Resizing .357 after seating

[1066]

And here's one I made earlier :)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTW20NzZ-OA

[ColinR]

Thanks all for the info. As Adam says the Redding Competition seater works well with .357" FMJ and centres bullet perfectly in case with no bulge. but the 0.001" increase in diameter of cast bullets is enough to bulge the case, often irregularly suggesting the bullet may be canted. I use a very old RCBS expander that simply flares the neck in a single process, while I see the Lyman M expander plug expands the neck twice. Its certainly worth a try - would you expect it to improve seating cast bullets even with the Redding seater die? I have an old RCBS seater die, would you expect that to be better suited to lead bullets?

[Alpha1]

I'm not sure the competition die is a good idea with cast bullets its probably fine for full metal jacket. Cast bullets are a different kettle of fish. Just flaring the case mouth is not the right way to go in my opinion. The Lyman M die or some thing similar is much preferred and you will get a much better bullet fit. I use a Lyman M die or NOE custom expanders that are made to fit the Lee expander die or I make my own.

[dromia]

With cast bullets and the M die I would use a seater for a larger calibre, say 44. Lee are fine for this.

I am assuming that you crimp and seat separately anyway so this should not be an extra step.

The NOE expanders that fit the Lee expander body are excellent and are available in more useful sizes than the Lyman, however if you are only needing one and it is all that you get from NOE then it can be very expensive. Also you will need a Lee expander die body but only one.

See here for the NOE expanders:

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php? ... 0gthe3q6m1

[ColinR]

Thanks Adam. I have ordered a Lyman M expander die in .357. You suggest a larger seater die - I have a 10mm die would that do? And yes I do seat and crimp separately. How does the larger die support the bullet or is that not required? I hope I've not got the wrong end of the stick here.

[dromia]

Yes anything a tad larger will do to accommodate the diameter difference 'tween cast and condom bullets.

The bullet doesn't needs support as it is sitting square on the step created by the M die, pistol bullets are short and fat so unlikely to deform with seating pressure especially as the bullet retention with cast should only be 2 thou or so before crimping.

Ideally M die spuds should have the first diameter 1-2 thou under actual bullet diameter and the second diameter 1-2 thou over actual bullet diameter.

Cast bullet reloading is different from condom bullet reloading and needs a different mind set especially as most reloading kit is made for condom bullets.

Loading cast with condom practices doesn't give the best results.

With asymmetrically bulged cases it is best to try and stop this happening in the first place than to try and rectify it afterwards. Always best to treat the cause rather than remedy the symptom.

[ColinR]

Thanks Adam. I have blithely loaded lead with jacketed tools for years without a second thought, assuming the procedures were the same. Glad I asked and thanks for the benefit of your knowledge. Colin