Reloading 357 SIG

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One big question I had by the way was what does everyone use for trimming their cases? I’ve found when applying a taper crimp that some get crimped and others do not due to varying case dimensions. I’d wanted to get the lee quick trim die and just run them through that, but I can’t find one anywhere. Can you just use one of the other ones, or is this not an option? Thanks,
Alex
 
Alex G said:
If I’m reading correctly, I’m assuming just to remove lube because they have already been cleaned before during the first wet tumble step, correct?
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That is correct. It is my process for now, but we always try to do something better or quicker. Maybe one day I will just go back to resize before tumble and remove the last cleaning step. Time will tell.
 
vaalpens said:
That is correct. It is my process for now, but we always try to do something better or quicker. Maybe one day I will just go back to resize before tumble and remove the last cleaning step. Time will tell.
Click to expand...
For me it mostly depends on how dirty the brass is. If it’s not bad, I sometimes size and deprime first, whereas if it’s covered in dirt and grit, it gets tumbled first every time
 
Alex G said:
One big question I had by the way was what does everyone use for trimming their cases? I’ve found when applying a taper crimp that some get crimped and others do not due to varying case dimensions. I’d wanted to get the lee quick trim die and just run them through that, but I can’t find one anywhere. Can you just use one of the other ones, or is this not an option? Thanks,
Alex
Click to expand...

I don't trim my 357sig cases, but I do sort them based on length. That helps me get a consistent/minimal expansion and crimp. I know it is more effort, but handling and getting eyes on the brass one additional time, helps with the inspection of the cases and getting rid of any with split necks. They do split once in a while.
 
Elkins45 said:
My go-to bullet is a 130 grain SWC from NOE because it has a nice long straight bearing surface. I size to .358 and I’ve never owned a 9mm or 357 Sig that wouldn’t chamber them. My .356 sizing die might as well be a paperweight.
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Which NOE mould do you use? Please send this info.....Thanks
 
Alex G said:
Thanks!!
How important is it to debulge? So far, all cases that I’ve sampled after sizing have passed the plunk test just fine, and seated flush.
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I would recommend debulging any mystery cases you have. If your gun has a properly supported chamber, you won't need to do it all the time.
I recently got 800 speer cases and noticed a slight bulge on one side of the case. Nothing bad, but when I resize them I do notice that the brass gets more of a resize mark on the side that was bulged. When I case gauge them they are perfectly fine (SAAMI minimum gauge). If I debulge them first it doesn't get any excessive resize mark on the side where the slight bulge was.

So I figure I will just debulge these all first and then resize. You just never know what crap people are shooting these through.

My process is as follows:
Wet tumble the cases with citric acid and dawn for 1 hour. Dry them out and then give them a few sprays of lanolin. Debulge (first time only with mystery brass) and then resize them on my 750 with a Dillon .40 s&w die (I have a separate toolhead setup for this so I don't have to mess with my .357 sig die and toolhead). Then I wet tumble them again this time with steel pins, citric acid and dawn. I reload them using a Dillon .357 carbide die. Incidentally, the Dillon die decapping pin is just slightly larger than Speer and RP flash holes. It decaps them and slightly enlarges the hole. They reload just fine that way with no issues with the primers.
 
Finally got out to do some testing-
2 best performing loads we’re at starting charge of 10.0 grains of AA#7 behind a X-Treme 124 gr FP bullet, and 10.8 grains.
10.0 grain target attached below, with 10 shots (8 of which are in the 2x2” box from 25 ft with my hands rested on a bag)
The bottom left shot was the last shot in the string-I got sloppy and pulled/called it. DE1F9170-3A1C-40A9-9722-48969E6FEDD9.jpeg
 
Alex G said:
Finally got out to do some testing-
2 best performing loads we’re at starting charge of 10.0 grains of AA#7 behind a X-Treme 124 gr FP bullet, and 10.8 grains.
10.0 grain target attached below, with 10 shots (8 of which are in the 2x2” box from 25 ft with my hands rested on a bag)
The bottom left shot was the last shot in the string-I got sloppy and pulled/called it. View attachment 984069
Click to expand...

Good shooting. Do you know what velocity you were getting with this load? The reason why I ask is that they state that the thicket plated bullets should be used over 1200fps. I have also loaded these bullets and thought they were a really good fit for 357sig. I sent X-Treme an email telling asking them if they can make the FP bullet with the thicker plating. They would sell more if they could. They just replied that they don't have any plans. Pity.
 
Thanks! Not sure exactly, because I haven’t gotten my chrono yet, but if the load data is correct that’d be around 1150 FPS, and the 10.8 grain load should be at 1320 according to my load manual. Both grouped very well, and I feel like X-Treme’s plating is much thicker than the Berry’s I’ve shot in 9mm.
 
I ordered this mould for both 357Sig and 9mm. https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/355-9mm/358-131-rf-r5/358-131-rf-r5-2-cavity-pb-brass/ It has good bearing surface and loads into the 357 brass, nicely. Going to range on Weds. and will report back on accuracy. I have loaded 7grns of VVN340 which should give about 1200fps. This is my first NOE mould and it is a very high quality product. I have many Lyman, Cramer, and Lee moulds but this is my first brass mould and it is a thing of beauty. Best wishes!
 
kerreckt said:
I ordered this mould for both 357Sig and 9mm. https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/355-9mm/358-131-rf-r5/358-131-rf-r5-2-cavity-pb-brass/ It has good bearing surface and loads into the 357 brass, nicely. Going to range on Weds. and will report back on accuracy. I have loaded 7grns of VVN340 which should give about 1200fps. This is my first NOE mould and it is a very high quality product. I have many Lyman, Cramer, and Lee moulds but this is my first brass mould and it is a thing of beauty. Best wishes!
Click to expand...
Nice!! Keep us posted on how they do!
 
I’m about to kick .357 Sig reloading back into gear after last falls trial. I’m using 125 grain Montana Gold bullets now but may switch to the heavier 147 grain XTP.

For the Montana Golds, I tried 800X, AA7, BE 86 and Longshot and out of my Alpha Wolf G32 barrel the Longshot load worked the best.
 
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