Anybody reload .357 Sig?

[jdg30]

The thought crossed my mind yesterday about handloading .357sig. I've never shot it before. I had a glock 33 before but only used a .40 barrel I had to shoot the gun. The price of factory .357 sig ammo is way too high for me to buy and shoot it. If I reload it I will be able to shoot it for the same price as reloaded 9mm, which is cheap.

I was wondering if anyone loads this round and if it's any more complicated than straight wall pistol cartridge reloading. So far I load .45, .38, .357 .40, 9mm, and .44. Is it worth it to get a .357sig barrel and a setup to reload .357 sig to shoot out of my 40s&w glock?

Any information about reloading this round and the results would be appreciated.

[Corbin Dallas]

Yes, it is more complicated. I suggest Googling this case for reloading, there is a lot to research before diving in.

[XDRoX]

I think it'd be fun to load for. It's quickly becoming a round for the rich or reloaders. The characteristics of the caliber are intriguing to me. High pressure, flat trajectory, kind of like a 9mm on steroids.

The only difference in loading 357 Sig is you'll have to lube the cases. Other than that, no difference.

[jdg30]

I think it'd be fun to load for. It's quickly becoming a round for the rich or reloaders. The characteristics of the caliber are intriguing to me. High pressure, flat trajectory, kind of like a 9mm on steroids.

The only difference in loading 357 Sig is you'll have to lube the cases. Other than that, no difference.

I already lube all my pistol cases that I reload. Once I tried lubing the first time i was sold and now I lube all my cases with Dillon lube. I'm actually going to make my own lube once I run out...very simple recipe.

So how is it more complicated than straight wall cartridges? Do the cases need to be trimmed often or do they last a long time as-is like normal pistol cartridges?

[XDRoX]

They never have to be trimmed. Not like rifle at all. I've read numerous times over the years that there's no need to trim. I don't load it so I only know what I've read on the forums. But I've read quite a bit. I kind of want to get one just to load for it.

[five.five-six]

I have loaded for it, it's a little tricky animal. OAL is pretty crucial as there is not much case displacement and you have to use FN or HP bullets or you will never get them in the magazine or the cone of the bullet will slip past the neck. there is plenty of data on them and they are not that hard once you get them set up, but they defiantly take more attention than your straight walled rounds.

[Steelplate45]

I have loaded 10's of thousands of 357 Sig for IDPA and Action Pistol, and ran my Glock in the Cal State championships. This is going back 10-12 years. At the time there were no case gauges, so I had a machinist make one for me.

It feeds better than the 40 and hits much harder than a 9. And, you can load it hot, or light, whatever your preference. You will need to match your recoil spring with your load, as with any caliber.

I have sold off my other calibers, and now only have 357 Sig and 45 ACP.

[jdg30]

I have loaded for it, it's a little tricky animal. OAL is pretty crucial as there is not much case displacement and you have to use FN or HP bullets or you will never get them in the magazine or the cone of the bullet will slip past the neck. there is plenty of data on them and they are not that hard once you get them set up, but they defiantly take more attention than your straight walled rounds.

I just tried reloading some 124gr FP bullets for 9mm and they worked perfect. I actually prefer them to the regular RN bullets and didn't even have to adjust the seating die from the RN setting to seat the FP's to the proper depth. I figured .357sig would require FP or HP bullets since they are shorter than regular RN bullets. I read in one of my manuals that RN bullets are too long for .357sig.

[jdg30]

I have loaded 10's of thousands of 357 Sig for IDPA and Action Pistol, and ran my Glock in the Cal State championships. This is going back 10-12 years. At the time there were no case gauges, so I had a machinist make one for me.

It feeds better than the 40 and hits much harder than a 9. And, you can load it hot, or light, whatever your preference. You will need to match your recoil spring with your load, as with any caliber.

I have sold off my other calibers, and now only have 357 Sig and 45 ACP.

I usually try to load my rounds with loads that are similar to factory ammo so I can keep my guns in stock configuration. The main reason I don't shoot competitively is I'm scared to lose my brass and have others pick it up. It's probably an irrational fear but it's stopped me from competing so far! Maybe I should just do it anyways, .357sig sounds like an excellent round.

