Recent Posts

11

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 357 magnum load data question

« Last post by varmintpopper on January 14, 2021, 08:17:52 pm »

Using the 148 grain SWC You have on hand, I suggest a starting load of 4.8 grains of Bullseye, watch for leading near the forcing cone, if it leads, try increasing the powder by .5 grains until leading stops. Don't exceed  7.0 grains.
Use this suggestion at Your own risk ! 

Good Shooting

Lindy

12

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 357 magnum load data question

« Last post by fc60 on January 14, 2021, 07:51:54 pm »

Greetings,

A while back, I was gifted about 2,000 32 HBWC that had been stored in a wet climate. They were ugly. White crust on them and the lube consumed by the elements.

I gave them the Lube Massage with Lee Liquid Alox and shot them up.

One day, I tested some at 50 yards in a machine rest. They still shot X-ring.

Use caution. If the bullets have a white crust on them it is likely Lead Oxide, which is VERY POISONOUS. Wear disposable examination gloves when handling them and wash up well.

Cheers,

Dave

13

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 357 magnum load data question

« Last post by mikefamig on January 14, 2021, 07:22:58 pm »

Thanks Dave. These still have a waxy substance filling the groove and don't look bad, I just wonder if the lube would do it's job after so many years. I like the idea of just massaging them in some new lube.

14

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 357 magnum load data question

« Last post by fc60 on January 14, 2021, 06:56:16 pm »

Greetings,

Personally, I would go with the Alliant suggestion. It uses the 158 grain Speer swaged bullet; but, the weight, diameter and seating depth are very close to the StateLine bullets you have.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipePrint.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=158&shellid=28&bulletid=30&bdid=82

Regarding the old bullets, depends on how many you have and what amount of work you wish to apply.

One, put them in a old can, fill with water and boil. The grease will float to the top. Let it all cool down overnight. Then remove the grease film, drain the water and dry the bullets.

If you have a bullet greaser, just run them through and reapply the grease.

No luber? No worries, go buy a bottle of Lee Liquid Alox. Put a handful of bullets into a ZipLoc bag, squirt in a very small amount of Alox, shut the bag and give the contents a nice massage.

Once all coated, empty the bag onto an old cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Dry the bullets overnight, load, and shoot.

Use a minimum powder charge to minimize Lead fouling.

Another option is to not boil the grease away. Just lube them as above with the Lee Liquid Alox. This option assumes the bullets are not to crusty from age.

Cheers,

Dave

15

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 357 magnum load data question

« Last post by mikefamig on January 14, 2021, 05:44:22 pm »

Another question

I have a bunch of old bullets that were sized and lubed about 40 to 50 years ago. The lube is brown and I'm hesitant to use them because the lube looks a little dry. Do you guys think that it would matter? I've been loading the stateline bullets that I bought up to this point but I'm tempted to use the old ones.

Mike.

16

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 357 magnum load data question

« Last post by mikefamig on January 14, 2021, 05:32:29 pm »

Dave

Sorry for the oversight. I'm using 158gr LSWC that I bought from stateline bullets

https://statelinebullets.com/shop/cast-pistol-bullets/38-357-cast-pistol-bullets/38-158-gr-swc/

Mike.

17

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 357 magnum load data question

« Last post by fc60 on January 14, 2021, 05:10:25 pm »

Greetings,

I did not see what bullet is being used.

Please reply with the bullet, weight, and diameter.

If store bought, a link to where you buy them.

If home cast, what mould and alloy?

Cheers,

Dave

18

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / 357 magnum load data question

« Last post by mikefamig 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.

19

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: problem crimping 357 magnum

« Last post by mikefamig on January 14, 2021, 12:19:06 pm »

Something I'd like to add

I noticed that when I pressed the bullet into the casing with no crrimp the bullet fit very tightly. I could not even spin it with my fingers and it was not crimped yet. The 38 special casings that I loaded previous to this were much looser and definitely needed the crimp to hold the bullet in place. I'm thinking that these 357 casings are a harder brass material that the 38's.

Mike.

20

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: problem crimping 357 magnum

« Last post by mikefamig on January 14, 2021, 12:09:43 pm »

Thanks much, I'll work with it some more today and let you know how it goes.

Mike.

I had at it again and things went much better.

I started by removing and carefully cleaning the crimp and the seating stem and re-assembling. There was some muddy stuff in the stem and it is all clean now.

Then I placed a sized casing (no flare) in the shell plate and adjusted the crimp die to just touch the case and locked it in position. I  did not turn it down at all as I don't want a crimp yet. The seating stem i raised as high as it could go at this point.

Then I flared the same casing, placed a bullet in it and put it back in the press.

Then lowered the press and brought the seating stem down to just touch the top of a bullet.

Then I repeatedly lowered the press adjusting the seating stem about 1 or two turns at a time until I got the OAL that I want (1.565).

Then lastly I turned the crimping die down about a half turn while raising the seating stem and equal amount.

I'll do a couple more before loading any powder but it looks good. Thanks all for the help

Mike.