Reloading .357 Sig

[gyrfalcon]

Sam, I will try your instruction with the FCD even though Lee's instructions are different. You probably know better than they do, anyway.

Lee seems to have the same instructions as Sam:

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/HelpVi ... 0die-1.wmv


The instructions that come printed are not always good though or might be for the bullet seating die crimp, not the Lee FCD.

[Rodentman]

Agree completely for straight walled cartridges, but the FCD for the .357 sig has the 4 collets as the rifle dies. The instructions say to lower the die til it touches the shellholder and then a half turn more. Camming over, as Dean said, activates the crimping forks. I set it 3/4 turn in.

Progress made! I tried the Sierra bullets with no belling of the case. Tried some of the MT gold as well with no belling. I made a few with the Dillon crimper and a few with the FCD. The Sierra bullets are much tighter in the case. I cannot push them in. So that is a good sign. Will test Saturday at BPR. Hopefully my Sig and I will survive. I think no belling the case and using the Sierra bullets will work.

[gyrfalcon]

Agree completely for straight walled cartridges, but the FCD for the .357 sig has the 4 collets as the rifle dies. The instructions say to lower the die til it touches the shellholder and then a half turn more. Camming over, as Dean said, activates the crimping forks. I set it 3/4 turn in...

Oh whoops... I should have linked to this video: http://www.leeprecision.com/html/HelpVi ... 0die-1.wmv

On a side note adjusting the Lee FCD for .357 is somewhat tricky, since it's actually a .38spl FCD if you do it they way they suggest you'll completely mess up the round and case.

[Rodentman]

Not much stuff on that Lee guy's reloading bench.

Do you mean not to do it the way the video says, or the way the instruction sheet says. Seems they are the same directions. I have a feeling I am crimping too much in an effort to get the bullet tight I may be doing the opposite.

[RB98SS]

I have a feeling I am crimping too much in an effort to get the bullet tight I may be doing the opposite.

You may have something here, It's hard to speak in "crimp" terms but when I crimp my 357sig rounds, I get slightly more resistance (cam over) than when I put a firm crimp on my revolver rounds -- 357mag and 44mag. Nothing excessive.

[Seismic Sam]

Please read backwards to page two to see my apology. I was wrong about how this die is adjusted.

[gyrfalcon]

Please read backwards to page two to see my apology. I was wrong about how this die is adjusted.

j/k I made the same mistake.

[Seismic Sam]

Like I said, it really sucks to be older than Tootsie..... What was this thread about again??

[Rodentman]

I'm off to the range this morning if I can remember where it is. Gimme a break, I'm 61, same as my IQ.

[ttousi]

Like I said, it really sucks to be older than Tootsie..... What was this thread about again??

[Rodentman]

Well I found the range, busy as I've ever seen it on a Saturday AM! Tested my loads and I am still here. I loaded 7 in the mag, fired 6 and then checked the OAL of the last one. It was 1.14 to start and ended up being about 1.125. I repeated this a few times and got similar results. This is with the MT gold bullet. I didn't have as much setback with the Sierra 8125, from 1.14 to 1.13X give or take a few thou. All fired OK, but that doesn't mean they always will.

I stopped by GS and John told me not to crimp and I'd be better off. A fellow selling reloads at the gunshow told me to use 130g .356 bullets for the 38 super as that's what he uses in the reloads he sells. I didn't buy any.

I am feeling that the MT gold are not the best choice. I am trying to find some Sierra 8125's as I had better luck with them.

This caliber won't be my SD choice (not with my reloads anyway) but I'd like to get to the point where I can reload it safely and with confidence that my rounds are sound and well made.

DID have fun at the range with a co-worker who wanted to try firing my .44 mag. I brought the SRH 7.5" and fired some rounds with 27g H110 under a 200g JHP. He was impressed.

[gyrfalcon]

...I loaded 7 in the mag, fired 6 and then checked the OAL of the last one. It was 1.14 to start and ended up being about 1.125...

It doesn't sound like your bullets are seated very well. Does a single whack or so from a kinetic puller let the bullet go? Over crimping can result in bad bullet retention.

[DeanC]

I like how John is thinking. The neck is supposed to be what holds the bullet, the crimp just keeps it from moving. I wonder if you need to take a closer look at what the sizer is doing.

[rugersol]

I like how John is thinking. The neck is supposed to be what holds the bullet, the crimp just keeps it from moving. I wonder if you need to take a closer look at what the sizer is doing.

if I had to guess, and that's what I'm doin', I'd guess the case, through all the neck, ain't bein' sized appropriately.

Can ya run a caliper 2/3 - 3/4 the way down the neck on one of yer reloads, and a factory load?

I could also see if the shoulder ain't bein' bumped back 'nuff, that could be part of the problem. Ya got a case length gauge? Is yer brass consistently significantly long?

Got 'nother .357 sig sizing die, to try?

IIRC, ya said ya were gonna back off yer sizer from the plate? Maybe run 'er back down, all the way? ... somethin' to try anyhow.

[Rodentman]

Neck measures about the same on the factory and reload, .378, but the factory rounds LOOK better, like the neck is more even. I have the Dillon sizer kissing the shellholder. Also, I haven't been using any neck lube. I have some Imperial dry neck lube but I was afraid it would cause greater bullet slip. Should I use it?

I don't have another sizing die. I bought the Dillons as they were highly recommended over the Lee.