First, I'd like to thank members here that posted their tips in other threads on how they load for this cartridge. I don't remember all the names, but I appreciate the inputs.
I never had considered the 357 SIG as one to be added to the collection, but, here it is now. As the saying goes, "One thing leads to another".
At the suggestion of multible members, I use a 40/10 carbide sizing die before using the FL 357 SIG sizing die. And chamfer the case mouth slightly, about .010-.015" @ 30 degrees.
My first set of dummy rounds, 20 of them, showed promise of only losing about .002-.004" on the OAL when chambering. But my first reloading session, I got some bullets that wouldn't line up when seating. When seating, as the ram is being raised, I hold the bullet on the case mouth until the bullet starts entering the die. As the ram raises, I spin the casing to let the bullet align with the case mouth and the die bullet stem. What I found was that some casing mouths were slightly deformed, even after both sizing processes.
So my 1st attempt was carbide 40/10 sizing/deprime, FL sizing/deprime, prime, off line powder charge, then bullet seating.
2nd set-up, that is working better now;
Chamfer case mouth, size with carbide 40/10/deprime, prime, Lee powder through 357 SIG charging with the Lee Autodrum, now the FL 357 SIG sizing die, and bullet seating.
The 1st attempt I was wanting to avoid flaring the case mouth, as I felt that would take away from the neck tension. But after I seen some case mouths having slight bends or nicks, I figured the powder through die would ensure a truer case mouth for easier bullet seating. Then I could FL size them and have maximum neck tension per the quality of brass. After FL sizing, the case mouth I.D. is about .348" per a decent cheapo calipers.
It definitely is a different set-up to work than most other handgun cartridges. BTW, I'm using the LCT press.
I never had considered the 357 SIG as one to be added to the collection, but, here it is now. As the saying goes, "One thing leads to another".
At the suggestion of multible members, I use a 40/10 carbide sizing die before using the FL 357 SIG sizing die. And chamfer the case mouth slightly, about .010-.015" @ 30 degrees.
My first set of dummy rounds, 20 of them, showed promise of only losing about .002-.004" on the OAL when chambering. But my first reloading session, I got some bullets that wouldn't line up when seating. When seating, as the ram is being raised, I hold the bullet on the case mouth until the bullet starts entering the die. As the ram raises, I spin the casing to let the bullet align with the case mouth and the die bullet stem. What I found was that some casing mouths were slightly deformed, even after both sizing processes.
So my 1st attempt was carbide 40/10 sizing/deprime, FL sizing/deprime, prime, off line powder charge, then bullet seating.
2nd set-up, that is working better now;
Chamfer case mouth, size with carbide 40/10/deprime, prime, Lee powder through 357 SIG charging with the Lee Autodrum, now the FL 357 SIG sizing die, and bullet seating.
The 1st attempt I was wanting to avoid flaring the case mouth, as I felt that would take away from the neck tension. But after I seen some case mouths having slight bends or nicks, I figured the powder through die would ensure a truer case mouth for easier bullet seating. Then I could FL size them and have maximum neck tension per the quality of brass. After FL sizing, the case mouth I.D. is about .348" per a decent cheapo calipers.
It definitely is a different set-up to work than most other handgun cartridges. BTW, I'm using the LCT press.