357 sig Reloaders

farmerboy · April 9, 2012, 01:26 PM

reloading for first time for a 357 sig in a Glock 23. My son bought a box of Rainier 9 MM bullets (.355) 124 gr.s and used 7.5 gr.s of Unique. Manual states of coal to be 1.135 and another states 1.140". They still look funny to me it just looks alwfully deep but I guess its right. Anyway we made 5 testers and they shot great out of a NM conversion barrel. Just wanted to know for the 357 sig reloaders if these bullets are right and if youve had similar success and could check my list here. ps- I know half and half state to use your 23 magazines and the other hald state to buy others ones. We just used his 23 mags too.

ps-and what about no bell die in the rcbs set, theyre just straight wall and its hard to seat bullets with no bell. Can you buy an extra die to make bell or use a 9MM bell on it? Thanks

Lead Express · April 9, 2012, 05:15 PM

The COL sounds about right, as Alliant publishes at "1.135. Do you have pictures?

Also, should you be starting out at about 7.2gn for a start load?

farmerboy · April 9, 2012, 08:43 PM

Maybe the bullets used were round nose and read somewhere on the Internet that flat points are hollow points were good due to being shorter in length. Idk but the still shot good and hit what I was aiming at two out of three times off the porch. I would get some photos but don't know how to post them but will ask teenage son tonight.

jepp2 · April 9, 2012, 09:25 PM

Have you checked for setback? I only use Montana Gold 357 Sig bullets. You need to make sure your use bullets that provide maximum neck tension. It isn't as much the tip of the bullet but instead is the ogive of the bullet ends before the portion of the bullet inside the case. Probably more 9mm bullets will not work, than will.

As far as the no bell die, I don't bell my cases at all. I just need to be careful about how I start the bullet into the case. The neck is short enough that any bell will seriously reduce available neck tension. And flaring and crimping will not recover the same amount of neck tension. I set up my sizing dies to headspace off the shoulder, so I have a minimum of case neck to work with.

Accurate No. 9 is a very popular powder for the 357 Sig. Hotter loads are compressed so the powder can be used to help provide support to minimize setback.

farmerboy · April 9, 2012, 09:34 PM

Here's some pics for you. See how the bullet looks deeply seated? To me anyways...

By elitegeek91 at 2012-04-09

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

By elitegeek91 at 2012-04-09

Strafer Gott · April 9, 2012, 09:53 PM

I mostly see flat points and hollow points, but I think these look great. Thanks for a new bullet name to check. That big meplat is just for showing off. Now I want to shoot some RN.

jepp2 · April 9, 2012, 10:34 PM

Looks like the curve of the ogive is extending into the case and will reduce neck tension. Just to show you what the Montana Gold bullets look like:

farmerboy · April 9, 2012, 10:43 PM

Yes it does. I should have done more reserch before hand but o well. Not gonna pull them, gonna shoot them. Gonna try Hornady XTPs but waiting on Midway to get them in. Been loading for about 17-18 years and still learn something new sometimes.

Axelwik · April 10, 2012, 10:02 AM

Like others have stated you should check for setback. I always test a few by pushing the bullet hard against a solid object to see if the bullet pushes into the case.

I've tried those Rainier round nose bullets and didn't like them because to seat them deep enough I don't feel that they have enough neck tension.

For 357 SIG with its short neck I also do the extra step of a factory crimp. Lee sells an inexpensive factory crimp die that does a pretty good job.

Lead Express · April 10, 2012, 01:04 PM

They look good to me, as other have said. If they go bang, they go bang.

Also, cover up that serial number!

Jim243 · April 10, 2012, 01:12 PM

Jim

farmerboy · April 10, 2012, 01:54 PM

Thanks LeadExpress, An Update: Decided to go ahead and pull them because he gotten a LW 9 MM conversion barrel/ threaded with a compensator and we made some nines that work. Gonna go ahead and wait on the XTPs for the 357 SIG and even though the do go bang and they have no set back whatsoever still gonna go this route. Thanks for all your help!!!!

Lead Express · April 10, 2012, 03:00 PM

I always wear my tinfoil hat out in public (you can never be too safe with your numbers).

