Reload 9mm or 357 First?

[Spartikus]

So the question I have is should I get dies to reload 357 or 9mm. The crazy thing is I can reload either for the same price! Need to practice with my 9mm more but the 357 is a great savings from normal ammo. I will eventually do both.

[Moonman]

ON SALE 9MM ammo is really cheap compared to what you would normally see for prices on .357 ammo.

[lebomm]

If you get a set of .38 dies (or better yet, .38/.357) you can load both in all possible varieties from target wadcutters to full-throttle magnums. Much greater range of possibilities than with 9mm.
However, since you'll eventually do both, buy both. To quote an old RCBS slogan, "Might as well start out with what you're gonna wind up with."

Larry

[GF1]

Agree that you should begin with the .357/38 Special, for reasons listed above. I'll also add that you should spring for the carbide sizer from the start (you'll thank me...no case lubing!).

[growr]

.38/357 dies can be purchased for as little as $10.00 same with 9mm at a local gunshop or gun show. You get both for less than $20.00 and then reload till the cows come home!!

Randy

[Titegroups]

Start with the 357, revolvers are so much more fun to load for. 9mm blows.

[mikld]

9mm can be quirky to reload, being a high pressure round and semi-auto. Straight walled revolver ammo (.38/.357) is by far easier to reload/learn to reload than the 9mm, and much more forgiving. You can start with a tried and true .38 Special load (check your manual) of 158 gr. SWC loaded with Unique or a 148 gr. wadcutter (DEWC is easier) loaded with Bullseye; easy loading and shooting in your .357...

[lmcgust]

Agree with mikld and titegroups above. I would start with the easiest.

Guy-

[Dragon88]

If you aren't convinced yet, I'll throw in another vote for 357. It's a very fun cartridge to load, and will give you more loading options to explore.

To me, loading 9mm is like washing dishes. It's gotta get done, but I'm glad when it's over.

[tops]

If you reload for .357 you don't have to pick up brass. Picking up brass for the 9mm will make your back hurt. Lary

[JaPes]

I'm a new reloader. I vote start with 9mm. It's straight forward to reload, less complicated. Good to get your feet wet.

.38 Special is next up. A little more learning to set a crimp.

.357 Mag... well... Through my own negligence I produced a single overcharged round, and caused a KB of my revolver.







When a revolver KB's it's a wet your pants moment. The cylinder & frame turn into shrapnel.

Make sure to use an appropriate bulkier powder when reloading .357 Mag. I had to learn this the hard way. I used W231 & small magnum primers. Overcharged a little. BOOM.

[JaPes]

Originally Posted by lebomm

If you get a set of .38 dies (or better yet, .38/.357) you can load both in all possible varieties from target wadcutters to full-throttle magnums.

That's how I started. I found resetting the dies between .38 Special to .357 Mag annoying. I ended up buying a 2nd die set.

[Pastprime]

A lot depends on what press you reload with. A single stage can load enough .38/.357 for a range session (100-150 rounds) in a couple hours if you're good with it. Takes a LOT longer to load enough for a range trip if you're shooting 9mm because most people just shoot more of them in a semi-auto than anything in a revolver. A Lee turret press will load .38/.357 and 9mm faster than a single stage but they can be temperamental depending on what accessories you use.

Want to load lots of quality ammunition with either caliber but pay a lot more to do it, get a good progressive press.

My experience has been that reloading is more for accuracy and enjoyment than for saving money, but it is fun...

[Dragon88]

Originally Posted by JaPes

I'm a new reloader. I vote start with 9mm. It's straight forward to reload, less complicated. Good to get your feet wet.

I do not agree. 9mm has its own problems, namely the tiny case capacity, small differences in charge between minimum and maximum, case taper, and taper crimp. Taper crimp is best checked by feel in the press and with your fingers. A roll crimp is easy to examine visually, and does not effect headspace.

Your KB does not mean 357 Magnum is difficult to load safely.

[jepp2]

I vote start with 9mm. It's straight forward to reload, less complicated.

Sorry to hear about the demise of your Taurus.

My experience is that the 38 or 357 is a safer round to learn to load, despite what your revolver experienced.

The 9mm is a higher pressure round that is much more sensitive to variations in bullet seating depth. If you over expand the case and experience setback of the bullet as the round chambers, pressure can dramatically with as little as 0.020" setback. Listed OAL's for the 9mm range from 1.010" to the SAAMI max of 1.169". If you don't use the load data for the exact bullet used in the manual, your seating depth could be significantly different even though you used the same weight and basic type bullet. If your peak pressure drops below 24K PSI, reliable pistol functioning (extraction, ejection, and chambering) might not occur.

For folks with larger hands the 9mm is more likely to result in a pinched finger than the longer 38/357 cartridge.

[Titegroups]

More like a double charge, a couple tenths won't do that. One of the benefits of the lee turret is the auto index that advances each round and will help prevent a double charge during a lapse of thought. Don't let complacency get you, the risk is always there.

[Spartikus]

Thanks for the input everyone! I went out and got some 38/357 dies tonight and when I get my next pay check I'll buy 500 bullets and off I go. I currently load 45 ACP so I have some experience though the crimp on 357 is different. I use a Lyman turret press so it makes reloading a bit quicker. I'm looking forward to shooting my revolver a lot more! Guess now I need to decide if I load 38 special or 357 or both! I love reloading.

[lebomm]

Let it be noted that with the use of a die spacer ring, it's not necessary to reset the dies when switching between .38 and .357.

