Best crimp die for .357?

[Bill M.]

Jacketed bullets in .357 Mag. Lee Factory Crimp Die, or Lee Collet Crimp Die, or Redding Profile Crimp Die?

 

[Walkalong]

Redding.

 

[Armorer 101]

A profile adjusted to taper crimp or a taper crimp die.

 

[AJC1]

Triming your brass exactly the same and a good roll crip is all that's needed. Die brand matters a lot less than technique and good triming

 

[bluejay75]

Lee collet for 357. I prefer the taper crimp for 38 Special.

 

[Walkalong]

Die brand matters a lot less than technique and good triming

Very true, but the Redding Profile Crimp die and the RCBS seater dies do a great job compared to some.
This was done with an RCBS seater with built in roll crimp.

 

[Targa]

I am a big fan of Lee but the Redding profile crimp dies are hard to beat.

 

[Jim Watson]

Real jacketed with crimp cannelures like Walkalong shows?
I would (Do!) roll crimp in the seating die that came with the die set. I have Lyman, RCBS, and CH that all do pretty well. But I have had them a long time. Are they screwing them up now so you have to buy an extra die?

 

[AJC1]

Very true, but the Redding Profile Crimp die and the RCBS seater dies do a great job compared to some.
This was done with an RCBS seater with built in roll crimp.
View attachment 1011683

I use the rcbs gray box dies. They have worked really well so far. I like the design and function of the collet style lee dies. I havent tested them head to head and dont own one in 357 so saying I like the idea is supported by nothing. The 223 works well in my mini 14.

 

[joneb]

Lee collet for 357. I prefer the taper crimp for 38 Special.

I'm in the same boat as you, if it works and it ain't broke don't fix it.
But that Redding profile crimp looks mighty sweet.

 

[Bfh_auto]

All I've ever used is my Lee 357 dies. I trim my brass one time and haven't had an issue.

 

[bullseye308]

I have used the Lee dies for years and 10’s of thousands of rounds and had no issues. Doesn’t matter if I’m loading 38/148, 357/125, or 357/158, I get whatever crimp I set it for and see no need to buy another die to do the same thing. To each his own tho, that’s why we have so many choices. Any brand will work if setup properly.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I have a Lee taper crimp die I use for plated bullets, all the rest I use the built in roll crimp since I trimmed my brass.

 

[MEHavey]

...a good roll crimp is all that's needed...

^^^^ THIS (!) ^^^^
and the objective to stop the bullet from walking out of the case under recoil.
The Roll portion of the crimp process is key there.\

RCBS standard is all that's req'd
Redding is nice -- but just more $$

 

[bluejay75]

All of them work. Find what’s best for your purposes.


As you can see in the photo, the taper crimp can make a load not meant for a 38 special case work great. I am getting 1490 FPS from a 180 grain bullet in a 38 Special case from a rifle. Makes for a cheap and powerful load. A collett crimp would have worked but they don’t make one for 38 Special. The taper crimp let me keep the full diameter and crimped perfectly into the next grease groove.

For your purposes. This style crimp will let you get away with getting a good crimp on a bullet with a less than optimal diameter. For instance if you end up with a batch of bullets that aren’t .357 and over. All the bullets that are on the small side won’t get as good of a crimp. Or if you wanted to run .355 bullets in your 357. (Will require an undersized sizing die too.

 

[MEHavey]

.
Are those pics above of taper crimps ?



FWIW: As far as heavily-loaded 38/357 goes...
Look at the crimp on the right: It's an FCD, but only for roll purposes
(the two at left are commercial loads)

 

[bluejay75]

That is a what a taper crimp looks like when you have 358 + diameter bullet inside the case and turned down to right before the case buckles. Way more than he would ever need for jacketed.

 

[Herman B]

A profile adjusted to taper crimp or a taper crimp die.

A reputable reloading manual recommends a taper crimp for honest 357 M loads, relying solely on neck tension for retention?

 

[bluejay75]

@MEHavey I don’t always run that much crimp. Sometimes it’s needed.

 

[AJC1]

A reputable reloading manual recommends a taper crimp for honest 357 M loads, relying solely on neck tension for retention?

You could get a lot of neck tension with jacketed but be swaging led down. No solution fits all scenarios.

 

[Herman B]

You could get a lot of neck tension with jacketed but be swaging led down. No solution fits all scenarios.

How do you 'get a lot of neck tension with jacketed but be swaging led down'?

 

[Hondo 60]

My vote goes to the Lee Factory Crimp die.
I have 'em for all the revolver loads I make.

 

[Hondo 60]

As you can see in the photo, the taper crimp can make a load not meant for a 38 special case work great.

luejay - That there's a LOT of crimp;.
Do what you want, but I wouldn't crimp 'em quite like that.
Just my 2¢ worth.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

For .38Spl, I use the Lee seating die to apply a slight roll. For .357Mag I use the seating die to seat and the crimping die to apply a slightly heavier roll crimp. Then again, I shoot heavy bullets with near-max loads. YMMV and remember Rule #1: Don't do what I do. Just because it works for me doesn't mean it'll work for you.

 

[AJC1]

You could get a lot of neck tension with jacketed but be swaging led down. No solution fits all scenarios.

Depending on the lead hardness the bullet will reach plastic deformation prior to the case.