.357 sig cast reloading

[chutestrate]

I'm working on a small project with a newly purchased gen 3 g22. I have now acquired 9mm and .357 sig barrels from Lone Wolf for a 3 caliber pistol. I'm ok with reloading the 9mm, but the .357 sig is going to be a fun challenge. I ended up with Lee 40 cal dies, and a separate .357 sig FCD from Lee. I have sizing dies for .356, 7, and 8. My reading has found Lyman in the 49th edition, I think, not recommending over sizing. Forum reading shows differing opinions. My lead content is a mystery. I get good fill out, and experience no leading with my 10mm, 40, and 9mm loads.

So I'm considering trying a few cartridges of each size using the same starting load from my Lyman manual, and I cannot recollect what the load data was. My 2 firearms are a Sig P229 SAS, and Glock22 with a Lone Wolf factory length barrel.

Are there any reloaders of the caliber who might share some of their insight?

[Ed_Shot]

My G22 is outstanding with the Lone Wolf 9MM conversion barrel. Perfect function and same POA for both 40 and 9MM. I size all my 9MM to .358 and besides LW barrels for G17 & 22 I load for a BHP, CZ 75B, Sig P320, Blackhawk and HP carbine. I find .358 works perfectly in all of them and I'm not about to load something special for one of them.

[bstone5]

Have shot thousands of cast bullets with gas checks in a 357 SIG barrel.
Some people say the gas check will be stripped off the bullet with a 357 SIG.
I have not found this to be correct in my shooting of the 357 SIG.
The cast bullets are powder coated, a gas check installed and sized to .357.
The same cast bullet is also used in reloading 38 Special.
I have a 40 S&W barrel for the same gun and shoot powder coated, gas checksed bullets with the 40 barrel.
With powder coating and a gas check the barrel will only have powder residue after shooting several hundred rounds at the range on a single day.

[chutestrate]

That was part of my reasoning for wanting the different calibers. Same bullet for 9, 38, 357. I haven't ventured far into powder coating yet. I have all the fixings, but nothing ready to load yet. Also, not set up for gas checks. I'm curious to see what leading I don't or do get. My lube is Lee Alox uncut.

[fredj338]

With range scrap & proper size, you are probably good to about 1200fps. I have no issues with leading in my 357sig holding about that vel. With PC I think I can just get to 1300fps with good accuracy, same alloy, but haven't tried. I would probably water drop to get BHN up a bit more. I size 0.357" for the 9mm & 357sig.

[Beau Cassidy]

I am using 50/50 full tilt powder coated non-gaschecked bullets. No leading. Great accuracy

[Beau Cassidy]

A few picshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180330/eb257c3af4a54753d00b71059496c296.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180330/fbe7850b7bb2833338cee0fc79742f71.jpg

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[Hairy Dawg]

A few picshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180330/eb257c3af4a54753d00b71059496c296.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180330/fbe7850b7bb2833338cee0fc79742f71.jpg

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That looks like the same bullet I'm using in my 226. NOE 135 RNFP. I use COWW powder coated, for 9mm & 357sig, sized to .358 & have had excellent results.

[chutestrate]

So it seems there is a mix of sizes..356-358. Would it make sense to load a small set of each size with the same recipe and compare results from both of my .357 sig pistols? With the high pressure I'd really like to not make a catastrophic mistake.

[Beau Cassidy]

Yes. Load a few first. See how they fit the chamber with the barrel out of the gun before shooting. It is very easy to make the rounds too long. Crimp the snot out of them. Mine are cast from an Accurate mold.

[Moonie]

Currently the only boolit I cast that I feel comfortable loading for 357 Sig is the 125gr Lee RNFP over about 7gr of Unique.

[McFred]

I have used 158 RNFPBB in a factory G31 357Sig, but I did not hotrod them; just mild plinkers. I never had any issues with leading. I left them Ø.359" and the case and chamber dimensions allowed for space enough to release the bullets despite the oversized projectile diameter. I do not have chrono data and the powder I used was a very dirty surplus ball powder, but with Unique or similar more-appropriate powder I think they'd work just fine.

Projectile profile very similar to these:
https://oregontrailbullet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/38Cal_158g_RNFP_358.jpg