Bottlenecked Pistol Cartridges: Why don't they ever catch on?

[DWalt]

This brings up another point. My first reaction to the above post was, "That would be awesome. I have a 45". Then I thought, "Why?". Do we really need the extra performance and cost? The vast majority of my bullets go through a sheet of paper then into a backstop. My 357 and 44 calibers kill deer handily. I believe they would work fine on two-legged varmints. Why should I pay more for a gun and loads?

I don't shoot large quantities of .400 Cor-Bon, I just like the idea of being able to shoot numerous calibers in the same gun, and I also like odd cartridge calibers. I have a M1911 (a real Colt M1911) set up to shoot 9mm, .38 Super, .45ACP, .400 Cor-Bon, and .22 LR. I haven't fired many rounds of .400 CB recently, but did shoot up two boxes yesterday. In my gun, the .400 CB groups better than .45 and shoots exactly to the fixed sights at 15 yards. I don't load .400 very heavily and only with lead bullets. The .400 CB does not provide any advantage in magazine capacity vs. the .45 ACP, and that probably makes it less attractive to many potential users.

Part of the attraction of the .400 CB to me is that it requires only a barrel change and a set of dies. I think I paid maybe $50 for a barrel around 10 years ago, off eBay.

 

[GaBoy45]

The firearms industry is a fickle thing. Most people stick with tried and true cartridges that pass the "Walmart test" for ammo. That is, can you go into a Walmart and get ammo. Those that get into those cartridges love them. Including me. Love the .357 Sig and 5.7. Also, they are a little more of a pain to reload. Not so much to bother most reloaders IMHO. The few agencies I know of that have .357 Sig firearms still, love them. Most people that come in as first time firearms buyers want cheap and readily available ammo. Can't blame them as they're usually focused on practicing.


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[LostintheOzone]

Regarding the 357 Sig, nobody seems to be able to figure out if they headspace on the shoulder or the mouth of the cartridge.

How can I reload it if I can't get an answer?

 

[colt_saa]

Regarding the 357 Sig, nobody seems to be able to figure out if they headspace on the shoulder or the mouth of the cartridge.

How can I reload it if I can't get an answer?

It head spaces on the shoulder

After your first firing of the casing, adjust your dies so that they just touch the shoulder, do not set the shoulder back and you will be fine

I have runs tens of thousands of hand loaded rounds of 357SIG through various firearms for 25+ years now

Here are 30 hand loaded rounds of 357SIG put down range in just 2 seconds

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6wMRqxaxiI[/ame]

 

[DWalt]

It head spaces on the shoulder. After your first firing of the casing, adjust your dies so that they just touch the shoulder, do not set the shoulder back and you will be fine

Good advice for most CF bottleneck rifle cartridges also. Once fired, the cases will fit your chamber perfectly with zero headspace, and all you really need to do is neck size. That idea may not work so well if you have more than one gun in the same caliber.

 

[Gamecock]

Good advice for most CF bottleneck rifle cartridges also. Once fired, the cases will fit your chamber perfectly with zero headspace, and all you really need to do is neck size. That idea may not work so well if you have more than one gun in the same caliber.

Nor semi-automatics.

I neck size only for bolt guns. Not semis.

 

[Kurusu]

Nor semi-automatics.

I neck size only for bolt guns. Not semis.

Semi automatics headspace on the shoulder too.

 

[Gamecock]

Semi automatics headspace on the shoulder too.

?

Not neck sizing only for semi autos is standard reloading advise.

Reloading for Semi-Autos and Service Rifles – Sierra Bullets

 

[rosewood]

I don't have to lube them, it just makes sizing much easier. The 9mm clearly takes more force to resize than straight walled pistol cases, I.E. 40 S&W, 10mm, 380acp, 38/357 etc. Any time more force is required, it makes me nervous, harder to tell if something is wrong in the loading process.

Rosewood

 

[Kurusu]

?

Not neck sizing only for semi autos is standard reloading advise.

Reloading for Semi-Autos and Service Rifles – Sierra Bullets

My comment is only addressing where bottle neck semi auto pistol cartridges headspace (that being the shoulder) not on the virtues of neck sizing only.

I always full resize every cartridge I reload.


Edit. I reread my other post And yes, it's sort of misleading.