Author Topic: hand loading for a .357 (Read 1267 times)

slickest · « **on:** January 11, 2009, 07:36:21 AM »

what equipment do I absolutely need to hand load? I want to reload for a .357 mag and I have no equip so I would like to buy some and just wondering what would be the best to start out with?

Should I start out single stage or with a progressive press?

It looks like the only press you can buy a conversion kit to make a progressive is a RCBS. is that correct?

I was looking at the lee progressive .357 loader kits but can they handle rifle ammunition also? Also will the lees last as long as the other kits?

I was looking at the .357 redding single stage kit. Are they a good press?

How will the lee kits hold up against hornady rcbs or redding?

Last but not least how well do thoose lee classic hand loaders work? For the price I think it would be worth buying one. Can u be accurate at all with their powder measure?

Troyboy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2009, 07:53:55 AM »

Check the threads at top of the page. Lots of really good info

cwlongshot · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2009, 10:22:03 AM »

I agree, do some more reading. I suggest you go get yourself the newest LYMAN loading manual Its #49 IIRC.

I like them as they do not manufacture powder or jacketed bullets so the data inside is general with other manufactures bullets and wide selection on powders and primers.

THEN, a number of manufacturers make fairly complete "starter" kits for beginners.

CW

jpsmith1 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2009, 11:31:26 AM »

I bought an RCBS Rockchucker starter kit. All you need to add is dies and components.

Jal5 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2009, 04:50:32 PM »

I am just starting too and didn't want to spend a lot of $$$ for a hobby I wasn't sure I was going to like. I would suggest you do the reading suggested already, then when you know what equipt. you absolutely need as "the basics" go online to ebay, here at GBO, craigslist, other shooting webpages and buy used as much as possible. I now have a mix of Lyman, Lee, RCBS, and Dillon stuff and probably ended up with better pieces at far less than the cost of new.

with reasonable care, this equipment will outlive me, so buying used makes sense.

Joe

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2009, 06:02:16 PM »

The new Lee challenger breachlock kit woul do nicely for pistol calibers, and would be a cheap start, they did a write up on it in handloader this month. I use alot of Lee stuff and it'll do ya fine especially for a easy to load round like the .357.

BTW get lots of books.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2009, 06:15:10 PM »

There are questions you really need to answer before anyone here can properly answer your question.

What are your goals both short and long term? Are you committed to reloading or just wanna give it a try and see if you like it? How many rounds do you expect to need monthly? For how many different guns?

If you have no clue if you'll like it and might or might not continue then you probably shouldn't jump too deeply at first and it would even be best to find someone who reloads and get them to let you work with them to decide prior to the financial commitment.

If you are absolutely committed and are gonna stick with it come hell or high water and require a lot of ammo monthly then you might as well jump in with both feet and get a progressive and get with the program.

If you are somewhere in between the exact where in between kinda determines how fast and how deeply you jump in.

You can reload ammo on a lee hand tool if you just gotta or find an old nutcracker tool to do it. As an absolute minimum to make reasonably safe ammo as far as function is concerned but with little regard for top accuracy you can buy the very cheapest lee press, a cheap die set perhaps a lee and some lee powder dippers and make ammo. You really need a lot more to make safe, reliable and accurate ammo.

As they've said already read the threads we have at top to get a person started. Buy the Lyman manual and do some more reading. You'll then be prepared to make the jump and have a fair idea how far you want to jump into it at first.

Casull · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2009, 07:34:50 PM »

GB, I agree with most of what you wrote above, but a good handloader can put together topnotch ammo with "the cheapest Lee press". I don't believe the press has any effect on the quality of the ammo.

wncchester · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2009, 03:14:40 AM »

Casull is absolutely correct. Now, taking your questions in turn:

Last but not least how well do thoose lee classic hand loaders work?

Work fine, especially so for handgun stuff. A bit slow compared to a press but not bad at all.

For the price I think it would be worth buying one.

Yep. Even if you get a press later, the hand tools will still be a nice addition or you can sell it if you want.

Can u be accurate at all with their powder measure?

If you mean the dippers in the hand kit; no measure is dead accurate but the dippers are plenty good enough. If you mean the Lee "Perfect Powder Measure"; excepting ball/spherical powders, it's one of the most consistant (accurate) common powder measures available at any price. Either type will provide good ammo.

Graybeard · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2009, 07:59:01 AM »

Quote from: Casull on January 11, 2009, 07:34:50 PM

GB, I agree with most of what you wrote above, but a good handloader can put together topnotch ammo with "the cheapest Lee press". I don't believe the press has any effect on the quality of the ammo.

Would pretty much agree so long as you have a scale to weight out different charges. My comments were directed more to the use of the Lee handtool and powder dippers. That makes it tough to develop real accurate loads unless you are just plain lucky as you need to weight out different charges in increments to work up accurate loads. The dippers alone and the Lee handtool don't allow that.

Given most any real press with dies and a scale you should be able to develop accurate loads.

slickest · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2009, 02:59:59 PM »

Graybeard, Im not sure if I will be commited to loading its something to try. Just to kill time and hopefully produce ammo cheaper than buying it.

