357 Mag Reloading Issues

[Baldrick314]

I recently bought a 357 Mag revolver and have just started loading ammo for it and I ran into a slight problem. I set up my press last night and when I was adjusting the die to get the crimp right I noticed a few of the cases began to pinch or collapse midway down the case.

It caused a small ridge in about the middle of the case. At first I thought I just had the die turned down too far so I adjusted but then I found that I was still getting it when there was no crimp on the case at all. I noticed it was intermittent and seemed to be unrelated to how fast/ slow or how far I operated the handle on the press.

I'm using nickel plated cases for the first time ever so I don't know if it's something these tend to do.
Press is a Lee pro 1000 and I'm using Lee 38 special dies and 38 special cases.

The ridge doesn't impede function because the loaded rounds fit into the cylinder of the revolver with no force and it straightens out when run the case through a sizing die but obviously I'd rather it not be there.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[yoshie]

I'd back the die out a half turn and see if that solves it.

[Baldrick314]

I'd back the die out a half turn and see if that solves it.

Backed the die out. Still does it but not quite as often. I have some brass cases there that I'll try this week and see if I have the same issue

[yoshie]

Are they going into the die straight? The loadmaster pushes them in from the side, and the cases can get stuck not quite far enough into the shell plate. Not sure if this happens with the pro 1000. Could you post a pic?

[Wobble]

Sorry to repeat the same suggestion, but are you 100% sure the seating die is off the brass?

Shell in, close the press, die down till it touches crass, 3/4 turn back off the brass?

I just bring it up again as more than a few times people have been "sure" the seating die height was correct and sure enough when they've gone back to the start they had it too low for some reason.

Just askin...

[Ariat]

Everyone does that at least once I reckon.

Get all excited to do your first reloading... Close the press and anticipate your shiny sleek cartridge to come out... And instead you get winky bit of brass with pancaked shoulders comes out

[Baldrick314]

Are they going into the die straight? The loadmaster pushes them in from the side, and the cases can get stuck not quite far enough into the shell plate. Not sure if this happens with the pro 1000. Could you post a pic?

I'll put up a photo tomorrow to show the damage to the case. When I load some more rounds I'll check they're feeding correctly. It does feel pretty tight compare to my other press but I figured that was just because the dies were new and might have needed some running in or something

[Baldrick314]

Sorry to repeat the same suggestion, but are you 100% sure the seating die is off the brass?

Shell in, close the press, die down till it touches crass, 3/4 turn back off the brass?

I just bring it up again as more than a few times people have been "sure" the seating die height was correct and sure enough when they've gone back to the start they had it too low for some reason.

Just askin...

Lol all good mate. Yeah it's definitely right up. With Lee dies the amount of crimp is controlled by how far the die is turned in and it's not putting any crimp on most of the cases. Even so I triple checked and it's definitely wound out far enough to not crush the brass

[Baldrick314]

Here's a photo of one of the worst affected rounds



The ridge is only on the side shown it doesn't go the whole way around the case. I'm gonna try loading some brass now to see if it does the same thing

[Baldrick314]

Just loaded 40 rounds in brass cases, no issues whatsoever so I'm putting this one down to the cases not working. No idea why though.

[Yelp]

I'd say it's just down to the nickel being less pliable than brass.

Perhaps a little friction somewhere between the neck and bullet and the brass neck expands easier where the nickel compresses down and makes the body give before the neck expands.

Guessing though TBH.

[tarnagulla]

A thought occurs to me - are you flaring the necks sufficiently? I have experienced similar problems with other calibres, and often found that insufficient flaring put too much pressure on the case when seating the primer. In 38 or 357 I have never found much difference between plain brass or nickel plated, when reloading?

[tarnagulla]

OOPS - when seating the PROJECTILE, obviously!

[yoshie]

That weird, that's never happened to me, I've had a few crushed ones, a few hook up on the die plate and the case mouth gets folded over.

[Baldrick314]

A thought occurs to me - are you flaring the necks sufficiently? I have experienced similar problems with other calibres, and often found that insufficient flaring put too much pressure on the case when seating the primer. In 38 or 357 I have never found much difference between plain brass or nickel plated, when reloading?

I flare the case mouth just enough so the projectile drops into it a touch. I could flare it a little more but I've not had this problem with any other brass. When I'm reloading the nickel plated cases I'll flare them a bit more and see if that fixes it

[tuffstuff]

Curious... Are you finding any practical benefit in the nickel cases?

Smoother to load/unload?

Or just shiny?

[yoshie]

I've got a batch of nickel cases, they were originally Winchester I think, there's not much difference when reloading them. Just watch out for the nickel flaking off, which usually happens at the case mouth. Try not to get the flakes in your dies, it will scratch up the internals and effect all the cases you run through after. They clean up easier but I don't think they last as long.

[Baldrick314]

Curious... Are you finding any practical benefit in the nickel cases?

Smoother to load/unload?

Or just shiny?

They fame with the pistol. Truthfully I'd prefer brass but I'm just working with what I have on hand at the moment

[Baldrick314]

You win Tarnagulla. I didn't have enough flare on the case prior to seating the projectile. Thanks everyone

[tarnagulla]

Glad to hear you had a win!

Cheers

[tuffstuff]

Try not to get the flakes in your dies, it will scratch up the internals and effect all the cases you run through after.

I've read they can flake off into your barrel too.