As stamped on the die, that is a taper crimp die. Don't use that for your 357 M loads or you will find yourself in the same place. Get a roll crimp die.
What 14 gains of 2400 did in my M-19-4
- Thread starter Jersey Doug
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As stamped on the die, that is a taper crimp die. Don't use that for your 357 M loads or you will find yourself in the same place. Get a roll crimp die.
cowboy4evr
Member
Along with my post above , I have shot more than I can count of the load mentioned , 13.5 grs of 2400 with a 158 gr cast bullet in my 19's , both 2.5" and 4 " barrels and never , ever had a problem . Those 19's are as tight today as the day I bought them . The K-frame 357's are " no weak sisters " . They do have their weakness , the lighter bullets with max 357 magnum loads was / is a problem . It has always been my contention to shoot the bullet size that it was designed for , 158 gr and heavier loaded in a 357 magnum case . It performs wonderfully using the Keith 173 gr SWC loaded on top of either 7.0 grs of Unique or 13.5 grs of 2400 . Those 2 are my most used loads in my K-frame 357's , " still to this day " . Regards Paul
STORMINORMAN
Member
I have to agree...
That crimp appears to me to be a taper crimp on a bullet seated (as Nevada Ed says) "...close, you only missed it by that much".
I have a tendency to look at the initial crimp on my magnum reloads and then decide it usually needs just a little more. I like to keep a seating die set with a roll crimp for the hot ones and use the LEE FCD for plated/lead loads. With 38 Special/357 Mag and 44 Special/44 Mag I have two sets of dies so that makes it pretty easy to do.
The comments on the state of factory magnum crimps are ones we should all take to heart.
CHEERS!
Again, it is my opinion that over-expanding cases is one of the most common contribution to many reloading issues...
That crimp appears to me to be a taper crimp on a bullet seated (as Nevada Ed says) "...close, you only missed it by that much".
I have a tendency to look at the initial crimp on my magnum reloads and then decide it usually needs just a little more. I like to keep a seating die set with a roll crimp for the hot ones and use the LEE FCD for plated/lead loads. With 38 Special/357 Mag and 44 Special/44 Mag I have two sets of dies so that makes it pretty easy to do.
The comments on the state of factory magnum crimps are ones we should all take to heart.
CHEERS!
Again, it is my opinion that over-expanding cases is one of the most common contribution to many reloading issues...
38SPL HV
Member
Redding Profile Crimp die may be in order as well. My standard 357 Magnum load uses 13.5 grs 2400 and either Lyman 358156GC (161 gr) or 358477 (155 gr). If you have plenty of 38 Special cases, 11.0 grs/2400 and cast 158 gr SWC is an excellent "38-44" load, very accurate and will be "kinder" to your Model 19.
nbedford
Member
Agreed. I had one creep out in my Ruger 44 Special SA, and it was a moderate load - 850 fps. But a big old 240 grain lead SWC has some mass. I was lined up right on the crimping groove, just not quite enough crimp. I had loaded 50 like that; so I ran all 50 back through the seating/crimping die for a tad more crimp. No more problems.
I'm at 14.6 of 2400 pushing a 158 grn jshp out of the 686 running a heavy crimp
