OAL changed crimping 358429 over driver band!

[38SPL HV]

I decided to crimp the Lyman 358429 short, over the driver band for use in my Ruger B/H. I have reloading data based on OAL 1.553" so I decided to duplicate the length. Set the seater and seated the 358429 for 1.553". However, when I crimped over the driver band, the roll crimp pushed down the bullet and shortened the OAL from 1.553" to 1.540". The OAL is now closer to the 358429 in a 38 Spl case (1.530").

I suppose I'll use 38/44 reloading data from Handloader Magazine for use with the 358429 in the 357 Mag cases with OAL 1.540"

Nice thing about using the Lyman 358429 in 357 Mag cases seated short with 38/44 data is that the loaded 357 cartridge will not fit into my 38 Special only revolvers.

Anyone have this issue lowering OAL when crimping the 358429 over the driver band? I tried to compensate and increase the seated height but once it clears the shoulder the crimp pushes it down lower than the 1.553" OAL used in Lyman's reloading manual.

 

[austintexas]

To avoid this if I don't have a 3 die set is to seat the bullet then back off the seat punch and reset the die to crimp separately.
SWCA 892

 

[38SPL HV]

Yes, I always, for past last 40 yrs, would seat and then crimp in a different operation. I seat with my seater, remove die and then crimp with Redding Profile die or Lee FCD. When you're crimping over the driver band, the crimp has a tendency to roll down and push the bullet .010 downward.

 

[steveno]

if I was using the 358429 bullet I would use 38 special cases because that was how it was intended to be used. if you have 38 special guns I would make sure these loads were clearly marked as to where they are supposed to be used.

from some of the loads in the old Lyman manuals I don't know how they got 13.5 grains of 2400 in a 38 special case and seat the bullet. I can tell you that 12 grains of 2400 in the 38 special case is a very strong load

 

[Nevada Ed]

One reason that bullet type plays a BIG part in the OAL of a bullet weight.

No big thing if they have a FP or HP design but this RN bullet that I have
can be loaded where it will lock up a cylinder or like you, be short enough
to where it will slide farther into the case with a crimp !

Todays bullets might be "Close" to the old day spec's but you only need
a short or long case, different bullet cylinder setup or revolver cylinder length
to have a load that is off a little.

One reason I set each bullet in a dummy case with the correct OAL, for that certain bullet, inside the bullet's box.
I also have this data on my PC but don't always fire up the machine before loading.

I only have OAL problems in 38/357 loads when I use coated 9mm bullets
that do not have a "Can" on them.
I had about 100 left over that I shoot to clean out any lead before heading home.

Have fun.

sorry, forgot the picture.............