.357 Magnum Brass

[rwsmith]

I'm in the same boat....

I'm short on .357 but intend to rectify this in the best way possible as soon as possible. Some other forum members helped me out with other calibers.

 

[AveragEd]

Remember that the ONLY reason for .357 Magnum cases being longer is so that ammo cannot be fired in a firearm chambered for .38 Special as those guns may not be safe to shoot with such hot loads. Any load that you would put in .357 brass would also work in the .010" shorter .38 Special brass.

Ed

 

[blujax01]

Remember that the ONLY reason for .357 Magnum cases being longer is so that ammo cannot be fired in a firearm chambered for .38 Special as those guns may not be safe to shoot with such hot loads. Any load that you would put in .357 brass would also work in the .010" shorter .38 Special brass.

Ed

Hey Ed,

I respectfully disagree.

Try to Stuff 15 grains of 2400 behind a 158 grain bullet in a 38 special case. I seriously doubt that it'll fit.

 

[AveragEd]

I'm only repeating what I've read (sometimes in reloading manuals) for the last 40 years or so. I guess there are always exception but I'm sure a healthy load with a faster-burning powder would fit - after all, we're only talking about a tenth of an inch.

Ed

 

[chief38]

Some brass now is next to impossible to find. I have been seeking out 45-70 brass and it took me over a month to find some at somewhat of a reasonable price. I still over paid a little but I was desperate. Why there is a run on .357 brass in today's "auto's rule" craze is a bit puzzling, but never the less there is.

I suspect that the ammo Company's are too busy using their brass to fill Gov't ammo contract orders, loaded commercial ammunition and ammo for LE and they just find it so much more profitable to sell the ammo rather than the empty brass.

I am surprised at Starline Brass for not cranking more product out because they do not manufacture loaded ammunition AFAIK. Were it my Company, I would have 3 shifts running around the clock until demand was met.

I'm also very surprised that the Big 4 ammo Co's have not expanded their production capabilities - at least for .22 RF!

 

[BCDWYO]

The easiest solution to yer problem is also fun

Go Buy 4 boxes of .357 Factory Ammo... so about $100 or so

Go Shoot em


Then ya have 200 fresh brass ta load...

How i got all my .357 brass...

This is how I built up my supply of 357 brass over the years. I've probably got around 1000 cases now that I've been rotating thru. I've got to be up to 6-7 reloads on some of the older stuff and it is going strong. I don't reload them super hot generally.

 

[tkdguy]

Right on the money!

I hear ya. Took me over a month to find .357 brass.

Since .38 Special brass is still plentiful I'm thinking about loading a batch of 38/44 for my .357's.

This is my idea that I put into practice. Just for my own satisfaction I plan only to use the 38/44 in a 357 revolver. This makes for a nasty load.

 

[jrayb]

midwayusa has Starline brass in stock right now in 100, 500, or 1000 increments.
J

 

[retired_diver]

The manufacturers are concentrating on the really popular stuff, i.e., 9mm, .45acp, .223.

I wish that 22lr was included in that. It is really really popular & I can find any locally.

They had some .357 mag ammo at cabalas when I was there 3 weeks ago.

 

[blujax01]

I'm only repeating what I've read (sometimes in reloading manuals) for the last 40 years or so. I guess there are always exception but I'm sure a healthy load with a faster-burning powder would fit - after all, we're only talking about a tenth of an inch.

Ed

Ed, please don't take this wrong and I only belabor the point for safety's sake. First of all, you are absolutely correct in that there are healthy loads with fast burning powders that will fit - and that do pack a punch. Any 38 Special Plus P load works well.

The problem with the thought that "it's only a tenth on an inch" is that it becomes a sizable reduction in volume. And as I'm sure you already know, less volume means more pressure.

In this case (hey, I made a funny!), the reduction in volume is measurable, and significant. Not only is there the .114" of case depth loss there is the .3" due to bullet seating, which is the same for both. The .38 Special internal free length is now 0.81" and the .357 Magnum is 0.95"

After all the math works out, the case volume reduction is almost exactly 15%. (0.0918 in3 vs 0.1076 in3) And if a person is loading .38 special cases using straight up .357 magnum recipes, that can make for a very bad day.

I am not an expert and maybe I'm being a bit of a Nancy about it. Just saying that I wouldn't try it. And I am not discounting your 40 years of experience, either. That's quite an accomplishment.

 

[djh1765]

There is plenty of brass out there if one is willing to pay the price for it.

Just go to Gunbroker.com and quarry the caliber you want.

It's getting expensive to re-load now days.

djh

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I see the OP said he bought 400 pieces of once fired brass but just in case he needs more, Midway USA has yellow brass .357 Magnum brass in stock in 100, 500 and 1,000 piece lots available right now.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I just did the compressed charge thing tonight, just for giggles................!!

38 case is .99" +/-.
a 158 Lswc seats down .37" leaving +/- .62" of powder space.

A +/- est. of powder with this load by me was........

imr 4227 at 12.0c Grs.
2400 ........ 12.8c grs
Blue Dot .... 9.8c grs
Sr 4759 ..... 11.0c grs
Trail Boss ....4.2c grs

Three are good to go for a 38 special loading, while the other two are needing a K frame do to the amount of powder in the case.

In my 686 6" the slow 4227 actually did pretty well with a 38 case with f100 and cci500 primers in the 840 to 922 fps loadings.

Do not use these loads unless you know what the heck you are doing. It was for my information only!!

 

[Fishslayer]

Says who? Never makes a mess of my Dan Wesson and if you want fun, load 12 grains of 2400 under a 358477 150 grain SWC in a 38 special case. You might never go back to 357.

You've obviously never purchased a '64 vintage Highway Patrolman whose previous owner probably shot only .38s for years & years & years...

 

[oldman10mm]

kendallordnance.com - Home

go to the site and e-mail Joyce about price and availability. Saw her at the Medina Ohio gun show today, she had plenty of 357 brass there. I get all my brass for reloading from them at the Ohio shows. With the 'frenzy' being over, she always has quantities of 9mm,38sp,357m,40S&W,10mm,45ACP,223,308,and a variety of the less common brass. Their brass is once-fired and tumbled. She said it's fine that I start forwarding her site.

 

[Alk8944]

Thanks for the reply. I can't make anything come up on his site. Interesting if not disappointing.

Try this:

Pistol Brass (25 Auto - 38 Special)

Looks like they have just about everything but!

 

[2ndtimer]

FYI, powdervalleyinc.com has Remington .357 Mag brass in stock for $22.90 per 100. My order is to be delivered next week. Don't know how long they will have it, so I wouldn't wait if you need some.

 

[dwpmusic]

I'm having good luck with Diamond K Brass. Just got another 500 pieces of .357 brass (actually it turned out to be 513) for $110.28 including shipping. They threw in a complimentary polishing so all I had to do was start reloading. That's $22/100. Not that bad and I ordered it on 11/11 and it was at my front door on 11/14. Good service, I thought.

 

[df06]

357 mag brass

I was in the GunStop in Minnetonka, Mn a moment ago. They had a large amount of bulk, new, primed, Rem, 357 mag brass for sale. I don't remember the price, but they are not gougers.
They sell over the internet.

 

[dwpmusic]

Thanks for the heads up, dfo6.