A 357 Mag question and a Lee Hand Press Review

[SM Bob]

I used to have a S&W Model 27 6" 357 Mag back in the 80's. I loved that gun. I shot the hell
out of it. Like a dummy, I sold it, but that's another story. I put a used 686+ 6" on layaway
and I will be picking it up soon. I just went to Cabela's and picked up 500 pieces of Winchester
brass, 500 Winchester 158gr jhp's, some primers, and a pound of H110. The 158gr jhp-H 110
combo used to work really well for me in my model 27, so I am going with them in the 686.
I have heard of a few people using Lil' Gun in their 357's with good results. Has anyone
here ever tried Lil' Gun in their 357's? Hodgdon has some data using Lil' Gun on their site.
Looks pretty interesting. I also got a Lee Hand Press the other day. I've never had one before.
I have to say they are pretty cool. I just full length re-sized and flared the case mouths of 500
357's while watching a movie in my living room without having to do it in my cold garage. I
like that! It is not the answer to everything, but it is very handy for a lot of the reloading
that I do. I definitely wouldn't use it for neck sizing rifle cases. I used it tonight with a new
set of Lee carbide 357 dies. Midway had the Lee Hand Press on sale for $19. Well worth it!


                                                  Robert

[rio grande]

Lee hand press, it's great.  Remember the Lyman 310 tong tool?  You know, with the small thread, special dies?  I had one for a while, same concept as the Lee hand press, portable, etc.
But the Lee hand press, while bigger, is far superior. Uses standard dies, and I have full length sized rifle cases with mine, it does everything I need. I live in an apartment so its very helpful.  And, could be packed into remote places if need be.
Excellent product.

[Graybeard]

I tried Lil' Gun as a handgun powder and decided I didn't like it. Just didn't seem to give me the accuracy that H110/W296 and 2400 does and really got no more velocity which is of no consequence anyway to me as I'm not one who thinks a few more fps matters. These days I restrict its use to the .410 shotshells but I use a LOT of it in them. It has become my go to powder in the .410 for my skeet loads.

[SM Bob]

Thanks G.B,
It was wishful thinking on my part that Lil' Gun would work well in the
357 mag. I use it in my 22 Hornet with great results. I'll just go with
what I know and use H110. I use it in my Marlin 1894S 41 Mag
and it works great. H110 always worked best in my model 27.

Yea Rio Grande,
I know the Lyman tool you are talking about. It looks like a
funny looking pair of pliers and the dies screw into one of
the handles. I like the Lee Hand Press. I figure that I could
take it with me to the range to test different bullet seating
depths for my rifles. Lee makes some great stuff.

                            Robert