357 mag need help

[houdini]

Trying to load 357 mag, sticking out of a case gage, when I make the bullet, They been loaded a lot of times, I do not feel a bulge at the end. Mix head stamp. Should I get new brass.

 

[38ExtraSpecial]

Trying to load 357 mag, sticking out of a case gage, when I make the bullet, They been loaded a lot of times, I do not feel a bulge at the end. Mix head stamp. Should I get new brass.

Hmmm I’ve never had that and I have some well loved brass.
Your sizing die is adjusted properly? Try sizing a piece of brass and check that in the gauge by itself. If that passes then it’s not the sizing.

Bullets are proper diameter?

Crimp is good?

 

[BTSDOG]

Make sure its not a .38 cal. Case guage.

 

[Road_Clam]

Make sure its not a .38 cal. Case guage.

says right on the gauge "357 Mag"

o/p is it possible your not getting full length sizing all the way to the base of the casing ? What dies you using ?

 

[gerrycaruso]

I don't think you need new brass. I have brass I've loaded so many times the nickel is worn off. Are you using a bullet you've never used before?

 

[BTSDOG]

What is your setup ? Press, dies, are you roll crimping or taper ? Do you bell case mouth before bullet insertion, and lead or jacketed/plated bullets ? Something is amiss somewhere.....

 

[Knob Creek]

Is it crimped? No flare on case mouth that could interfere?

 

[BTSDOG]

By any chance may you have aquired any .357 maximum cartridge ?

 

[rewster]

What is your setup ? Press, dies, are you roll crimping or taper ? Do you bell case mouth before bullet insertion, and lead or jacketed/plated bullets ? Something is amiss somewhere.....

A Lee Factory Crimp Die resizes the case during the crimping process !

 

[38ExtraSpecial]

A Lee Factory Crimp Die resizes the case during the crimping process !

And usually causes more problems.

 

[rewster]

And usually causes more problems.

Not that I've seen YMMV !!!

 

[Rick O'Shea]

I love my Lee FCD's, and I use them to only remove the bell.
Wadcutters and such I use standard taper or roll dies.
OP should make sure each die is set up properly, esp sizing die.

 

[BTSDOG]

Case length will effect a roll crimp or factory crimp more than a taper crimp. If case is too short or all cases are not the same length you will get variations in the amount of crimp you get. Not enough crimp might leave to much belling in the casemouth.
The length of the case doesnt matter too much in headspace issues due to this caliber headspacing on the case rim.....

 

[BTSDOG]

And too much roll crimp or factory crimp can actually cause bulging in the case.

 

[EddieZoom]

Op, is more than one case doing this or every one in a small batch ?

 

[DW357]

Huh. Haven’t run into that yet with 357 mag.
Which bullets? Is it common headstamp brass (Fed win Rem Starline etc)?

 

[38ExtraSpecial]

Not that I've seen YMMV !!!

If you need to resize the whole cartridge as a last step you did something wrong in the loading process.

 

[1903Collector]

Did Houdini vanish?

Check and make sure no crap is in the case gauge, also can we see the entire finished round up close?

 

[Rick O'Shea]

Some times reloading is,.. Sleight of Hand!


View: https://imgur.com/0iHSZIj

 

[Lennypeters]

Just curious. Do they chamber? I may be criticized for this but I don't own a case gage. If they chamber they are shot.

 

[Road_Clam]

So are we going to get any more info from the o/p or is this just one and done fishing post ?

 

[houdini]

says right on the gauge "357 Mag"

o/p is it possible your not getting full length sizing all the way to the base of the casing ? What dies you using ?
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[houdini]

I use dillon dies , and different head stamps, A dillon press,

 

[38ExtraSpecial]

I use dillon dies , and different head stamps, A dillon press,

Dies adjusted properly? Does a sized piece of brass gauge?

 

[DW357]

Just curious. Do they chamber? I may be criticized for this but I don't own a case gage. If they chamber they are shot.

Same

 

[houdini]

no they dont chamber

 

[BTSDOG]

Are you seating and crimping at the same station ? If so, id try crimping separately....

 

[peterk123]

@houdini could you post a pic of the cartridge for us so we can see the whole thing? What are you using for a bullet?

I have brass that had been shot to death. I don't even trim them. Something weird going on for sure.

 

[Rick O'Shea]

Sounds like something isn't set up correctly on your press. Why not double check everything?


I'll put a $1 down on your station 1 sizer die having an issue,.. or not enough case flare? Let's make a video!

 

[pastera]

Not that I've seen YMMV !!!

If you use cast bullets it swages them down - your individual results may vary but bullet size is very important to not leading up your gun.

If you need the FCD with the sizing ring then you have a problem somewhere else in your reloading process. Fix that problem and you won't need the FCD.

The FCD with a collet like the 223 FCD is a great die.