I'm glad that everyone could help!

boostedtt91 · April 12, 2012, 06:20 PM

any 357 sig owners looking for any once fired brass? I obtained some and i was just gonna scrap it for the $, but would rather have someone reuse it

jepp2 · April 12, 2012, 07:52 PM

boostedtt91,

I will take the 357 sig brass, PM sent

April 9, 2012, 01:26 PM	#1
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	357 sig Reloaders reloading for first time for a 357 sig in a Glock 23. My son bought a box of Rainier 9 MM bullets (.355) 124 gr.s and used 7.5 gr.s of Unique. Manual states of coal to be 1.135 and another states 1.140". They still look funny to me it just looks alwfully deep but I guess its right. Anyway we made 5 testers and they shot great out of a NM conversion barrel. Just wanted to know for the 357 sig reloaders if these bullets are right and if youve had similar success and could check my list here. ps- I know half and half state to use your 23 magazines and the other hald state to buy others ones. We just used his 23 mags too. ps-and what about no bell die in the rcbs set, theyre just straight wall and its hard to seat bullets with no bell. Can you buy an extra die to make bell or use a 9MM bell on it? Thanks Last edited by farmerboy; April 9, 2012 at 03:31 PM.

April 9, 2012, 05:15 PM	#2
Lead Express Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2012 Location: Sacramento Posts: 125	The COL sounds about right, as Alliant publishes at "1.135. Do you have pictures? Also, should you be starting out at about 7.2gn for a start load? __________________ ”An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.” ~Col. Jeff Cooper

April 9, 2012, 09:34 PM	#5
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Here's some pics for you. See how the bullet looks deeply seated? To me anyways... By elitegeek91 at 2012-04-09 Uploaded with ImageShack.us By elitegeek91 at 2012-04-09 Last edited by farmerboy; April 10, 2012 at 01:49 PM.

April 10, 2012, 01:04 PM	#10
Lead Express Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2012 Location: Sacramento Posts: 125	They look good to me, as other have said. If they go bang, they go bang. Also, cover up that serial number! __________________ ”An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.” ~Col. Jeff Cooper

April 10, 2012, 01:12 PM	#11
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

April 9, 2012, 08:43 PM	#3
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Maybe the bullets used were round nose and read somewhere on the Internet that flat points are hollow points were good due to being shorter in length. Idk but the still shot good and hit what I was aiming at two out of three times off the porch. I would get some photos but don't know how to post them but will ask teenage son tonight.

April 9, 2012, 09:25 PM	#4
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	Have you checked for setback? I only use Montana Gold 357 Sig bullets. You need to make sure your use bullets that provide maximum neck tension. It isn't as much the tip of the bullet but instead is the ogive of the bullet ends before the portion of the bullet inside the case. Probably more 9mm bullets will not work, than will. As far as the no bell die, I don't bell my cases at all. I just need to be careful about how I start the bullet into the case. The neck is short enough that any bell will seriously reduce available neck tension. And flaring and crimping will not recover the same amount of neck tension. I set up my sizing dies to headspace off the shoulder, so I have a minimum of case neck to work with. Accurate No. 9 is a very popular powder for the 357 Sig. Hotter loads are compressed so the powder can be used to help provide support to minimize setback.

April 9, 2012, 09:53 PM	#6
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	I mostly see flat points and hollow points, but I think these look great. Thanks for a new bullet name to check. That big meplat is just for showing off. Now I want to shoot some RN.

April 9, 2012, 10:34 PM	#7
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	Looks like the curve of the ogive is extending into the case and will reduce neck tension. Just to show you what the Montana Gold bullets look like:

April 9, 2012, 10:43 PM	#8
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Yes it does. I should have done more reserch before hand but o well. Not gonna pull them, gonna shoot them. Gonna try Hornady XTPs but waiting on Midway to get them in. Been loading for about 17-18 years and still learn something new sometimes.

April 10, 2012, 10:02 AM	#9
Axelwik Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Location: Land of Enchantment Posts: 436	Like others have stated you should check for setback. I always test a few by pushing the bullet hard against a solid object to see if the bullet pushes into the case. I've tried those Rainier round nose bullets and didn't like them because to seat them deep enough I don't feel that they have enough neck tension. For 357 SIG with its short neck I also do the extra step of a factory crimp. Lee sells an inexpensive factory crimp die that does a pretty good job.

April 10, 2012, 01:54 PM	#12
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Thanks LeadExpress, An Update: Decided to go ahead and pull them because he gotten a LW 9 MM conversion barrel/ threaded with a compensator and we made some nines that work. Gonna go ahead and wait on the XTPs for the 357 SIG and even though the do go bang and they have no set back whatsoever still gonna go this route. Thanks for all your help!!!!

April 10, 2012, 03:00 PM	#13
Lead Express Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2012 Location: Sacramento Posts: 125	I always wear my tinfoil hat out in public (you can never be too safe with your numbers). I'm glad that everyone could help! __________________ ”An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.” ~Col. Jeff Cooper

April 12, 2012, 06:20 PM	#14
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	any 357 sig owners looking for any once fired brass? I obtained some and i was just gonna scrap it for the $, but would rather have someone reuse it

April 12, 2012, 07:52 PM	#15
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	boostedtt91, I will take the 357 sig brass, PM sent