Reloading 357magnum and 38special

[JackDavis]

Cheers 👌🏼

Lee 38 SPL Pistol 4-Die Set. Includes Carbide Full Length Die, Bullet Seating Die, Powder Thru Expanding Die, carbide factory crimp die, Universal Shell Holder, Powder Dipper and InstructionsLoad Data.

[Simon_S]

Make sure there Carbide ones
You will find that the Bullet Seating Die crimps the bullet in anyways, so the
carbide factory crimp die is not needed

http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?...oducts_id=1918

[CROWMAN]

I have a Lee 3 die set, i.e. no specific crimpt die, I hope to obtain a carbide sizing die soon and am interested in whether I should also obtain a carbide crimpt die?

I note that the previous answer said that there was no need as the sizing die did the job?

Any opinions on this?

Also, does everyone crimpt there 357 rounds? I've loaded and fired many many rounds and never conciously crimped a round, with no adverse effect that I've noticed

I'm using about 7.2 grains of GM3 powder with a 0.358 diameter, 158 grain, copper coated bullet

Thanks for any/all replies

[DedIdick]

The only Carbide Die you require is the Sizing Die.
3 Die set has done me OK the last 30-40 years.

[Turnup]

I have a Lee 3 die set, i.e. no specific crimpt die, I hope to obtain a carbide sizing die soon and am interested in whether I should also obtain a carbide crimpt die?

I note that the previous answer said that there was no need as the sizing die did the job?

Any opinions on this?

Also, does everyone crimpt there 357 rounds? I've loaded and fired many many rounds and never conciously crimped a round, with no adverse effect that I've noticed

I'm using about 7.2 grains of GM3 powder with a 0.358 diameter, 158 grain, copper coated bullet

Thanks for any/all replies

The Lee bullet seating die is also a crimper. You probably are crimping your rounds - - else how is the neck flare removed after seating the bullet?

With the Lee die, the crimp is determined by how far the die is screwed into the die plate, and the bullet seat is determined by the adjustment screw in the top. Adjusting the crimp will also affect the seating depth, adjusting the seating depth does not affect the crimp.

Particularly with magnum rounds, there is a danger that the bullet seating will be disturbed by recoil when other rounds are fired, or by pressure from adjacent rounds in a tubular magazine. Crimping will hold the bullet in place. I have found that the strength/depth of crimp also affects MV (with fast powders at least). More pronounced crimping will increase MV, and shorten case life.

I favour separate bullet seating and crimping, after I noticed that the combined operation can shave lead (with the combined die, the crimping is taking place while the bullet is still moving into the case). So I set the seating die for no crimp, and then use a factory crimp die which is set for no seating.

[DesG]

You only need to raise the bullet seater die and the powder/flare die by an 1/8". I do this with a spacer washer under these dies. No other adjustment is necessary.
A tight crimp is needed with a heavy magnum load in a revolver where the unfired bullets have a habit of pulling from the cases, like with a kinetic bullet puller, under heavy recoil, or if you like to cram them into a tubular magazine where they will push back into the case. Otherwise, I usually just set the crimp die to hold the bullets tightly enough that I can't move it in the case with finger pressure.

GM3 powder is one of my favourite .38 powders, but is made as a shotgun powder and very quick burning. I use 3.4gn for a light target load but I would be reluctanct to use as much as 7.2. The initial pressure rise must be rather severe!

[CapnBall]

A good crimp can really add accuracy with certain powders. You'll enjoy experimenting. The Lee 4-Die set is very good.

The RCBS Cowboy dies are the thing to get when you start to use cast boolits, especially when they are cast/sized 'oversize' for various reasons. Worth their weight in gold.

[CROWMAN]

Hi DesG ,

I'm firing at up to 100 yards with my Marlin using 7.2grains GM3, you have me a bit worried as myself and several other club members are all using GM3 powder with any thing from 6.5 to 7.5 grains

There does not seem to be any problems that can be seen but what rifle, distance are you using and what sort of accuracy are you getting please?