help with 357 mag

[tipiguy]

I have a 357 mag contender barrel.  My uncle had some nickel plated brass so I started to reload for it.  I am using a press with LEE carbide dies to deprime and size the case.  Then used a die to flare the mouth slightly.  Lastly, I used the seating die to load 158 grain Hornady bullets.

The problem is 1/2 the shells drop right into the chamber.  The other 1/2 will not even get started into the chamber.  WHY?

IS the problem that I am using old brass?  Wouldn't the sizing die fix that?

There seating die is leaving a nice little crimp around the bullet (right at the channel) so I think I have the dies set right.  I am sure this is a novice problem but would appreciate someone telling me what I could be doing wrong.

Thanks for the help.

Tipiguy.

[Savage]

Mixed brass? Various manafacturer's brass thickness varies enough to make a difference. Of course you can make it all work fine by postsizing.
Savage

[KN]

You didn't say that you were crimping the case. If not the OAL may vary enough that some of the cases are not getting the "flare" formed back out when you seat. Try a little more crimp and see if the problem goes away. If you are putting a heavy crimp on them it may be too much and you are ballooning the case mouth slightly. If thats the case then back the crimp die off a little.  KN

[BCB]

Be certain you sizing die is set up to full length size the entire case...BCB

[ricciardelli]

First of all, a crimp is NOT required for the Contender, so back out the seating/crimping die.

Your problem is probably being caused because your cases have a different length and the "nice little crimp" you are applying is causing the case to baloon a tiny bit.

[Savage]

As ricciardelli stated, a heavy crimp is not required in a single shot to prevent bullet pull. However, with some powders, a firm crimp is desirable for consistant ignition. Case length is rarely an issue with rimmed, straight wall pistol cases. Even factory brass can vary .010 and still be in spec. (1.280-1.290) The problem is the case wall thickness. This causes a bit of a bulge when loading the thicker brass, preventing easy chambering. If you use th Lee FCD, or remove the depriming punch from your sizing die, and run the loaded round thru it as a final operation, your problem will go away.
Savage

[WEAVE]

tipiguy,
If the brass was fired in other guns you may need to resize with
a steel die then carbide the next time.
had this problem with brass fired in my contender and then tried to shoot it in my 357 bh.

[tipiguy]

These comments will give me somewhere to begin.  I really apreciate it!

Tipiguy

[tipiguy]

I pulled the deprime rod and ran them though the die.  Every shell chambers now.  MANY THANKS! I guess the crimp was too heavy.

I am using H110 and I think it needs a crimp.  I have some Blue Dot.  Should I switch to it because I don't think it needs a crimp.  Right?

Thanks again.

Tipiguy

[Savage]

It's hard to beat H-110 for heavy loads in.357. Blue Dot might just be the powder to do it. I use it for heavy loads in 10mm. I'd use a medium crimp on all of the .357 loads regardless of powder. I'd just try to keep it consistant. You'll need a heavier crimp for heavy loads in revolvers or the bullets will back out under recoil and tie up the gun. To reduce it to the simplest terms, if the bullet doesn't setback or pull, and you don't buckle the case, you crimp is ok.
Savage