Larry

[GF1]

Originally Posted by Spartikus

Thanks for the input everyone! I went out and got some 38/357 dies tonight and when I get my next pay check I'll buy 500 bullets and off I go. I currently load 45 ACP so I have some experience though the crimp on 357 is different. I use a Lyman turret press so it makes reloading a bit quicker. I'm looking forward to shooting my revolver a lot more! Guess now I need to decide if I load 38 special or 357 or both! I love reloading.

If I were you, I'd get a big bunch of Starline brass in .357, don't even worry about .38 Specials (simply load down the .357...it's only 1/10" longer than the .38 anyhow), and some Unique powder. You can go up or down with that and it's not finicky. Lighter loads are the most dangerous, IMO, as it's easier to double charge.

I'm not a progressive press guy (for pistol or rifle), and perform a single step on the entire lot of cartridges I'm loading, including charging the cases with powder. My double check is a visual one under a pretty strong light - making sure that all of them have a charge, and that none appear to be double charged. In the case of heavier loads, a double charge will result in the case overflowing, so that's a pretty good check. I suggest using this technique as a beginning reloader (and it works for some of us old curmudgeons too) to help in developing good habits.

Also, while we're at it, when loading heavier loads with a crimp, I do the seating and crimping in separate operations. That way, the bullet isn't moving while the crimp is being applied and I believe it's slightly more accurate IME.

[mikld]

Originally Posted by Spartikus

Thanks for the input everyone! I went out and got some 38/357 dies tonight and when I get my next pay check I'll buy 500 bullets and off I go. I currently load 45 ACP so I have some experience though the crimp on 357 is different. I use a Lyman turret press so it makes reloading a bit quicker. I'm looking forward to shooting my revolver a lot more! Guess now I need to decide if I load 38 special or 357 or both! I love reloading.

An important thought; know what diameter bullet to buy. If your lead bullets are too small or too hard you'll lead the barrel of your gun. If you're buying plated or jacketed, you prolly won't have a choice so just shoot the .357" bullets...

[Prof_Fate]

I started reloading earlier this year - with a progressive press and 9mm and only books/online/phone calls to figure it out.
I had no problems to speak of. Loaded lead, plated, jhp, 3 powders. all went bang as it was supposed to. all cycled the gun.

I'm now reloading 38 and again, they all go bang as expected. had to learn roll crimp is all, and the case is HUGE compared to 9 as far as powder capacity goes. Been loading 4 to 4.3 in 9 and in the 38 doing 2.7 to 3.0.

I'd say 38 is harder to load compared to 9.

[blujax01]

The process is the same regardless. Flip a coin.

[M3Stuart]

A vote for .38 Special. I'm new too and have 100% success loading 4,000 target loads with 3.2 to 4.0gr of W231/HP38 with 158gr LSWC in the last year.

100% is the number you want when reloading.

[Broker50]

I load both, & have for forty years. I'm surprised no one else has mentioned that 9MM cases are smaller, much harder for me to handle. If you're relatively inexperienced there's less distraction with the 38/357 cases, as (at least to me) they're much easier to handle. And yes, there's a lot of cheap 9MM available that's not much more than what components cost.

[TAROMAN]

Originally Posted by mikld

9mm can be quirky to reload, being a high pressure round and semi-auto. Straight walled revolver ammo (.38/.357) is by far easier to reload/learn to reload than the 9mm, and much more forgiving. You can start with a tried and true .38 Special load (check your manual) of 158 gr. SWC loaded with Unique or a 148 gr. wadcutter (DEWC is easier) loaded with Bullseye; easy loading and shooting in your .357...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^GREAT ADVICE^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Horace & Daniel]

Originally Posted by lebomm

If you get a set of .38 dies (or better yet, .38/.357) you can load both in all possible varieties from target wadcutters to full-throttle magnums. Much greater range of possibilities than with 9mm.
However, since you'll eventually do both, buy both. To quote an old RCBS slogan, "Might as well start out with what you're gonna wind up with."

Larry

Plus One. But, definitely .38/.357 first, if you have to choose. Tons more fun. Tons more versatile.

[MWark]

If your anything like me you'll find that the most valuable component to this whole reloading thing is BY FAR time. With that said two hours of reloading 357 or even 38 will save you way more $ than 9mm.

[C&R Bill]

Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's gonna leave a bruise......

Originally Posted by JaPes

I'm a new reloader. I vote start with 9mm. It's straight forward to reload, less complicated. Good to get your feet wet.

.38 Special is next up. A little more learning to set a crimp.

.357 Mag... well... Through my own negligence I produced a single overcharged round, and caused a KB of my revolver.







When a revolver KB's it's a wet your pants moment. The cylinder & frame turn into shrapnel.

Make sure to use an appropriate bulkier powder when reloading .357 Mag. I had to learn this the hard way. I used W231 & small magnum primers. Overcharged a little. BOOM.

[jepp2]

I'm surprised no one else has mentioned that 9MM cases are smaller, much harder for me to handle.

Post 15 already covered this advantage.

[Broker50]

Originally Posted by jepp2

Post 15 already covered this advantage.

Sure did...........missed it, sorry!

[noylj]

If you want really ****** ammo, buy cheap 9x19 ammo. If you want really good ammo for less, reload.
If you are just beginning, the BEST pistol cartridge to begin with is the .45 Auto. It is fat and short enough to easily see the powder charge and it is low pressure so slight errors don't cause ruptured cases quite as easily.
The .357 is a fairly easy cartridge to reload.
The 9x19 is a bit more difficult, being a severely tapered case and VERY sensitive to COL and ANY bullet set-back. Generally, even with carbide dies, you will still find that using case lube on the 9x19 cases will make the reloading go a LOT smoother.