need some advice with 357

[mickeyblueyes]

Hi, I have a Dillion 550 and a RCBS rock chucker set up also.
I can load the.45 on the dillon ok, now I am trying to do 357. I am using RCBS dies for it on the Dillon set up, and I can not get a roll crimp on the 357 for nothing.
I took the die out of the dillon andset up the rock chucker press and bam, I got roll crimps. any advise please. I tried over and over. -mike

 

[David Sinko]

I load .357 Magnum with RCBS dies on my Dillon 550 without any difficulty. But I haven't used a Rock Chucker in a long time. Are you sure you're turning the die in deep enough? I use mostly RCBS dies in my 550 and I think I have to screw them in pretty deep.

Dave Sinko

 

[scooter123]

IMO Dave has it correct, you aren't screwing the die in deep enough. Here is my Lazy Mans way of setting up a seat/crimp die.

1) Remove the Seating Stem from the die.

2) Run the lock ring all the way up on the die.

3) Put an empty shell casing in the shell holder and raise the ram on the press.

4) Screw the seating/crimp die down until you feel the drag of the crimp ring hitting the case.

5) Lower the ram on the press and then turn the seating/crimp die in by 3/4 turn for a taper crimp and 1 & 1/3 turn for a roll crimp. Note, this won't be the perfect setting but it will get you close. Now hold the die in position and bring the lock ring down to secure it in the die holder.

6) Remove that empty case for the crimp setup and put in a fresh case that has been flared with a bullet in place. Measure the overall length of that case with the bullet in place. Then run the ram up again.

7) Now you need to insert the seating stem and screw it down until you feel it contact the bullet. Now you need to subtract your finished overall length from that measurement for the length of the bullet sitting in that flared case. The difference is the amount that you need to turn the seating stem into the die to set your overall length.

Note, these initial settings are just that, a starting point. Odds are that you'll have to do a bit of fine tuning and you need to remember that you'll have to tune the crimp and seating stem separately. Unless you get really lazy like I did and purchase a second crimp die.

 

[Neumann]

The Dillon 550B (and others) work best if the seating and crimping operations are kept separate. You can use the RCBS combo die for seating, then purchase a Dillon crimping die. Dillon doesn't make dies for 45-70, so I bought the RCBS 3 die set and a separate Redding crimp die.

You can also use the RCBS die to do the crimping and purchase another seating die. There is plenty of room to adjust the RCBS die to crimp either .357 Magnum or .38 Special cases. Raise the ram to its uppermost position with a an expanded, empty case in the holder. Then screw in the crimp die until it makes contact with the rim, then another 1/8 to 1/4 turn and lock it down.

The seating die is best adjusted with a cartridge in each station. There's enough flex in the press to seat the bullet 2 or 3 thousandths longer than with a dry press.

 

[Paul5388]

I wouldn't load .357 or any other magnum cartridge on a progressive, unless it's loaded to .38 Special and etc. velocities. However, that may just be me with my distrust of progressives.

Even though I have a Hornady LNL AP, I still use a Rock Chucker for high intensity loads.

 

[chief38]

I don't quite see why a different press would change the way a specific Die performs. The bullet is in the actual Die and never touches the press itself. The only thing I can think of is that your adjustment is in need of tweaking.

My suggestion would be to install the Die into the Dillon again and adjust it as though it had never been used before. I load .357's on My Dillon 650 and have no issues - - although I am using Dillon Dies, not RCBS. I do have RCBS Dies (not .357) and use them on my Rock Chucker and have no issues there either.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

Ok thanks guys,I figured it was my issue not the 550. I have to think about the benefit of seating and crimping in two steps instead of one As always thank you for the help.mike

 

[Nevada Ed]

You could also get a Lee die set and then load a 38 in one unit and the 357 in the other and not have to be adjusting your dies all the time.

I hate to have to be readjusting the set ring. Over the years the screw will get worn and strip. I actually have a large washer that is use for loading 357 with the die set up for 38 special but it is just a tad off. I finally broke down and got a second die for top notch loads.

 

[rwsmith]

A prerequisite

I have to think about the benefit of seating and crimping in two steps instead of one.

A prerequisite to do both in one operation is to have all cases trimmed to the exact same length. I do that, but still get better results doing seating and crimping in separate operations.