problem with .357 mag loads

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FullEffect1911

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Hey All,

I attempted to reload some .357 magnums today and I ran into somewhat of a problem. I went to seat the bullet and crimped it in, and I tested to see if it would fit in the cylinder ok and much to my shagrin it wouldn't go in all the way. Being slightly annoyed and thinking I buldged the case while crimping it i tried another one with less of a crimp, Still no go. So I checked things about a bit. It would appear that the bullets i am using (Lead round nose flat points) are having clearance problems with the front of the cylinder. They worked with the .38 special loads i did, but are a no go with the .357 mags due to the longer case length.

Regular rounds like WWB 110 grain jacketed hollow points fit just fine, and it isn't a powder build up problem. The rounds i am using are more "cylinder like" in shape while hollow points are more conical. Which would contribute to the clearance issues. I was just wondering if some bullets are designed to be used in a .38 only loading and if anyone ever ran into something similar before?

Adam
 
Ok, lets start with the basics:

What gun is it?
What is the bullet?
What is the cartraige overall length?
If you drop the bullet alone into the cylinder where does it stop?
 
opps lol yes more info would be good.

gun- S&W 686-6 4" barrel (yeah the one with the internal lock) :rolleyes:
bullet- 125 round nose flat point (lead)
OAL-1.585 min OAL-1.58 (according to the lee manual)
-powder charge 4.6 grains
A loaded cartridge will not go in all the way and will stop with about 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch to go

a bullet dropped into the cylinder will stop maybe 2/3 of the way in give or take

sorry about the lack of info before.
 
steveno...He said that wasn't the problem...I have been loading .357 magnum for three firearms and even with some "bulged" cases have had no problem chambering them. But he did mention that the bullets by themselves would not go more than 2/3rds down the chamber. I would look in that direction and I hope to get a measurment from him soon. Maybe.......And if he is having a "bulged" case problem may I suggest a Lee Factory Crimp die as they will correct that "bulge" problem. It's in their design to do so as the cartridge passes into them... :)
 
the bullets are .358 if i can recall (i'm lazy and dont' want to go to the shop where my reloading stuff is lol), and i am 99.9 percent certain that the cases are not buldged (although that was also my first thought). I think the bullets themselves are too big :scrutiny: weird
 
if you need the "so called factory crimp die" something is wrong in the process. if the bullets are .358 that could be the problem.
 
FullEffect1911,

Have you checked the chambers of your cylinder? If you've been shooting a steady diet of .38 Special through the gun, this sometimes causes a buildup of residue at the mouth of the .38 case, which is approximately .10" shorter than the .357 magnum case. Try cleaning one chamber really good with a bronze brush and see if the rounds go into that chamber any better. If you've been shooting lead bullets, the buildup would probably be even more pronounced than with jacketed bullets.

Your gun should take bullets .358" in diameter without any problem. I shoot thousands of cast bullets a year and all my .38 and .357 bullets are sized .358 for the best accuracy and to reduce leading.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Now damn-it ReloaderFred...Why didn't I think of that?? :D Oh. I know....I never shoot .38 specials in my .357 magnums...Definitely worth thinking about. It does leave a bit of residue on occation. ;) What do ya think Fulleffect1911?? :)
 
The first thing that comes to mind is buildup from shooting 38 cases in it, it may be a bitch to get out, sometimes it looks like it's gone but is still there, you can still feel it when loading. :cuss:
 
Have you tried to put an unsized empty case in the cylinder?
If it doesn't go in read ReloaderFred's post again.
Also if case won't go all the way in try to readjust your fl sizing die a little lower.
 
Seat into the highest crimp or lube groove. I was reloading some speer 158 lrn which were too long so I seated above grooves and they shoot pretty good. Be aware, seating deeper can double pressures quickly.
 
Have you tried blackening the bullet or entire round with a marker to see if there are any contact points between the round and cylinder?
 
re-size??

bushmaster? I re-load 357 quite a bit, and one of the first things i did many yrs ago was go out and buy a seperate roll crimp die (I prefer redding). it also might be you are not re-sizing the brass full length? or as close to it as you can get it. or dirty chamber. maybe I missed something long the way? mine work fine, maybe a little hot, but the ruger can take it. :banghead:
 
Don't look at me Danial Boon...It wasn't me with the problem. I load for three .357 magnums and use three different powders for them. :D
That was Fulleffect1911 that has the problem. ;)
 
now now, leave me out of this :D

I do have a question though... is the 686 chamber tapered at all? If the cylinder isn't a perfect cylinder (.357 from front to back) then these particular bullets won't fit. If the cylinder walls are supposed to be a uniform diameter throughout then there is something wrong with the gun, if it is tapered at all then these particular bullets will not fit, they are just too long at a diameter of .358 very close to the front of the bullet. I pretty much know what the problem is, but i'm pretty sure it shouldn't be a problem. I'm kinda confounded :confused:
 
I reload .357 and one thing I've found to help clean the cylinder is a chamber brush. It's a little larger than a bore brush and does a great job of cleaning up all the cylinders. Mine is a Pro-Shot bronze brush, #38BC.

If the bullet hangs up in the cylinder then either there is an obstruction in the cylinder or the bullet is oversized. Let us know when you figure it out!
 
i'm gonna have to say the bullets are oversized, factory 125 grain ammo (albeit jacketed hollow points and not rnfp) will fit no problem. I'll try some .357" instead of .358 and see what happens. If i had to guess i would imagine that S&W tapers their cylinders just a tad (maybe .002" or so) and that would result in the obstruction. These particular bullets seem to have a hard time fitting anywhere down the barrel, again just trying to put them in the forcing cone results in a very tight fit. the gun probably just wants .357 and not .358.

Thanks for all who helped out, if i find out more about the situation i'll let you all know or if anyone else has some insight let me know.

Fulleffect1911
 
Fulleffect1911...I haven't seen a straight through drilled chamber in a wheel gun. They all have a slight taper at the very end of the cylinder just before the mouth to squeeze the bullet down before it jumps the gap between the cylinder and the forcing cone of the barrel. At least the modern wheel guns are that way. :scrutiny:

Leave you out of this??? I believe you started this in the first place. Didn't you??? :evil:
 
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