[Eargasm]

It's a pain in the butt. I'm not saying it's not worth it, because the price of factory sig is outrageous, but, for me, it's more of a hassle than other pistol cartridges (I think my perception is mostly because Dillon's Square Deal won't work with bottle necked cases).

Also, except for Lee and RCBS dies, other manufacturer's dies are $75-$129 for a set because they're considered "non-standard". The reviews of RCBS' 357 dies are consistently mediocre.

Montana Gold makes 125gr RNHP projectiles; they're one of the few companies that sells 357 Sig specific projectiles in bulk for a reasonable amount. Some people can get Hornady's 124gr projectiles designed for 9mm to work, some find that they seat too far back.

As for brass, I have a hard time finding the once-fired stuff at my range(s). I picked up some speer from brassmanbrass.com for $66/1K. Speer supposedly has smaller primer pockets but I've had no problems with them when using CCI small pistol primers. There's a guy who is selling brass in the Reloading Sales section for $50/1K shipped (great deal).

I wish I knew which powder Ultramax was using to reload their rounds with; it was their rounds that got me hooked on this cartridge. So far I've had mediocre results and horrible accuracy with AA#5.

Sorry about the rambling; it's been a long day and I can't string sentences together that well. If you decide you want to give reloading this round a shot, let me know, I can probably stand to part with some projectiles. I think I have some sized brass lying around too.

[j.primo]

I've been handloading it for a while. It's not too difficult except the extra lube step. Also I learned to use a .356 bullet for proper neck tension and use a good taper crimp. The lee FCD works great. I've tried blue dot and currently use tite group under a 124 gr Berry's either FP or HP.

[SuaSponte7.62]

I bought a Glock 35 40s&w, then replaced the factory barrel with a 357 Sig KKM barrel. It shoots AWESOME!!!!
I really like shooting 147grain rounds. They have pletty of power to knock down steel.

[f4tweet]

I shoot 357 Sig. I spray lube the cases with Hornaday spray in a shoebox top. I have to bell the cases about .010. I use Accurate #9. Because of the short neck, bullet setback is a problem, so I use a max of 13 gr. of AA-9. By using a case filled load you help prevent bullet setback. My most accurate load is 12.5 or 12.7 gr. I use a 124 gr. plated bullet and have wicked accuracy and a big boom. Several sites have said that AA-9 is the most accurate powder. Everybody wants to know what I am shooting, I tell them 9mm. Here are pages I found helpful.

http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220520

http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/

http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/357.safety.reload.htm

https://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=Pete%27s+357+Sig+reloading+page&oq=Pete%27s+357+Sig+reloading+page&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=igoogle.12...375.3529.0.6820.11.2.0.9.0.1.717.1050.3-1j6-1.2.0...0.0.Of6D9X6EKys

https://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=Pete%27s+357+Sig+reloading+page&oq=Pete%27s+357+Sig+reloading+page&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=igoogle.12...375.3529.0.6820.11.2.0.9.0.1.717.1050.3-1j6-1.2.0...0.0.Of6D9X6EKys#hl=en&sugexp=eiatsh&gs_nf=1&tok=viANmET-F2upGvNr8bkBcw&pq=pete%27s%20357%20sig%20reloading%20page&cp=0&gs_id=27p&xhr=t&q=+357+Sig+reloading&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=+357+Sig+reloading+page&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=bf49e3250b217efc&biw=840&bih=423

[Steelplate45]

I am 'Almost' irrational about my brass, as well. The 357 Sig is easy to spot. For 45 ACP I use Nickel, and I can spot that pretty easy as well.

Some matches I go to, everyone picks up brass and we sort it together on a bench top, so you get to take home what you brought. The Brasshounds wait till it's been sorted and picked through, then they pickup the rest.

I usually try to load my rounds with loads that are similar to factory ammo so I can keep my guns in stock configuration. The main reason I don't shoot competitively is I'm scared to lose my brass and have others pick it up. It's probably an irrational fear but it's stopped me from competing so far! Maybe I should just do it anyways, .357sig sounds like an excellent round.

[f4tweet]

FWIW, I have had the rims break on the Nickel vs. Brass. I think the Nickel is more brittle.