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Posted: 1/20/2013 2:56:57 PM EDT
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Actually not so much a question but would like to compare notes. I've been reloading for many years and just picked up the supplies to reload 357sig. As I set up the dies I discovered that belling the case mouth at all causes not enough neck tension. However w/o a belled mouth seating would very often crush the neck. So I simply chamfered the mouth as I would for rifle and all is happy. So who chamfers? My set up is a Dillon 550 using their dies.
Also discovered that Sierra bullets (115/125gr power jackets) seem undersized enough that nothing I do provides the neck tension to keep them from being set back. No problems w/ Hornady or bulk bullets (115/124gr xpt). All I've chosen to load are truncated cone types so ogive isn't playing into this. Anyone else find this to be true? What bullet brands/types work best for you? |
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I hadn't noticed any problems. I've been resizing with the .40 S&W carbide dies (body only) and then running them through the standard .357 SIG sizer die (no lube but it only gets the neck/shoulder so they don't stick). I bell them, just slightly, then prime, powder and insert the bullets. Just enough crimp to get rid of the bell.
So far I've loaded only Hornady 124 (or is it 125) grain jacketed hollow points and a bunch of those plated 124 grain Hollow points (Berry's and another brand that escapes me right now.) If I was having an issue with bullet setback I'd consider reducing the diameter of the expander just a bit by clamping it in a drill and using some sandpaper on it. |
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Thanx very much for the replies.
To this point all Ive made are dummy rds for die set up and to have something inert for test fitting to the mag and to see how they might cycle thru my weapons. It never dawned on me about power keeping set back from occurring. Im starting load dev w/ Hodgden Longshot which Ive never used before. So, Im uncertain how much that would fill the cases preventing setback. My load manual (Hod Annual Manual) doesnt list fill %age nor does it show any of the Longshot loads as compressed. So I suspect Im not going to be able to reply on it to prevent set back...Ill let you all know how that works out. I had though some about spinning the belling tool but decided Id just restrict myself to bullets that fit it rather than the other way round. Not being able to use the Sierra bullets isnt a show stopper and all the others (bulk & Hornady) fit OK. As I move along in this Ill post my other findings. Its good to be able to compare notes on what works and doesnt. Thx again. |
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Quoted:
Experienced same issues, bullet used was Speer 125 grain TMJ. Solutions were Lee FCD and IMR SR4756 to avoid setback..357sig needs case full of powder, compacted for bullet to rest. Agreed, and pretty much use the same approach, except for using AA#9 for my loads. This powder also fills the case well. |
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Another topic I meant to include in my OP is headspace. I read a good deal about this and discovered CIP headspaces on the shoulder whereas SAMMI uses the mouth. Im pretty sure thats a correct assessment of it.
So, when I was setting up my size die I found none of the fired cases in my inventory could possibly headspace on the mouth, all were very much too short. However, the shoulder worked just fine and this is how I set up my sizer. The way I have it now is about .001 of headspace. I ran dummies thru both my weapons and they seemed to cycle just fine. That said I also have a box of factory ammo (Federal ball) and the headspace is HUGE! Its on the order of slightly more than .006. That seems really pretty large to me...but perhaps it isnt?? At any rate what did you all decide on headspace re reference surface and magnitude? |
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