

What is it specifically that you need to know how to adjust?

All the ones I have sen/used, adjust just like any standard RCBS/Redding/C-H/Pacific/even Herter standard die set.

I.e., for the sizing die, sart with it about a turn off of the shell holder, and try sizing a fired case. Observe how far down the neck it pushes the lube. Keep turning the die in and re-sizing the case until the lube is pushed down just to the top edge of the shoulder. For YOUR rifle only that should be just about perfect. Once you are at that point, without moving the die body turn the locking ring down to where it touches the top of the press solidly and lock it there with the set screw in the ring.

For the seating die, where you set it depends on whether you want to crimp the bullets in place or not. If you DO want to crimp the bullets, turn the bullet seating stem WAY OUT.


Then put a sized case in the shell holder and screw the die about half way into the press. Run the sized case all the weay up for the full ram stroke to make sure it is NOT being touched by the crimping ring. If it IS being touched, move the whole die body further out of the press.


Then screw the die body in bit at a time. After each additional bit, run the case up in the die. At some point you will feel the crimping edge in the die start to crimp the case. at that point, STOP tuning the die into the press. Set the locking ring on the die body against the press top and lock it into place just like you did with the sizing die.

Now, put a bullet on top of the case and move the case up into the die. If you get almost all the way up in the die and don't feel the bullet being pushed into the case, you need to screw the seating stem into the die body WITHOUT moving the die body.

Keep screwing the seating stem in until you feel the bullet starting to be seated. Then note carefully about how much deeper the bullet needs to go. Screw the seating stem into the die body ALMOST that much more.

Then run the case and bullet all the way into the die. The bullet will be pressed pretty much to where you want it and crimped.

If the bullet is too far into the case when crimped, screw the seating stem bck out a little bit and try another case and another bullet. until you get it just where you want it. Then lock the lock ring on the seating stem down against the top of the die body and you are done.

If the bullet is NOT far enough into the case when crimped, you need to keep screwing the seating stem in until it is. In that instance you can use the same old case with the bullet not quite far enough in. Each time you turn the seating stem in, run thatbullet and case completely into the die again until the bullet is where you want it. Then lock the seating stem lock ring aganst the top of the die body, and once again you are done.


Please note, for crimping bullets in place, it is VITALLY important you trim all lbrass to the same length before starting your adjustments, or every round will end up differently when loaded.



If you do NOT want to crimp your bullets in place, then just don't seat the seating die body deeply enough into the press for the crimping ring in he die body to act on the cartridge case neck. Lock it in place with the die body lock ring, and adjust the bullet seating stem until it gives you the overall cartridge length you want .

Lock the seating stem in place and you are done.

I have to go to supper, so if there are any errors or ommissions in this description, I'm sure someone here will add to or correct it for you.

Okay Folks

Here is what I found for address on Hollywood Engineering

Hollwood Engineering
10642 Arminta Street
Sun Valley, CA 91352
818-842-8376

Owners Joe and Margaret Mueller

Supposedly shop is close to Burbank Airport

With a search on Google on second or third page there is a link to a guys nightmare dealings with this company. Which entails lies, forever getting dies and merchandise after he had paid for same. Drawed out forever with promises etc after he spent about $1700 for a new press, dies etc.
Also another individual that visited shop stated it was a pit so he didn't order.
Don't know how much is still the same or if things are different now as I seen writeup several yrs ago and it is still there. so caveat emptor or whatever they say to buyers.
FYI street address and phone number was obtained from business filing at the CA Better Business Bureau.
Still sounds like they make dies and parts but availability etc seems questionable to say the least unless of course they seen the light. A shame if not cause I would give the left onion for a nice SR turret press. Have a couple of the single die models but wake up in a cold sweat at nights dreaming of a turret. Have bid several to the $500 mark on Ebay and that is my limit. However it isn't the limit for some as the last 4 have exceeded $650.
Hope this helps those interested.

Dennis

Whirlwind -

Good info to be aware of and consider carefully...thanks for posting it.

Darned shame, too. That's what often happens these days when some new "sharp-dealer" buys an old and trusted name...think "Rigby", "Fraser", even for a while, "Smith & Wesson" as examples.

Those interested mainly in "the buck",and with no apparent excess baggage of ethics, appreciation of tradition, or even real love for the shooting sports, do none of us any favors when they destroy a lifetime of honest dealing by a product originator for a quick short-term profit.

They also harm American industry in general by destroying consumer faith in our own products.

Now climbing down ladder from soap-box. thanks again for the info.

BTT one time just in case someone missed the contact info for Hollywood Engineering. Think the older dies are as good as any but haven't seen or used anything recent.