357 sizing die?

[Matt85]

might be a dumb question but...what sizing/lubing die should i buy for sizing/lubing 357 mag? i just bought a ruger blackhawk and im wondering what sizing die i should start with in my Lyman 45. should it be a strait .357 or what?

thanks
-matt

[jmort]

I would start at .358 and then try .359 and see which one works best.

[Cosmiceyes]

Take the cylinder out,and mike the front. My 44 special Mikes at .431 so I size there.I started at .429,and couldn't get groups under 5 1/2 inch at 25 yds. I learned in a thread on here that miking,and sizing the cylinder exit bore was the best way to accuracy! Most all my loads shoot into a 1 1/2 inch hole at 50 yards on a rest now. I have been using a gas check boolit. I have been trying to get a 215-220 gr.mold that doesn't use gas checks for awhile now. I'm like you,and my Bisley does a lot of target destruction!

[Firebricker]

Matt, You really won't know for sure until you slug your barrel but to start without slugging rule of thumb is .001 over jacketed specs so .358 would be my choice unless slugging told me otherwise. FB

[km101]

I started off with .358 and got lucky. Everything I've got in .357mag likes the .358 bullet!

[Matt85]

thanks all, midway just got some .38/.357 reloading dies in stock but i didn't wanna pay $10 just to ship dies so i wanted to add a sizing die to the order.

-matt

[LUCKYDAWG13]

.358 works in my S&W and Ruger SP101 but the cylinder on the Ruger is tight
and i know that a .357 would work in it too

[williamwaco]

I have never seen a .357 Mag that did not work perfectly with either: .357 or .358.

If you are using any military brass with thicker mouths, you may find that .359 diameter bullets create a loaded cartridge that is too "fat" to chamber.

[hound_dogs_01]

I would go .358 also.. usually you want to go .001" bigger than J-words

[ReloaderFred]

I size .358" for all of my .38/.357 revolvers. It just seems to work best, giving the best groups and least amount of leading.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[daniel lawecki]

Cosmiceyes I have a Lee 214gr swc no gas check single cavity soory for high jacket thread. I have use this mould since the 80s

[Down South]

Slug the cylinder throats and size to those. I reamed my throats to .358" and size at .359".