What can be used to resize the mouths of 357 Max brass so they will fit the 357 magnum cylinder? A 9mm Lee Factory crimp die? Lee bullet sizing die, .356? A 9mm size die?
What can be used to resize the mouths of 357 Max brass so they will fit the 357 magnum cylinder? A 9mm Lee Factory crimp die? Lee bullet sizing die, .356? A 9mm size die?
IT IS A FINE AND PLEASANT MADNESS !
i don't exactly remember what I used. I am sure I posted it in my thread from a year or two ago, but I think it may have been a Lee or NOE bullet sizing die around .356 to .360"
MIght have used a 38 special crimp die or 9mm crimp die
Not sure on 357 mag, but I used a 327 mag sizing die to "shoulder" some cut 223 brass to make 380 acp shotshells that were the same oal as a conventional load. Worked better than expected.
"In God we trust, in all others, check the manual!"
I did use a 327/32 seater die (0.330") to create the "neck" on the maximum brass.
For some reason, probably because the case isn't supported, the "neck" did not form concentric to the body with the 0.356 die. It needed a smaller constriction in order to fit in the chamber.
Just trim to 357 mag trim to length and reload using 357 Mag dies. They are the same case just a bit longer on the Super Mag (Max).
“There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
Cervantes
“Never give up, never quit.”
Robert Rogers
Roger’s Rangers
There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
Will Rogers
Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA
Back when I looked into doing this, there was a die to star crimp "blanks". That was the route I was going to go.
Star crimp ruins cases
I don't know your circumstance, but it may be worth going in another direction for a dedicated "Snake/Rat Gun." The Bond Arms "Roughneck" Derringer in .357 can be had for as low as $250. Ream it out with a 357 Max reamer and you have a pretty lightweight little snake gun that is easy to reload for and does not wreck the brass. I did the same to a Bond Arms 45 Long Colt and had it cut with a 460 S&W reamer. Still working up shot loads for it, but it holds way more #11 shot than a .410 shell does. Who knew that Harvester Muzzleloader 45cal Hi-pressure Sabots make excellent shot cups?
The bonus is that the barrels are relatively cheap and you can easily convert it back.
Alcohol Inventory Reduction Specialist (Journeyman Level)
I keep seeing this thread and shaking my head. Necking down a Maximum case so it fits into the throat of a .357 Magnum cylinder means you're going to be driving your shot load through a funnel. Am I missing something?
Cognitive Dissident
No one has a full choke barrel on there shotgun?
I agree not an ideal situation, but is it really a problem. I am sure there will be deformation of the shot from the transition but i am only lookig for 800-900 fps out of #12 or dust, not a super handicap trap load of 7˝s at 1330 fps.
Full choke doesn't reduce bore area by 14%, and the choke is at the end of the barrel, not at the throat.
Restriction like that is going to boost pressure by quite a lot. It's not like pushing gases through the neck of a shouldered rifle case, you're asking a charge of lead shot to crowd through.
How are you going to get wads past that reduced diameter without damage?
Cognitive Dissident
The 45ACP shot loads that many of us load utilize a shouldered case without any problems. I don't see this as being any different. I also have some longer, shouldered case shot loads for my 44 Mag revolver. Again, I haven't seen any problems. The pressures I use for shot loads are by necessity low or patterns suffer. I'm not advising anyone to follow this path, though. We can each decide what we are willing to load.
Well, I'm open to empirical evidence, but it seems mighty counter-intuitive to me.
Cognitive Dissident
Wads are disc of manila folder or a disc of primer cardboard. So getting the "wad" through the constriction isn't a problem. Just insert the disc sideways with a slight bend, push in, then tamp / flatten the wad on top of the powder.
Shooting higher velocities/ pressures is counterproductive to even groups. While the constriction boosts pressure, the pressures arent on the high end anyway.
i make shotshells for my 44 mag, that the brass is full cylinder length, and have no issues. 150 gr. load of #8 or #9, 9.5 gr. of unique. good enough for snakes at 10 foot away. I convert 303 brit brass.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |