how to fix 357 mag brass

swampy308 · February 22, 2013, 12:38 AM

Ok here go's, in the last few months I've bought 3 new pistol's.
1. Kimber Stainless II 45 acp
2. Ruger Blackhawk SA 357 mag.
3. Ruger LCR 38 special

Now to my question. I bought new Winchester brass, and some of the rims for the 357 are-.001 to.002 larger and wont go in the shell holder.

Has anyone here had this problem and how did you fix it.

joneb · February 22, 2013, 12:46 AM

Need details.
What shell holder and #

swampy308 · February 22, 2013, 01:55 AM

Lee # 1

Lost Sheep · February 22, 2013, 02:30 AM

Sounds like it isn't the brass that needs to be fixed.

If you call Lee Precision, I bet they would send you a new shell holder that does fit. Is it rim thickness, rim diameter or body diameter that is the problem?

Lost Sheep

dahermit · February 22, 2013, 08:12 AM

Despite the fact that many hand loaders like Winchester Handgun brass, they have had a problem with inconsistent rim thickness on particularly .44 Special, .41 Magnum cases since the middle sixties (articles about it in the gun mags back then). I have measure them and compared them to Remington and found that Remington are much more consistent. Also, I have found many Winchester cases that would drag in the revolver due to overly thick rims. Out of frustration and anger for them not fixing the problem (Come on Winchester, you have known about the problem since the sixties!), I avoid Winchester rimmed, straight-walled cases. I have had some .357 Winchester cases that had to be filed to get them to enter my Dillon 550b's shell holder. Buy Remington or Starline, brass.

spacecoast · February 22, 2013, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Sounds like it isn't the brass that needs to be fixed

Maybe, but a replacement may be no different if it's only Winchester brass with the problem. The OP should also try various .357 and .38 special brass and see if it works.

swampy308 · February 22, 2013, 09:03 AM

Its the diameter of the rim. I tried both 38 & 357 new win brass, used Rem. Magtec, Fed. & PMC

The only one that does it is the new winchester 357 case

eldermike · February 22, 2013, 09:04 AM

I have been throwing WW pistol brass in the recycle can for years. Not all of them but the ones that will not fit in the shell holder. When I load plinking stuff in 38 special I use mixed brass, in fact lots of it. I can call all the WW cases without looking simply by how the primers seat. If I have to come up out of the chair and grunt it's a WW. If they don't fit the shell holder I toss em out.

swampy308 · February 22, 2013, 09:24 AM

Im thinking of fileing them down, wont take much to do just wondered if anyone else on here had the same problem.
I have heared uf win having thick rims but never heared of being to big in diameter.

kraigwy · February 22, 2013, 10:25 AM

I've had problems with some Lee shell holders, normally if the Lee's don't work the RCBS will.

Take your Winchester brass to the store, try it in RCBS #6, if it works buy the RCBS shell holder, if it doesn't work, toss the brass.

Not worth trying to modify the brass.

m&p45acp10+1 · February 22, 2013, 10:43 AM

Turning the rims down can be done though it is a real pain in the behind to do it. I have had to have a machinist turn down some. 38 spcl. rims for making cases for. 35WCF rounds.

zxcvbob · February 22, 2013, 10:48 AM

Measure the rims with a micrometer. If they are out-of-spec, contact Winchester. They should replace them if they're new.

g.willikers · February 22, 2013, 10:58 AM

If you don't want to throw them out, why not just sand the Winchester rims down a little, so they fit?
Brass isn't very hard.
I've done it with success on .44s, often a necessity.
Just make sure they are round and fit the cylinder properly, when you're done.

swampy308 · February 23, 2013, 12:22 AM

Thanks for everyones info, I used a small file on them in a circular motion now they meas

ure the same as the rest of them.

Now waiting to get time to load them.

BuckRub · February 23, 2013, 01:44 AM

Agree with post #10.

rc · February 23, 2013, 02:38 AM

I wouldn't file my cases unless they won't allow cylinder to rotate smoothly. A few thousandths shouldn't make a difference in headspace but it might make an out of spec shell holder difficult to use. I use RCBS stuff cause it always works.........

ljnowell · February 23, 2013, 03:20 AM

I shoot a lot at the Olin/Winchester handgun facility in Alton, IL. I shoot in a bullseye league there and the majority of guys use 38s, almost everyone uses the match wadcutters(reqd to use olin ammo). I usually end up with a couple hundred empties from guys dropping them off to me on the bench. My son also goes along and forages on the ground for all kinds of brass.

Anyway, when it comes to Winchester 38 brass I usually find one in ten thats a real PITA to get in and out of the shell holder. No burrs, nothing like that. Its just a little out of spec. Other guys down there that reload say the same thing.

swampy308 · February 23, 2013, 10:38 AM

As far as lee shell holder being out of spec. I dont know it could be, but to me that dosent mean that rcbs shell holders are any better, I have rcbs 223 dies and shell holder that ive had the same problem with a few peices of LC brass.

dahermit · February 23, 2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Im thinking of fileing them down, wont take much to do just wondered if anyone else on here had the same problem.
I have heared uf win having thick rims but never heared of being to big in diameter.

I have had both. When a case will not fit into the shell holder, I put layout dye on it and try it again. The layout dye will indicate what the problem is. I have had Winchester rims so thick, that when I draw-filed them, almost all the head stamp was gone. I have also had the rims too large in diameter to fit into the shell holder and a little careful turning gets them the correct diameter. When I buy 100 count bag of brass and three or so will not fit, I hate to end up with an odd-number (less than 100), lot, so I "correct" them.

swampy308 · February 23, 2013, 08:43 PM

Never heard of layout die, need to check on that.
I took my time with a small file and lightly worked around them and cant tell the difference from the other ones now.

jim8115 · February 23, 2013, 10:24 PM

i have the same problem every time i buy winchester brass, i just take a file to it

TATER · February 25, 2013, 12:57 PM

I agree with post #10 as well. I run into this with other calibers of different manufactures as well.
No need to single out Winchester.

