plated 38 spl with no cannelure

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deadeye dick

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Just picked up some Berry's (.357) 125 gr, target HP bullets from Cabalas yesterday. When I got home and opened them I discovered the had no cannelure. I bought them for my Blackhawk. I;ve never loaded plated, only lead. I would assume all loading for revolvers need a crimp. Do I need to return them. If so what should I get as a replacement?
 
you can taper crimp with a roll crimp die if you are careful. use your calipers and go slow when you set up your separate crimp operation.

luck,

murf
 
Yeah is long as you are using reasonable loads the bullet should not walk out of the brass and tie up the cylinder with a standard taper crimp. I wold set it to just start to roll the brass into the side of the bullet ever so lightly and try it there. Shoot 5 and check for longer than what you assembled bullet. No movement and you are OK. I think that those were intended for loading into a 357 SIG.
 
I would take them back and get the right ones. Bullets have cannelures for a reason. You don't want your revolver to act as a bullet puller. And taper crimps are for autos, not revolvers. Would a taper crimp work?. Maybe a little. Use the right tools and follow established procedures.

My opinion.
 
I have loaded several thousand berrys plated bullets. I just use a middle of the range powder amount for lead bullets as suggested by the berrys website. I use little to no crimp depending on the calibar, .38, .357, .41 mag or 44 mag. I have found these bullets to be fine for punching paper but I wouldn’t use berrys plated for hunting or serious use. Take some time and browse the berrys website for reloading and use info. I would suggest you keep the bullets and just have fun reloading. Just my thoughts from the Big Sky Country.
 
I use this, https://leeprecision.com/357-magnum-custom-collet-style-crimp-die.html
The cannelure on plated bullets is worthless, if you have adequate neck tension the collet crimp will hold the bullet in place for velocities that plated bullets are rated for.
Okay my bad, the length of the collet is too long for 38 spl I had to cut .130" off the base of the collet to allow this crimp die to work with 38 spl.
I'm not sure why Lee did not make this die to work with either 38 spl and 357 mag :confused:
Lee dies are not hardened so this was a easy task.
 
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