which sizing die for .357 and .38

[sid]

which sizing die is best for .357 and .38.im guessing .359.

 

[snuffy]

which sizing die is best for .357 and .38.im guessing .359.

For what, lead bullets? Then the answer is;'- whatever your barrel needs.

 

[sid]

lead is the only bullets ive sized.

 

[PO2Hammer]

None of my .38's or .357's have ever needed a lead bullet larger than .358"

 

[USSR]

sid,

.358" are what .357 Magnum and .38 Special bullets are normally sized to.

Don

 

[sid]

been a long time since ive sized for .357 and couldnt remember if normal bore size is .357 or .358.in checking on store bought cast bullets it must be .357.thanks fellas

 

[THe Dove]

sid

For what it's worth, I use a .358 sizer die when sizing my cast boolits for .38 special. I use a RCBS size/lube die in my Lubamatic II and cast 125 gr RNFP lead boolits out of a Lee 2 banger mold. That's done well for me.

The Dove

 

[James2]

I am using .358.
I can't say if that is best, but it works fine here.

 

[Paul24]

Bullets need to be snug in the cylinder throat. Measure all of the throats then round up.

 

[918v]

+1

Cylinder throats, if larger than the groove diameter, are the primary determinators of bullet diameter.

 

[sid]

thanks for the time guys.ordered the .358 sizer and some punches.

sid

 

[PapaG]

I have the best results sizing to the chamber throat diameter, most of which are a little larger than the groove size of the gun used. Softer cast bullets will slug up to the throat diameter better than hard ones and can be sized closer to the groove dia, but harder cast bullets might need to be a little larger (without going nuts here) as they won't slug up and fill the throat.
I had a real problem with some really hard .430 bullets in a .429 Super Blackhawk leading badly at lower (1000 fps) velocities. Throats measured .434-.435. Sizing to .433 (largest I could find) solved the problem as did pushing the .430 ones out a little faster.

 

[mdi]

You'll get the correct answer by measuring the cylinder throats of your gun. If they measure .359" then size to .359". My .357 magnum has throats that are about .358" - .3585" so my lead bullets are sized .358". Works for me...

 

[GP100man]

shoot em as big as ya can get em to chamber reliably