OK so I bought 2 sets of Dies at a gunshow, they're new. I always buy RCBS but these were available and NO Postages. :-)

Man do they SUCK. the expander/decaper rod is not threadeded like RCBS and guess what?? the expander seems to be soft soldered onto the rod.. at least it was before I started reloading tonight. The expander just pulled right off the rod and is stuck in the neck in one of the cases.

No more Pacific Dies for me. and YES I use graphite in the necks.

Finished venting :-)

Rich

I really didn't think Pacific dies have been available for a loooong time! I had a set of Pacific dies for 308Win back when I had a rifle with that chambering and I thought they were were one of the best sets of dies I'd ever used. They were used when I got them and were pretty old. Maybe their quality hit the skids later on in manufacure.

I was told Hornady bought out Pacific years ago. I have a old Pacific DL-155 shotgun press from the early/mid `60s that still works well for me. I`ve never used their dies though.

I still have Pacific die sets in 6mm, 6.5mm and 7mm TCU from way back when. These were some of the best available then and are still high quality even by today's standards.

I never had a problem with mine. Sorry to hear you got a lemon (or something pehaps a previous owner butchered)...

My mistake.. They're Hornady dies. I got'em new.

Rich

quote:

My mistake.. They're Hornady dies. I got'em new

I have several sets of Hornady dies. They are for my wildcats. They simply gave me the best price for custom dies. While I like their seater their decapper sucks. While I have never broke one. You do need a cheater bar to get them tight enough not to slip. Have tried it but thinking about trying to tread the rod above the clamp for a lock nut.

I have Pacific dies that are approaching 40 and still going strong.

quote:

Originally posted by Ol` Joe:
I was told Hornady bought out Pacific years ago.

Joe, If I recall correctly Joyce Hornady started the Pacific Gun Site Co. in Nebraska,(about the time Nosler, RCBS and Hodgdon started up) and later changed the name to Hornady. I have several sets of Pacific Durachrome dies, and a set marked Hornady Pacific Durachrome, they are very good, and chrome plated against wear or corrosion. The old Pacific "C" press sold for more than $50 in the 1950's as well, quite a sum in those days. I still have one, and have loaded ammo that shoots in the .3's with it. Good old stuff.

On the other hand I don't like the collet set up on the current Hornady dies, and believe that they have advertised that they are going back to threaded decapping stems.

quote:

Joe, If I recall correctly Joyce Hornady started the Pacific Gun Site Co. in Nebraska

Not true sir:

Joyce had a ranch near Fort Peck Montana that was covered with the building of the Fort Peck Reservoir and was paid for the ranch.

He took that money and bought Pacific tools in Lincoln and moved it to Grand Island.

He did not start the company.

After his death in 1981 his son Steve took over the company and the "tools" department has suffered ever since.

I found two sets of old Pacific dies and bought them last year.

Neither was adequate and I junked them. I refuse to buy Hornady dies with the slip spindle as they are also piss me off.

But I hear that Hornady is now threading the spindle again.

Screw em....there's a lot of good dies to buy and why go to someone that has so much baggage.

Lee dies are now at the top of my list believe it or not.....damn good stuff and can't beat the price either.

BTW...Hornady pistol dies are very good!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Joe, If I recall correctly Joyce Hornady started the Pacific Gun Site Co. in Nebraska

Not true sir:

Joyce had a ranch near Fort Peck Montana that was covered with the building of the Fort Peck Reservoir and was paid for the ranch.

He took that money and bought Pacific tools in Lincoln and moved it to Grand Island.

He did not start the company.

I agree that he bought Pacific, now that I re-read my source. Sorry my memory failed.

But, what I read is that he was from Lincoln, Nebraska (worked at the Grand Island Arsenel during WWII). Joyce began making bullets with Vernon Speer, and the bullet business (and Frontier Ctg.) was the source of his success. Maybe he owned a ranch in MT? We should ask his accountant which money he bought Pacific Tool with.

quote:

But, what I read is that he was from Lincoln, Nebraska (worked at the Grand Island Arsenel during WWII). Joyce began making bullets with Vernon Speer, and the bullet business (and Frontier Ctg.) was the source of his success

No question about it.....Hornady's success has always been based on manufacture and sales of excellent bullets. Tools has always been a sideline.

It is possible that in recent years loaded ammo for .204 Ruger, 450 Marlin, 380 Ruger, 22HMR, 22 MachII, and now upcoming .375 Ruger will become more of what the company is known for. Investing in case making tooling has changed Hornady's new product strategy dramatically.

Vapodog wrote: "

quote:

22HMR, 22 MachII

"

I am hoping you meant "17" instead of .22. Otherwise, there may be more goodies out there that I need to spend $$$ on...

quote:

Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
Vapodog wrote: "

quote:

22HMR, 22 MachII

"

I am hoping you meant "17" instead of .22. Otherwise, there may be more goodies out there that I need to spend $$$ on...

Yes I did...my error