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357 mag reload problems
- Thread starter Snyder30
- Start date
Are you sure you are attempting to load them in a .357 Magnum revolver?
It sounds almost like your are attempting to load them in a .38 Special cylinder.
Tell us the make and model of the revolver. Tell us the name brand of the ammunition.
A revolver manufactured for .357 Magnum will also handle .38 Special, but a revolver manufactured specifically for .38 Special will not accept .357 Magnum ammunition.
It sounds almost like your are attempting to load them in a .38 Special cylinder.
Tell us the make and model of the revolver. Tell us the name brand of the ammunition.
A revolver manufactured for .357 Magnum will also handle .38 Special, but a revolver manufactured specifically for .38 Special will not accept .357 Magnum ammunition.
Welcome to tfl!
We might possibly be able to tell but its tough without the gun and ammo to look at / measure.
There are two possibilities, there is something in the chambers blocking the rounds (carbon? crud/lead build up?) or you rounds are oversize, or possibly bulged.
Make sure your chambers are clean and your rounds are in spec.
Is it possible you didn't crimp, or remove enough of the case mouth flare?
The better the information you can give us, the better we're able to help.
We might possibly be able to tell but its tough without the gun and ammo to look at / measure.
There are two possibilities, there is something in the chambers blocking the rounds (carbon? crud/lead build up?) or you rounds are oversize, or possibly bulged.
Make sure your chambers are clean and your rounds are in spec.
Is it possible you didn't crimp, or remove enough of the case mouth flare?
The better the information you can give us, the better we're able to help.
How do you remove the case mouth flare. I deprimed and resized the trimmed the casings. Next put primers in and the expanded the casings. Could I have expanded the casings to much. I then added powder and then seated bullet. Checked the gun for debris and cleaned it. Nothing in the way. Is it possible I crimped the casings to much
Have you been shooting .38's in the gun? If so, and havent been cleaning the chambers well, that would be the first thing I would look at. Its a pretty common problem, especially if a lot of .38's have been shot, and the gun isnt cleaned after each use.There are two possibilities, there is something in the chambers blocking the rounds (carbon? crud/lead build up?) or you rounds are oversize, or possibly bulged.
Buldges are another thing, but usually not so much that they cause problems. I have seen some cases "buckle", especially if you are working the press quickly. Those buckles will cause a problem. Buldge or buckle, both are normally readily seen and felt. I would think youd they would be pretty obvious if they were the issue.
The crimp removes the flare. If you didnt set the die to crimp, that could be a problem, and would likely cause other problems.How do you remove the case mouth flare.
NoSecondBest
New member
I'd suspect that your crimp is bad. You're not removing the expansion you put in the case to start the bullet. Put them back in the sizer die and turn it down some more and check again. I'll bet if you have one that won't go in now, it will then.
Patches generally wont get the fouling rings out of the cylinders, especially if they are heavy. You really should be using a brush on them and the barrel each time you clean the gun.
If you do have the ring problem, and they are pretty heavy, a quick way to get most of it, is to slightly over flare an empty case and then use it like a scraper in each chamber.
It could also be a combination of both. Ring and un-crimped round.
If you do have the ring problem, and they are pretty heavy, a quick way to get most of it, is to slightly over flare an empty case and then use it like a scraper in each chamber.
It could also be a combination of both. Ring and un-crimped round.
If you havent crimped the cases, that in itself can bring a number of problems.
For one, the bullets can, and likely will back out of the case under recoil, tying up the cylinder/gun.
Another is, depending on powder and load, can cause the powder to not burn properly and leave bullets in the barrel, or forcing cone.
For one, the bullets can, and likely will back out of the case under recoil, tying up the cylinder/gun.
Another is, depending on powder and load, can cause the powder to not burn properly and leave bullets in the barrel, or forcing cone.
OK, We are getting there. Lets totally eliminate 50% of the possibilities by attempting to load factory .357 Magnum ammunition. If it loads fine then we know it is not the cleaning of the revolver.
Have you laid six of your reloads side by side and/or checked the measurements with a caliper? Also check the measurements of factory ammunition with your new reloads.
Have you laid six of your reloads side by side and/or checked the measurements with a caliper? Also check the measurements of factory ammunition with your new reloads.
One thing I have noticed is the bullets don't seat all the way to the cantalure.
Then you haven't adjusted your seating die properly. Starting over, from a flared case ready for a bullet to be seated:
Raise your die up high (turn it counter-clockwise) until the bottom of the die is a good 1/4" above the bottom of the part of the press where it screws in. You do this so no crimp is applied. Now lower your seating stem way down and start seating the bullet in increments until the bullet is seated so that the bullet cannelure or crimp groove is level with the case mouth. Now raise the seating stem all the way up so it no longer contacts the bullet. Then, with the cartridge with the seated bullet raised towards the die, start screwing the die down (turn it clockwise) until it makes contact with the cartridge. Then, playing with turning the die down or up, set it so it removes the bell or flare, and crimps the mouth slightly inward towards the bullet. Now lock your die in place and lower the seating stem so that it contacts the bullet. You have just adjusted your seating die properly. Hope that helps.
Don
Bob Wright
New member
Had a similar problem recently. I was using commercial cast bullets, and they were sized to .360" for use in the .38 S&W cartridge.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
smoking357
New member
I've loaded some 357 mag rounds and I'm having problems with them not fitting in the gun. They start in and go about half way in and stop. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong
You need to run a bore brush through each chamber in the cylinder and try again.
After you've done that, let us know if the problem recurs.
I'm going to presume you read the manual on how to set your sizing die.
Does a piece of fired but unloaded brass slide in and out of each chamber freely and easily?