.357 Sig - RCBS or Hornady Dies?

blujax01 · Mar 27, 2014

In my never-ending quest to find a reason for reloading scrounged range brass, I recently (today) became the owner of a Sig Sauer SP2340 chambered in Sig .357.

Joseph D'Alessandro over at Real Guns had an interesting article about it, and he decided on the RCBS 2- piece over the Hornady 3 piece set. He makes a pretty convincing argument.

Before I take that advice, I'd like to hear what you folks have to say.

Thanks in advance,

~ Alan

novalty · Mar 27, 2014

I am really happy with my RCBS carbide pistol dies.

colt_saa · Mar 27, 2014

I use the LEE dies, but on my progressive press, I have 5 dies mounted for 357SIG. Most cartridges I just use 4 dies

Station 1 is a carbide 40S&W sizing die plus decap
Station 2 is a steel 357SIG sizing die
Station 3 is the expander and powder drop
Station 4 is the seater
Station 5 is a Factory crimp die

This setup has allowed my to load the widest range of projectiles with this cartridge

jepp2 · Mar 27, 2014

The article you referenced is an excellent guide.

I load using a carbide 40 S&W die for decapping and sizing. Next I run the brass through a steel 357 Sig die set up to headspace off the shoulder, no lube is required. I don't expand the neck and I don't crimp post seating. Works fine for me with no bullet setback during chambering.

[URL=http://s860.photobucket.com/user/jepp2/media/357Sig.jpg.html]

[/URL]

blujax01 · Mar 28, 2014

jepp2 said:
The article you referenced is an excellent guide.

I load using a carbide 40 S&W die for decapping and sizing. Next I run the brass through a steel 357 Sig die set up to headspace off the shoulder, no lube is required. I don't expand the neck and I don't crimp post seating. Works fine for me with no bullet setback during chambering.

Thanks. Looks like I'm going with the RCBS.

I think that since I tumble with TufNut, it will provide enough lubrication that I won't need to use a separate 40 cal sizing die and I can have a go at letting the RCBS decap/case sizing/neck expander die do it's thing. But it's good to know the tip on the 40 if I need to pick one up later!

J. R. WEEMS · Mar 28, 2014

I bought Dillion dies as they were the only carbide dies available at the time. I have yet to use them and would enjoy a link to that article--

THANKS!!

I DID find the information and a BIG THANKS!! Joe seems to really know his stuff-- never too old to learn something new--

fredj338 · Mar 28, 2014

Unless RCBS fixed their problems, avoid their 357sig dies at all cost. They got the headspace issue wrong & no expander, both mistakes IMO. I went Dillon, tough to not like the ease of the carbide dies, but the Hornady Nt coated would be my second choice if not loading on a progressive.
BTW, if you use any steel die w/o case lube, will eventually stick a case. Short cuts are fine for going to the market, but never in reloading. The reason you can get by with a 40 carbide sizer is it is doing all the work & then setting the shoulder back & truing the neck up can be done w/o case lube. Again, RCBS got it all wrong from the start, I would rather go Lee than RCBS, but Hornady are better if not going Dillon.

novalty · Mar 28, 2014

Yeah, I probably should have noted I don't load for 357 Sig, mainly because I am not a fan of the cartridge because of recoil and because it is necked down. Love my RCBS carbide dies for 9mm, 38 special, 357 magnum, and 45 acp.

SMSgt · Mar 28, 2014

The .357 SIG, in essence, is no more than a very short, shouldered rifle case. I've always used 2-die sets (RCBS, by the way) on all the rifle rounds I've loaded.

Ivan the Butcher · Mar 28, 2014

A few years ago I bought 1000 range brass and a set of regular steel Lee dies have acquired another 3500-4000 brass and still haven't done anything. For dies I think you are best off staying with one brand. That allows for the interchangeability of die parts. So I use Mostly RCBS or Redding dies. Ivan

J. R. WEEMS · Mar 28, 2014

Almost all my dies are REDDING, and I load on an older Redding turret press, all I need. I only have my SIG because I had so much 40 & 357 brass-- as it turned out, the gun came with both barrels and three mags. I bought Dillion dies because at the time they were the only makers of 357 carbide dies. Already had the carbide 40 dies.

blujax01 · Mar 29, 2014

fredj338 said:
Unless RCBS fixed their problems, avoid their 357sig dies at all cost. They got the headspace issue wrong & no expander, both mistakes IMO. I went Dillon, tough to not like the ease of the carbide dies, but the Hornady Nt coated would be my second choice if not loading on a progressive.
BTW, if you use any steel die w/o case lube, will eventually stick a case. Short cuts are fine for going to the market, but never in reloading. The reason you can get by with a 40 carbide sizer is it is doing all the work & then setting the shoulder back & truing the neck up can be done w/o case lube. Again, RCBS got it all wrong from the start, I would rather go Lee than RCBS, but Hornady are better if not going Dillon.

Fred, I would go Dillon and load on my 650 but this is strictly a low volume endeavor. I'm intrigued by the 357 Sig and got a smokin' deal on a SP2340 so...

Anyway, this is the article I read. It certainly sounds as if RCBS has worked out any issues they had. I have no plans to add a channelure and roll crimp these. I can always add a taper crimp die later if need be.

Real Guns - RCBS vs Hornady 357 SIG Die Sets

zonker5 · Mar 29, 2014

I use both RCBS and Hornady dies, both brands are excellent.

RCBS customer service is great, when I needed some parts for my press they sent them in the next mail...free! Never called Hornady CS so don't know about them.

Peter M. Eick · Mar 29, 2014

I use a blend of dies.
Dillon - resize
RCBS - expand
Rcbs - seat
Lee - Factory crimp.

I did not find the Hornady a good seater die or resizer. My rcbs sizer was not small enough and the dillon is carbine.

Works great now.

blujax01 · Mar 29, 2014

Well, we'll see how this works out. I appreciate all the tips if I need to add steps later. You guys are the best. (Yeah, that pound of Power Pistol says $17.99. Go ahead and hate on me...

)

mr-mom · Mar 29, 2014

I've loaded many many .357 Sig rounds using the RCBS Carbide dies without issues. If you decap & resize with a .40 die, you can eliminate lubing the cases. Enjoy, it's a great round.
Dave
SWCA#2778

JimC · Mar 30, 2014

I've always been a big RCBS fan.
When I decided to load the .357 SIG some years back, I couldn't find RCBS dies in stock anywhere so I bought the Redding FL 3 die set and added the Redding TC die.

1 - FL steel die
2 - Expander die
3 - Seat die
4 - TC die

I first spray lube the cases, run them through the FL die to size and de-prime, wipe them off on an old towel and tumble.

Everything else is done on my Dillon 550B as with any other handgun ctg.

Works well for me.

Peter M. Eick · Mar 30, 2014

I could not seem to find RCBS Carbide 357 sig dies mentioned a few posts above. All I could find was steel. I thought Dillon made the only carbide dies.

Is this a new item or is my google fu running poorly today?

fredj338 · Mar 30, 2014

Peter M. Eick said:
I could not seem to find RCBS Carbide 357 sig dies mentioned a few posts above. All I could find was steel. I thought Dillon made the only carbide dies.

Is this a new item or is my google fu running poorly today?

To my knowledge, only Dillon makes a carbide sizing die. The Hornady would be next best with Nitite coting. Everyone else are steel, so unless you go Dillon, plan on case lube.

.357 Sig - RCBS or Hornady Dies?

Member

Member

SWCA Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

SWCA Member

SWCA Member

Member

SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

Member

SWCA Member

Member

Similar threads