Anyone reload for .357 SIG?

[wilit]

I've been thinking of trying to reload .357 Sig, but I've read a lot of chatter about it being a pain because of the necked down case. Just curious what dies everyone uses and what your process is for resizing.

[Corbin Dallas]

Did you read this thread? - https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1685320


Carbide dies are the only way to go with this case.

[wilit]

Did you read this thread? - https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1685320


Carbide dies are the only way to go with this case.

Did I read it? LOL, I'm post #9. So yes, I read it. No where in there does it answer my question about what dies people use.

[MrElectric03]

I reloaded a handful of it. I did not use Carbide dies and did just fine. Mine were rcbs and they worked well. It does take time to get the dies set just right, just like reloading bottleneck rifle rounds. Probably loaded and shot 500 rounds and then sold the gun. Just wasn't anything I was crazy about.

[middleofnowhere]

I was researching that cartridge for a Glock and I really didn’t see the need for it. After reading some of these reloading threads, my opinion is reinforced and I’m glad I didn’t go with it.

[ptmn]

I load 357 Sig, I use a Dillon Carbide die. Even though Carbide, I still have to give a light spray of a mixture of Lee water based die lube diluted with rubbing alcohol from a cheap 3 oz spray bottle I got in the travel section of Walmart for 99 cents.

My carbide 357 Sig dies make loading easy, but I've heard of people with turret presses using their Carbide 40 S&W die in the first station and a standard steel 357 Sig sizing die in the 2nd station I have Carbide 40 dies, but I never tried that technique, since I have the Dillon Carbide dies.

[Sheldon]

I just recently bought a case gauge off Ebay to help set up my dies.....just tried it out and sized cases drop about half way into gauge. I am touching the die mouth to the shellplate and then some. Wondering if I just have blown out brass or my gauge is too tight. I will have to get the barrel of gun I am planning to reload for and use it as my gauge.

[devster55]

I just recently bought a case gauge off Ebay to help set up my dies.....just tried it out and sized cases drop about half way into gauge. I am touching the die mouth to the shellplate and then some. Wondering if I just have blown out brass or my gauge is too tight. I will have to get the barrel of gun I am planning to reload for and use it as my gauge.

[Sheldon]

Yeah , that's next step. Pistol isn't here with me now unfortunately. Everything comes to a halt.....gave me time to clean and sort some stuff. I found 3 of the bagged 1000 count Hornady 224 55gr fmjbt I forgot I had. Either from Powder Valley or Wideners. So score!!

[BajaJames83]

I throw some brass in a large flat rate shipping box couple of squirts of my lanolin/ alcohol lube. Shake box and load.
I use dillion carbide 357 sig dies and have heard and might try using a 40 sizing die in station 1 before using the 357 die then you might not need to lube but i havent tried that yet. My setuo works jsut fine.

[BajaJames83]

If you need a set of 357 sig dies i have 2 sets of dillion carbide dies i could part with one

[Sheldon]

The carbide are too rich for me, but thanks. I have heard of the .40 sizer first trick and thought to try it, but cannot find my .40 set....might have sold that some time earlier or just misplaced them.

[2Asupport]

I have been using the standard Lee steel dies with the homemade alcohol / lanolin case lube. The Lee dies are fine for me.

They work. I also use a drop in case gage to check each round.

[Sheldon]

I think my dies are Hornady. They wont size the cases down enough to allow brass to drop into the drop gauge, but enough to drop into the pistol's barrel fine, so I am thinking good enough. I just used the barrel to set up my sizing die. The dies are capable of bumping the shoulder of the case too far back, but even then not enough for the body of the brass to drop all the way into the case gauge. The sized cases feel relatively loose within the chamber of the barrel though.

[superhondaz50]

Standard dies are fine, lube and tumble like 223. Make sure you get a good crimp, biggest problem I experienced with it was loose bullets due to the tiny neck. I used a Lee factory crimp die.