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Topics - mikefamig

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Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / 357 magnum load data question
« on: January 14, 2021, 03:20:42 pm »
Forgive me if this is a beginner question but I am a beginner reloader.

I just got my star press set up for 357 magnum ammo that I'll be using in a revolver and now I'm looking at load data and  I have two powders on hand, Bullseye and Trailboss

I found two sources of data for the bullseye powder - Lee modern reloading and the Alliant web site and only the Hogden web site for the trail boss.

What bothers me is that the Lee manual says to use from 5.8 to 6.5 grains of BE while the Alliant web site says to use only  4.8grains. Of course the velocity is greater with the larger loads but why such a wide range? Why does Lee show a minimum of 5.8 while Lee shows a minimum of 4.8? 

Bottom line is that I have a 6.0 BE charge bar for my star press that I am hoping to use. According to Lee I should be fine but the smaller 4.8 recommendation from Hogden bothers me.

So a few questions

1 Is 6.0 grains of Bullseye safe? Do i believe Lee or play it safe and go with Hogden's smaller load?
2 Has anyone used Trail Boss in a 357 magnum and is it good bad or ugly?

Being that I can't find supplies to buy anywhere Iam limited to what I have on hand.

Any help?

Mike.



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Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / problem crimping 357 magnum
« on: January 13, 2021, 10:35:06 pm »
I startedreloading about six months ago when I inherited a Star press and some loading supplies. I cleaned up the press, set it up for 38 special and all went well. I've loaded a few hundred rounds and fired a few and it all looks good.

tonight I started to set the press for loading 357 magnum ammo. Everything was fine until I got to crimp and set stage. I used the same procedure that I used with the 38 special. I brought the crimp die down until it touched the top of a flared casing. Then  I set the bullet press to get the OAL approximately correct. Then i slowly worked the crimp down to get a nice snug crimp and then the bullet press to the desired OAL (~1.560 - 1.570).

The problem is that the walls of the brass casing is buckling a little bit when O press the final stage. I set and reset and approached the crimp slowly and gently and still I see a little wrinkle in the wall of the casing. Is this OK?

TIA, Mike.

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