Author Topic: Reloading .357 Max (Read 617 times)

Mayor of Hobbs Knob · « **on:** October 23, 2004, 08:44:28 AM »

Dumb question on 357 Max. Can I reload with my standard 357 Mag. dies or do I need specific dies. If I need Max dies,where might be a good place to look?

Thanks

drichi · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2004, 10:50:02 AM »

yes you can load 357 max shells with 357 mag dies. I think that rcbs even lists max on there box along with 357mag. the only problem that I had was that the seater plug will not fit a 180 hornady spire point ssp bullet very well. I did have rcbs make me a special one to fit this bullet. I contacted redding about there competion bullet seater die and they told me that it did fit the 180 spire point bullet just fine. might be another option. dave

22KHornet · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2004, 03:23:19 AM »

Make sure that you get the carbide dies. I have a set of the standard RCBS max dies and I do not even use them anymore. The max is by far the hardest round I have to reload and my carbide 357mag dies work so much better than standard dies. Just an fyi

skb2706 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2004, 05:21:26 AM »

Yes you can use mag dies but a couple of hints ......as drichi said call RCBS and they will send you an assortment of seater plugs for different bullet styles. Also you will probably have to 'cheat the primer punch out a bit on older dies as mine was so short I couldn't bell the case mouth correctly with out moving the pin out as far as possible. I have had great luck using AA 1680 powder under a good hard cast 180 gr. GC bullet.