February 22, 2013, 10:43 AM	#11
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Turning the rims down can be done though it is a real pain in the behind to do it. I have had to have a machinist turn down some. 38 spcl. rims for making cases for. 35WCF rounds. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

February 22, 2013, 10:48 AM	#12
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Measure the rims with a micrometer. If they are out-of-spec, contact Winchester. They should replace them if they're new. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

February 22, 2013, 10:58 AM	#13
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	If you don't want to throw them out, why not just sand the Winchester rims down a little, so they fit? Brass isn't very hard. I've done it with success on .44s, often a necessity. Just make sure they are round and fit the cylinder properly, when you're done. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

February 23, 2013, 03:20 AM	#17
ljnowell Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Posts: 274	Tell ya what.... I shoot a lot at the Olin/Winchester handgun facility in Alton, IL. I shoot in a bullseye league there and the majority of guys use 38s, almost everyone uses the match wadcutters(reqd to use olin ammo). I usually end up with a couple hundred empties from guys dropping them off to me on the bench. My son also goes along and forages on the ground for all kinds of brass. Anyway, when it comes to Winchester 38 brass I usually find one in ten thats a real PITA to get in and out of the shell holder. No burrs, nothing like that. Its just a little out of spec. Other guys down there that reload say the same thing.

February 22, 2013, 12:38 AM	#1
swampy308 Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 93	how to fix 357 mag brass Ok here go's, in the last few months I've bought 3 new pistol's. 1. Kimber Stainless II 45 acp 2. Ruger Blackhawk SA 357 mag. 3. Ruger LCR 38 special Now to my question. I bought new Winchester brass, and some of the rims for the 357 are-.001 to.002 larger and wont go in the shell holder. Has anyone here had this problem and how did you fix it.

February 22, 2013, 12:46 AM	#2
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	Need details. What shell holder and #

February 22, 2013, 01:55 AM	#3
swampy308 Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 93	Lee # 1

February 22, 2013, 02:30 AM	#4
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	Sounds like it isn't the brass that needs to be fixed. If you call Lee Precision, I bet they would send you a new shell holder that does fit. Is it rim thickness, rim diameter or body diameter that is the problem? Lost Sheep

February 22, 2013, 08:12 AM	#5
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Despite the fact that many hand loaders like Winchester Handgun brass, they have had a problem with inconsistent rim thickness on particularly .44 Special, .41 Magnum cases since the middle sixties (articles about it in the gun mags back then). I have measure them and compared them to Remington and found that Remington are much more consistent. Also, I have found many Winchester cases that would drag in the revolver due to overly thick rims. Out of frustration and anger for them not fixing the problem (Come on Winchester, you have known about the problem since the sixties!), I avoid Winchester rimmed, straight-walled cases. I have had some .357 Winchester cases that had to be filed to get them to enter my Dillon 550b's shell holder. Buy Remington or Starline, brass.

February 22, 2013, 09:03 AM	#7
swampy308 Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 93	Its the diameter of the rim. I tried both 38 & 357 new win brass, used Rem. Magtec, Fed. & PMC The only one that does it is the new winchester 357 case

February 22, 2013, 09:04 AM	#8
eldermike Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Location: NC Posts: 545	I have been throwing WW pistol brass in the recycle can for years. Not all of them but the ones that will not fit in the shell holder. When I load plinking stuff in 38 special I use mixed brass, in fact lots of it. I can call all the WW cases without looking simply by how the primers seat. If I have to come up out of the chair and grunt it's a WW. If they don't fit the shell holder I toss em out.

February 22, 2013, 09:24 AM	#9
swampy308 Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 93	Im thinking of fileing them down, wont take much to do just wondered if anyone else on here had the same problem. I have heared uf win having thick rims but never heared of being to big in diameter.

February 22, 2013, 10:25 AM	#10
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I've had problems with some Lee shell holders, normally if the Lee's don't work the RCBS will. Take your Winchester brass to the store, try it in RCBS #6, if it works buy the RCBS shell holder, if it doesn't work, toss the brass. Not worth trying to modify the brass. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

February 23, 2013, 12:22 AM	#14
swampy308 Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 93	Thanks for everyones info, I used a small file on them in a circular motion now they meas ure the same as the rest of them. Now waiting to get time to load them.

February 23, 2013, 01:44 AM	#15
BuckRub Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,046	Agree with post #10.

February 23, 2013, 02:38 AM	#16
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,765	I wouldn't file my cases unless they won't allow cylinder to rotate smoothly. A few thousandths shouldn't make a difference in headspace but it might make an out of spec shell holder difficult to use. I use RCBS stuff cause it always works.........

February 23, 2013, 10:38 AM	#18
swampy308 Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 93	As far as lee shell holder being out of spec. I dont know it could be, but to me that dosent mean that rcbs shell holders are any better, I have rcbs 223 dies and shell holder that ive had the same problem with a few peices of LC brass.

February 23, 2013, 08:43 PM	#20
swampy308 Member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Posts: 93	Never heard of layout die, need to check on that. I took my time with a small file and lightly worked around them and cant tell the difference from the other ones now.

February 23, 2013, 10:24 PM	#21
jim8115 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2011 Location: Arkansas Posts: 229	i have the same problem every time i buy winchester brass, i just take a file to it

February 25, 2013, 12:57 PM	#22
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	I agree with post #10 as well. I run into this with other calibers of different manufactures as well. No need to single out Winchester.