This is the only firearm (.357) im going to own at the moment that I will be loading for but plan on getting a varmint (.22-250) rifle soon and would like to load for that also. Im not going to be a 1000 round a month shooter. More like 500-1000 round a year shooter.

That being said I would like to start out as cheap as possible and still have the right equipment to load an accurate a reliable bullet.

Im really thinking about the lee hand press since i dont have the spare room to set up a single stage a or a progressive press.

So as rookie what do I absolutely need? What would you suggest for a good cheap scale, die set, priming tool, etc?

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** January 12, 2009, 06:24:09 PM »

You can prime using almost all presses I'm familiar with. Still I won't prime any other way than with a Lee Auto Prime they are cheap and work nicely. I think Lee sells an Anniversary Kit or did that has most if not all the basic equipment needed.

To my thinking the absolute minimum to get you going is a press of some type, dies, a scale. That's really about it if you prime on the press. Get carbide dies for the .357 so you don't have to lube. Costs a few dollars more but definitely worth it.

Buy the stuff used here or other such sites via classifieds or even on flea bay if they still allow such there. You'll likely get better equipment for fewer dollars but from what folks who've bought the Lee kit say it works and it is cheap.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2009, 12:04:45 AM »

I agree with Bill, with one clarification.
If buying used, I would steer clear of the LEE stuff. Look for RCBS, LYMAN, REDDING, there are others but likely the first two is what your going to find. Your saving money. Buying a good quality set for cheap is a good deal, buying a cheap set cheaper...is, well, setting your self up for issues. Its OK for you to buy the LEE KIT new, as your stated volume of loading is not so much to cause problems. The LEE set will suit your needs very well. More in a moment.

I am not a fan of LEE products as a whole. I do suggest them to some people and you fit that criteria. A new re-loader of lo volume. Someone who wants to "try" this hobby for the first time. They are fairly complete and work well. Problems occur with volume. I have litterally worn out three hand primers and one press. The "pot metal" they are made from wallows out at the stress points on the press and the hand prime "bog bone" had the ends fall off. Don't get me wrong, this didn't happen overnight or in a couple weeks for that matter. But I load allot, just this past week I loaded a couple hundred rounds. So Like I say, volume causes these issues to arise.

I am a firm believer of the statement, "you get what you pay for".

Good luck,
CW

slickest · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2009, 02:31:03 AM »

thanks for the info guys. Its appreciated.

Savage · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2009, 02:59:25 AM »

My experience with Lee equipment has been pretty much the opposite of longshot. I have a couple of the Lee hand priming tools I've been using since the tool first came on the market. Mine work as good today as they did 10 yrs ago. I have and have had, presses by RCBS/Dillon/Bair/Mec/Llyman/Redding/Lee. They are all good equipment, and continue to load for myself or my son in some capacity (Other than the Dillon). I shoot 3-4 action pistol matches a month, and load about 700-1000rds. So I guess I'm a little beyond a casual reloader. The best built single stage currently available is the Lee Classic Cast Iron press. Cheaper than a RockChucker, and better built. IMO.
The early Lee "C" presses were a $20 press, and would wear to a point where they were difficult to use after 10-15k loadings. The current offerings are built much better and will likely last the average loader a lifetime loading a couple hundred rounds a month. You can pay a lot more, but the Lee equipment will do the job for a lot less money. If you want snob appeal, buy something else. FWIW I am not a share holder!

Savage

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** January 13, 2009, 03:08:40 AM »

the lee hand loader , got one in 1976 in 357 mag. i think it was used twice and I realized 2 things . First i liked rolling my own and saving $$$$$ and second there had to be a better way !
I still have it somewhere , i think .

Graybeard · « **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2009, 03:33:51 AM »

I still use one of my original two Lee AutoPrime tools the other did eventually break. But these are at least 30 years old and likely more and have primed perhaps hundreds of thousands of cases in the last 30 years. I've used NOTHING but Lee AutoPrime for something over the past 30 years. I don't have a good record of the rounds loaded in that time but my best guess would be it has to be getting close to a quarter million by now.

I have three working Auto Prime tools including one of the original pair I bought. They sell parts for them and might even send them to you free if you asked for all I know. I'll never prime any other way.

I do agree on buying Lee new not used which is kinda what I meant. Get the kit if you wanna go cheap or buy used major brand equipment like RCBS, Hornady, Redding or Lyman. All are good stuff that will last several life times.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2009, 03:42:27 AM »

GB that reminded me , i had 2 hand primers from lee . Both broke and they charged me for parts and shipping . I have had both RCBS and REDDING replae brokem parts for free . That says something for how a company stands behind their product .

Autorim · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2009, 02:59:49 PM »

Personally, I am not into "cheap". I try to only buy quality. That includes vehicles, guns, cameras, fly rods and reels, boats, outboard motors, all outdoor gear, tools and lots of other stuff and I have a lot. That also includes hunting and fishing guides. The best sometimes costs less in the long run. If you buy well and don't like it, you can always sell. If you buy cheap and don't like it, you give it away or have someone sell it at a garage sale. I don't do those either. Not trying to be and elitist here, just speaking FME. I will turn 69 tomorrow and I have been doing this a long time and a lot.

