What is a gas assist?

JimDandy · November 7, 2012, 10:22 AM

I'm still planning my metallic cartridge reloading purchases, but I was browsing Hornady's website and came across their 366 press with gas assisted indexing. Does anyone know what exactly that means, why you would want it, and such?

chris in va · November 7, 2012, 10:39 AM

I suspect it's powered by an air compressor.

Just get a Lee Classic Cast and be done with it. No need for any uber expensive equipment to start with.

snuffy · November 7, 2012, 10:49 AM

The Hornady 366 is a progressive shotshell press. The gas assist is an air cylinder that operates the press instead of pulling the handle.

The Hornady 366 is 1960's technology, it was actually formerly the Pacific 366. It hasn't changed since it was first built. It does NOT have any case activated stations, it will drop powder and shot whether there's a shell present or not,(then you have a big mess!).

Set-up and adjusted to one type of empty hull, it WILL produce a bunch of high quality reloads in a hurry.

JimDandy · November 7, 2012, 10:50 AM

Oh I can't say I have any intention of dropping the 8, almost 9 bills for this press while I'm still lucky to hit the broad side of a barn. Some exaggeration, but I'm still not accurate enough to justify more than the walmart value pack bricks. However the technology/ingenuity factor of a lot of this stuff intruiges me, so I was curious what it was and what it did.

JimDandy · November 7, 2012, 10:51 AM

Thanks Snuffy

November 7, 2012, 10:22 AM	#1
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 2,556	What is a gas assist? I'm still planning my metallic cartridge reloading purchases, but I was browsing Hornady's website and came across their 366 press with gas assisted indexing. Does anyone know what exactly that means, why you would want it, and such?

November 7, 2012, 10:49 AM	#3
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	The Hornady 366 is a progressive shotshell press. The gas assist is an air cylinder that operates the press instead of pulling the handle. The Hornady 366 is 1960's technology, it was actually formerly the Pacific 366. It hasn't changed since it was first built. It does NOT have any case activated stations, it will drop powder and shot whether there's a shell present or not,(then you have a big mess!). Set-up and adjusted to one type of empty hull, it WILL produce a bunch of high quality reloads in a hurry. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

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November 7, 2012, 10:39 AM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I suspect it's powered by an air compressor. Just get a Lee Classic Cast and be done with it. No need for any uber expensive equipment to start with.

November 7, 2012, 10:50 AM	#4
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 2,556	Oh I can't say I have any intention of dropping the 8, almost 9 bills for this press while I'm still lucky to hit the broad side of a barn. Some exaggeration, but I'm still not accurate enough to justify more than the walmart value pack bricks. However the technology/ingenuity factor of a lot of this stuff intruiges me, so I was curious what it was and what it did.

November 7, 2012, 10:51 AM	#5
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 2,556	Thanks Snuffy