Reloading .357 SIG

mnoirot64 · February 25, 2014, 09:55 PM

I am awaiting a .357 SIG barrel for my SIG Sauer P229R .40 S&W. While I'm impatiently waiting for it to arrive, I started hand loading some new Remington brass. I am using a new Hornady Series IV three piece die set. I set up the sizer die and de-capper pin and loaded my first new piece of Remington brass in the shell plate. As soon as I cycled the press I heard the Zip Spindle "zip" as the brass pushed it up into the die. Thinking I hadn't tightened the lock nut down on the spindle, I adjusted it and tried again. Same result. I inspected the new brass, and found that the flash hole was minuscule in the brass. Looked through some more "new brass." Same thing. While Hornady includes a couple different sizes of de-capper pins, they are all too large to fit through the hole. Has anyone else run into this with the .357 SIG brass or is it just the Remington product? Thanks!

bledsoeG19 · February 25, 2014, 10:38 PM

You'll find that some manufacturers have different dimensions for brass. Speer has a flash hole that runs on the small side in size. Sometimes my decapping pin doesn't fit in them, sometimes it does just fine. Here's a helpful hint you might already know, size your 357 sig brass in a .40 sizer die first. Makes neck sizing easier and eliminates the need for case lube (this is if you're .40 sizer is carbide).

Ive have good luck with Winchester and star line brass. Ymmv.

mnoirot64 · February 26, 2014, 09:11 AM

I wonder if Hornady makes a much smaller recapping pin to work with this type of brass?

Brian Pfleuger · February 26, 2014, 09:51 AM

I've reloaded hundreds of rounds of mixed brass .357sig and never run into any problem. I've never used Remington brass though. I've read to many bad things about it. Rem brass goes in the trash.

precision_shooter · February 26, 2014, 11:02 AM

Time to ream the flash holes...and remember not to buy Remington brass in the future.

mnoirot64 · February 26, 2014, 11:16 AM

I will ream them. I wish some other brand had been available.

Brian Pfleuger · February 26, 2014, 11:26 AM

https://www.dillonprecision.com/cont...Brass__357_SIG

http://www.brassreload.com/reloading...l+Pistol+Brass

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

mnoirot64 · February 26, 2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Pfleuger

https://www.dillonprecision.com/cont...Brass__357_SIG

http://www.brassreload.com/reloading...l+Pistol+Brass

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

Thank you, Brian!

Brian Pfleuger · February 26, 2014, 11:34 AM

No problem

That Starline brass is top notch. I would look no further.

Brian Pfleuger · February 26, 2014, 11:36 AM

Some here too...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539454

totalloser · March 1, 2014, 08:07 PM

bledsoeG19 That's a great trick, I hadn't heard of that.

FWIW I have never had a problem with the flash hole using Lee decappers. I only recently picked up some of the "new" style though. The old style used a pressed in needle bearing, the new ones are one piece and gently tapered.

mnoirot64 · March 1, 2014, 11:36 PM

I am ordering some 357 SIG Starline brass soon. For expediency's sake, I drilled out the flash holes in the crappy RP brass so I can use it now. What a pain in the arse drilling out 200 flash holes!! Besides dealing with powder shortages, I'm also dealing with brass shortages! The irony of it all.. Maybe I will go back to shooting factory ammo....

Nope. Not in this lifetime.

February 25, 2014, 09:55 PM	#1
mnoirot64 Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2013 Location: Clarksville, Tennessee Posts: 365	Reloading .357 SIG I am awaiting a .357 SIG barrel for my SIG Sauer P229R .40 S&W. While I'm impatiently waiting for it to arrive, I started hand loading some new Remington brass. I am using a new Hornady Series IV three piece die set. I set up the sizer die and de-capper pin and loaded my first new piece of Remington brass in the shell plate. As soon as I cycled the press I heard the Zip Spindle "zip" as the brass pushed it up into the die. Thinking I hadn't tightened the lock nut down on the spindle, I adjusted it and tried again. Same result. I inspected the new brass, and found that the flash hole was minuscule in the brass. Looked through some more "new brass." Same thing. While Hornady includes a couple different sizes of de-capper pins, they are all too large to fit through the hole. Has anyone else run into this with the .357 SIG brass or is it just the Remington product? Thanks! __________________ Michael Noirot Life Member - NRA Clarksville, Tennessee Last edited by Brian Pfleuger; February 26, 2014 at 09:49 AM.

February 26, 2014, 09:11 AM	#3
mnoirot64 Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2013 Location: Clarksville, Tennessee Posts: 365	I wonder if Hornady makes a much smaller recapping pin to work with this type of brass? __________________ Michael Noirot Life Member - NRA Clarksville, Tennessee

February 26, 2014, 09:51 AM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I've reloaded hundreds of rounds of mixed brass .357sig and never run into any problem. I've never used Remington brass though. I've read to many bad things about it. Rem brass goes in the trash. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

February 26, 2014, 11:02 AM	#5
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	Time to ream the flash holes...and remember not to buy Remington brass in the future. __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

February 26, 2014, 11:26 AM	#7
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	https://www.dillonprecision.com/cont...Brass__357_SIG http://www.brassreload.com/reloading...l+Pistol+Brass http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

February 25, 2014, 10:38 PM	#2
bledsoeG19 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2013 Posts: 135	You'll find that some manufacturers have different dimensions for brass. Speer has a flash hole that runs on the small side in size. Sometimes my decapping pin doesn't fit in them, sometimes it does just fine. Here's a helpful hint you might already know, size your 357 sig brass in a .40 sizer die first. Makes neck sizing easier and eliminates the need for case lube (this is if you're .40 sizer is carbide). Ive have good luck with Winchester and star line brass. Ymmv.

February 26, 2014, 11:16 AM	#6
mnoirot64 Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2013 Location: Clarksville, Tennessee Posts: 365	I will ream them. I wish some other brand had been available.

February 26, 2014, 11:34 AM	#9
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	No problem That Starline brass is top notch. I would look no further. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

February 26, 2014, 11:36 AM	#10
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Some here too... http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539454 __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

March 1, 2014, 08:07 PM	#11
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	bledsoeG19 That's a great trick, I hadn't heard of that. FWIW I have never had a problem with the flash hole using Lee decappers. I only recently picked up some of the "new" style though. The old style used a pressed in needle bearing, the new ones are one piece and gently tapered. __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree.

March 1, 2014, 11:36 PM	#12
mnoirot64 Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2013 Location: Clarksville, Tennessee Posts: 365	I am ordering some 357 SIG Starline brass soon. For expediency's sake, I drilled out the flash holes in the crappy RP brass so I can use it now. What a pain in the arse drilling out 200 flash holes!! Besides dealing with powder shortages, I'm also dealing with brass shortages! The irony of it all.. Maybe I will go back to shooting factory ammo.... Nope. Not in this lifetime.