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'nother reloading question

bsally
Some of you said keep 'em coming.[:D] The directions that came with my RCBS dies don't seem to be real clear. Can someone help/walk a beginner thru the process of crimping a .357 mag. I will be using Berry's 125 grain fp and 158grain xtp. I know the berry's don't have a groove but understand they are soft enough to crimp, and I should load them at lower levels. You can put .38 special loads of powder in a .357mag case, right? My biggest question is in setting up the seating dye to do this. Thanks so much again!

SALLY
Committee member-Ducks Unlimited
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Tailgunner1954
    Seating die adjustment.
    Raise a sized/flaired case fully in your press. Screw the seating die body down until you feel the crimping groove touch, now UN-screw the die 1 full turn UP. Lower the case and set a bullet on top. Raise the case and adjust the seating stem down until the bullet is at the correct OAL. Now UN-screw the seating stem several turns. Screw the die body down until you again feel the case mouth hit the crimping ring. Lower the case, screw the die down 1/8 turn, and cycle the case through. Check the amount of crimp. If you need more, bring the die down another 1/8 turn and try again. When you get the amount of crimp you want, hold the die from turning and screw the lock ring down into firm contact with the press. Raise your crimped case/bullet fully and screw the seating stem down into contact with the bullet. Lock it there.
    All that sounds harder to do than it actualy is, I figgure 3-5 minutes to set up a new die, and only a minute or 2 to readjust for a different bullet (raise the die, play with the seating stem adjustment to get OAL, lower the die, reset the seating stem)

    Whittemore
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • bsally
    Thanks much for the help. Got about 25 loaded last night. Got too late to do more.[:p] Used the xtp 158g. Mine seem to LOOK like the factory ones. We'll see how they shoot. Thanks again


    SALLY
    Committee member-Ducks Unlimited
    0
  • HAIRY
    Tailgunner: You said, "Raise the case and adjust the seating stem down until the bullet is at the correct OAL."

    I, too, am just starting into reloading and had a problem with the OAL. Is this just a case of "try and re-try" or is there an easier way to measure the OAL. I'm loading 45-70 Govt with 300gr lead. Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

    Don't assume malice for what stupidity can explain.
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  • v35
    Hairy, I think you may be crimping before you get the seating height set right. That's why Tailgunner said to back off the crimper untill you get the OAL right by screwing in just the seating stem and measuring the cartridge length.
    Once the OAL is ok then back out or remove the seating stem and progressively screw in the crimper body till the desired crimp is achieved. Then leaving the crimper where it is, tighten up the locking ring.
    You can then screw down the seating stem snugly against the crimped round.
    Measure the next round for conformity with the first round and make adjustments as necessary.
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  • Tailgunner1954
    Hairy
    V-35 has explained the "why" I said to back off the die body before adjusting the seater stem quite well. The reason to start with the seater backed out also, is that it's easer to push a bullet deeper than it is to pull it back out.
    It is, and it isn't, trial and error. RCBS seater stems are 1/4-20 thread, if I remember correctly, which means 1 full turn will seat the bullet 1/20" or .050 deeper, which means you can make a fairly close estamate on exactly how far you have to screw the stem down between adjustments. I don't know what thread LEE uses, but the technique is the same.
    Example, On the first attempt I find the OAL is .125 longer than I want. I will now screw the stem down 2 full turns (.100) and try again. This time I find I'm .030 over my desired OAL, so I'll give it another 1/2 turn, reseat, and move on to setting the crimp stage.

    Whittemore
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • HAIRY
    Thanks, guys. That helps a lot on estimating how far to screw down the stem.

    Don't assume malice for what stupidity can explain.
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