reloading .357SIG

Quiet Storm · January 13, 2000, 09:18 PM

I will be attempting my first batch of .357SIG shortly. What do you guys recommend for dies, I use a Dillon 550b and have experience with 9mm,45,40sw, but only have used Dillon dies so far, the 357sig dies however, are $103 so I may consider others. Any thoughts on this? and do the cases need to be trimmed like rifle ammo? I am in need of info as this is a new caliber experience for me. Thanks!!

The specialist · January 13, 2000, 09:27 PM

I have no experience with reloading, yet . I have been researching it though, I will be buying an RL550B in the next couple of weeks. I think that Lee makes a relatively inexpensive set of dies for .357sig. A guy at a shop told me that the only thing he will buy from Lee is their dies, he says that they make the best dies. I do know that the cases have to be lubed as no one makes a carbide size die to my knowledge. Please drop me an email to let me know how you make out, cause I will be looking to reload for my .357sig, as well as my .40, 9mm , etc.......

Reg · January 13, 2000, 11:01 PM

I've been reloading for the .357SIG for a couple of years. I bought the Lee dies and am very pleased with them. General consensus seems to be that the Lee dies give the best crimp, which is important for this caliber. I've heard several people who have bought the Dillon dies and still use the Lee crimp die.
I've reloaded all my brass more than 4 times with no need to trim...doubt I'll ever need to. Be careful on your bullet selection for this round. Because of the small gripping surface, slippage can occur with all but short ogive 9mm bullets. I've tried several bullets and my favorites are the Rem 115/124 grain JHP. (no slippage and cheap at under $50/1000) I've heard that the Rainier 124gr FP are good too.
One of the other people posted that they don't know of any carbide dies for this caliber. The Dillon's are carbide, but you still have to lube with them.
Good luck, this is a great caliber that is fun to reload!

[This message has been edited by Reg (edited January 13, 2000).]

petej88 · January 16, 2000, 02:48 PM

I've been reloading the 357 SIG since 1996. I use the Dillon die set and use the Lee crimp die. The 357 SIG is an unusual round and needs a tight crimp. The Dillon crimp die just doesn't seem to work well at all. Hopefully, someone at Dillon will eventually fix it.

You might go to greent.com to the Calibers page and read the two 357 SIG articles there.

cheers

January 13, 2000, 09:18 PM	#1
Quiet Storm Junior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: MA, USA Posts: 6	I will be attempting my first batch of .357SIG shortly. What do you guys recommend for dies, I use a Dillon 550b and have experience with 9mm,45,40sw, but only have used Dillon dies so far, the 357sig dies however, are $103 so I may consider others. Any thoughts on this? and do the cases need to be trimmed like rifle ammo? I am in need of info as this is a new caliber experience for me. Thanks!!

January 13, 2000, 09:27 PM	#2
The specialist Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2000 Location: boston,MA,USA Posts: 237	I have no experience with reloading, yet . I have been researching it though, I will be buying an RL550B in the next couple of weeks. I think that Lee makes a relatively inexpensive set of dies for .357sig. A guy at a shop told me that the only thing he will buy from Lee is their dies, he says that they make the best dies. I do know that the cases have to be lubed as no one makes a carbide size die to my knowledge. Please drop me an email to let me know how you make out, cause I will be looking to reload for my .357sig, as well as my .40, 9mm , etc.......

January 13, 2000, 11:01 PM	#3
Reg Member Join Date: January 13, 2000 Posts: 54	I've been reloading for the .357SIG for a couple of years. I bought the Lee dies and am very pleased with them. General consensus seems to be that the Lee dies give the best crimp, which is important for this caliber. I've heard several people who have bought the Dillon dies and still use the Lee crimp die. I've reloaded all my brass more than 4 times with no need to trim...doubt I'll ever need to. Be careful on your bullet selection for this round. Because of the small gripping surface, slippage can occur with all but short ogive 9mm bullets. I've tried several bullets and my favorites are the Rem 115/124 grain JHP. (no slippage and cheap at under $50/1000) I've heard that the Rainier 124gr FP are good too. One of the other people posted that they don't know of any carbide dies for this caliber. The Dillon's are carbide, but you still have to lube with them. Good luck, this is a great caliber that is fun to reload! [This message has been edited by Reg (edited January 13, 2000).]

January 16, 2000, 02:48 PM	#4
petej88 Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 1999 Location: US Posts: 510	I've been reloading the 357 SIG since 1996. I use the Dillon die set and use the Lee crimp die. The 357 SIG is an unusual round and needs a tight crimp. The Dillon crimp die just doesn't seem to work well at all. Hopefully, someone at Dillon will eventually fix it. You might go to greent.com to the Calibers page and read the two 357 SIG articles there. cheers