Just wanted to get a comparison of my .357 OAL with others. I'm crimping just below the driving band with mixed .357 brass and my OAL with the LaserCast 158 gr SWC is 1.593 and with the Tennesee Valley 158 gr SWC my OAL is 1.600. How does this compare with your loads?

I checked some misc. brass loaded with Laser Cast and they measured 1.600 to 1.602. I set my crimp to crimp in the groove provided and there's a bit of room to seat a few thousandths deeper. The only check I ever used (before this at least) is to see if any .357 mag I load are short enough to function in a Colt as they have the shortest and tightest tolerance cylinders of any .357 mag I've owned.

Speaking for the Tennessee Valley bullets, with the bullet seated to the top of the crimp groove and with the mouth of the case snugged up against the lower edge of the front driving band, I expect an absolute maximum OAL of 1.600. Of course if your brass is shorter or longer then this OAL with will be less or greater; if you always snug the case mouth up against the lower edge of the front driving band.

I am almost certain that the mold design used by the Laser Cast people is the exact same design as ours. With the molds made by the same Co.

Thanks Jessie and Steve. I'll try to seat just a few thousanths deeper.