I suggest the RCBS Rockchucker press. You can prime on it just fine. RCBS or Redding dies. I do like the Lee crimp dies. IMHO the Sierra and Nosler manuals are superb. I have found typos in nearly all others. Seat and crimp in separate operations. Any reasonable powder scale - mine is a Redding I have had for many years.

Go to
http://www.mtbaldybullets.com/

and buy some plain base bullets.

Study the manuals, load up, go shoot and have fun - and it is a lot of fun. Don't expect to save money - just shoot a lot more. I once had bee hives on the farm to make money and save on honey - didn't work and got stung a lot.

Hell, go load and shoot.

Ken

TOWCOBRA1 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 15, 2009, 10:37:51 PM »

I have to agree with Greybeard. Lee hand loaders can be unsafe if you are a dummy like me. When I first started reloading in the mid '70's, money was tight and the budget was limited. I bought the Lee handloaders for $9.95 that consisted of 2-3 dies that had 2 halves for each die. I had the Lee hand primer and a $24.00 balance scale. I loaded 270 Win and 30-30 Win. The reloading was done on a 3X3 folding table I kept under the bed. I was assembling some 270 with 55 gr of WW760 using my plastic mallet to tap the 2 die halves together. After bullet number 14, I noticed my balance scale had bounced from my mallet work and was sitting on 65 grs. I pulled the last bullet I assembled and measured the powder--yup--65 grs. Being too cheap to screw up more good bullets, I took the remainder down to the old city dump to shoot. The 1st 10 were normal. #11 had heavier recoil and the bolt was hard to operate. # 12 loosened my scope mount from the receiver. When I finally did get the bolt opened--the primer fell out seperate from the brass. Didn't shoot #13. Took it apart to find 63 grs of WW760.
I took the dies to the next gun show and got $5.00 each for them. Then I bought a RCBS rochchucker press new for $79.95. I used 2X4's and 2X6's to build a portable bench/seat/platform to mount it on. I use Lee neck-size dies and Redding comp seating die today for my bolt guns. When I decided I was into reloading for the "long haul" I invested in good equipment. Lee hand loaders can produce workable good bullets but there are too many ways that "dumb ass" can enter in. I'm speaking from personal experience.
If you are up in the Alaska wilderness, traveling light, re-assembling spent ammo. Fine, get Lee hand loaders. If not, get good stuff.
Hope this helps
John A.

Steve P · « **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2009, 09:29:01 AM »

1. You need a set of carbide dies. I prefer RCBS, but you can get them from about anyone. Lee's are least expensive.
2. You need a reloading press and 357 shell holder. Mount it onto a flat piece of plywood that you can use "C" clamp to hold it in place at your kitchen table.
3. You need a powder measure. I started with pistols also and used a Lyman Pistol Powder Measure with interchangable dies. RCBS had one also, I think it was a "little dandy" powder measure. DO NOT get a Lee powder measure. They are JUNK.
4. You need the Lee Ram Prime priming tool and 357 shell holder. (Don't even let anyone talk you out of this part.)

This is what you need to start.

I didn't use a scale for several years, BUT I did take my powder measure over to my dads to confirm the die I selected was throwing the correct powder charge.

If you can find a reloading block to hold your empty cases (or an ammo carrier, or an empty shell box). You can set up multiple cases at a time to speed up the process.

Most of this stuff is available used on the auction sights and at local gun stores or pawn shops. Most shooters at your local gun club would be happy to help you get set up for the first time. Once everything is set up, you can bang away!!

Good luck,

Steve

Steve P · « **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2009, 09:43:57 AM »

I just did a check on one of the larger auction sites. MANY presses are available. Several of the old Lyman turret presses which allow all of your dies to be set up at one time. Even had a couple of the Lee Ram Primes pop up. I also found several auctions that had presses, dies, powder measures, scales, etc. Lots of 38/357 carbide dies also.

Lots out there. If you have questions on prices, etc, let us know.

Steve

Ahshucks · « **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:11:06 AM »

Can you provide links to those auction sites you speak of?

cwlongshot · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:31:09 AM »

Quote from: Ahshucks on February 25, 2009, 05:11:06 AM

Can you provide links to those auction sites you speak of?

Check EBAY and GUNBROKER.

CW

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2009, 04:24:59 PM »

A Lee or RCBS Partner press will work just fine for you. Hornady dies are great, I've started using them instead of my RCBS dies, they have a sleeve that helps guide the bullet in straight, and listen to what they said about the carbide dies. Get at least 3 or 4 reloading manuels and read them all before going to the reloading data. It's not rocket science, but you need to pay attention and check everything to make sure there are no mistakes when reloading. Only one powder open on the bench at a time, always put any remaining powder back in the can before getting out another powder. I would not recommend any person starting out to use a progressive press, they can be a challange to get set up properly and more chance of something going wrong. If you know someone who has been reloading for a long time, ask them questions. And ask here as well. Be safe and enjoy the new hobbie. Also remember, each gun is different, safe loads in one may not be in another. That said, the 357 mag is an easy cartridge to learn on. DP