357 Mag load questions

[barnabus]

I'm using 150 grain Keith Bullet,8 Grains of Unique from RCBS cast bullet manual,and Federal Small Pistol Primer.
Questions:

Do u use a small crimp or no crimp at all on a non magnum high end load and does it matter in this load combo?
Do u use a magnum primer or standard in a 357 and would it even matter in this load combo?

[shooting on a shoestring]

Barnabus, as for your first question, I would use a small crimp. The only time I would go no crimp is with very light target loads in 32s or 38s and a very fast powder like Bullseye or 700x. Unique is pretty fast, but not my choice for target loads. So I would use a light crimp in your combo.

For the second question, whether or not to use magnum primers depends on the powder type not the caliber. The slow spherical pistol powders like W296/H110, AA9, MP300 etc., get magnum primers in any caliber. The flake powders like Unique and the extruded powders like 2400 get standard primers in any caliber. That's a rule of thumb and can be violated with caution and a chronograph.

[dbosman]

My response to this question is 'define crimp'. What this chart shows as a taper crimp, is what I call a light roll crimp. The forth image is, to me, a heavy roll crimp.
For all revolver loads, even target wad cutters I use a light roll crimp.
I'm going to experiment with a taper crimp for wad cutters, this year.
Magnum loads get a full roll crimp and magnum primers for the reasons Shootingonasshoestring described.194372

[smkummer]

That is a good performing load and maybe only 100-150 FPS slower than a load with H110 with almost twice as much powder. I use a little less unique and a 158 SWC for my bulk .357 shooting. Watch for leading and yes, you have to have enough crimp so the bullets don't walk foward upon recoil. That should be enough crimp to give uniform ignition with unique. And yes, standard primer is all that is needed.

[Skunk1]

I use 4.0gr HP38 with magnum primers and a light taper crimp. Shoot well out of both my Rugers.

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

r ...

[str8wal]

Roll crimp in a wheelgun, always.

[GaugeGreer]

Light roll crimp. A heavy roll crimp may not be needed but if it recoils you need to crimp them to keep the bullets in the other chambers from jumping crimp during recoil.

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[gwpercle]

Put some kind of crimp just to insure the boolit doesn't creep forward when shooting, revolvers will do that.

[Groo]

Groo hear
I always use a good to heavy crimp on ALL pistol rounds.
As for target loads , ever see a 38special factory wc target load that did not have a heavy crimp???????????????????????????????????

[Petrol & Powder]

Yes on crimp for a revolver load.
Yes on small pistol primer with Unique.

[RogerDat]

Roll crimp is normal for revolver rounds. Not only does it keep the bullets not yet fired from getting thumped out of the case by recoil it helps hold the bullet for a tiny bit of time. The advantage of that extra time is that pressure builds just a bit more so the powder tends to burn better.

Not everyone trims straight walled revolver cartridges to length I do trim them at least once because unless the brass is the same length the crimp die will engage the case more or less. Once all trimmed to same length I may not trim them again for a long time. I do keep the cases together and with the same headstamp.

[Low Budget Shooter]

Wow---that's alot of Unique! Have you tried 6.5 grains yet?

[HATCH]

It's a hot load for sure


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[barnabus]

there seems to be so much varience in manuals concerning safe or max loads concerning unique. 8.0 grains comes right out of the RCBS cast bullet manual. actually 8.2 is max. where are yall getting your information from that has you concerned.

[HATCH]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170508/971250f9dd936abe25c155e9963c4c88.jpg

By the book 6 grains is what the manufacturer states for the load for a 158 grain lead swc


From my notes 7.3 grains unique is 1226 fps average.
Factory Federal Lead round nose (158 gr) is 1246 fps average.

Standard dev on 7.3 is just 9 fps
Factory was 47 fps.

Keep in mind your your results may vary.
I loaded on a dillon 550.


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[lar45]

Quickload says 8gns of unique from a 6.5"bbl and a 150gn bullet loaded to 1.590 should give 1400fps and 35,000 psi.

Have you chronographed your loads? Do they come anywhere close to that?

[dverna]

There is no downside to roll crimping revolver rounds....unless you do not trim cases to uniform length and are looking for ultimate accuracy.

[jetinteriorguy]

Lee collet crimp die, best thing ever. Hold as good as a strong roll crimp but much easier on the brass and less sensitive to case length.

[Larry Gibson]

My pressure test barrel using a 150 gr 358477 cast of COWWs + 2% tin, sized .358 and loaded over 7.5 gr Alliant Unique exceeds the SAAMI MAP for the 357 magnum of 35,000 psi. The tested 7.5 gr load gave 37,300 psi.

That old RCBS load is definitely "hot".

Larry Gibson