Bulged .357

[smdub]

Digging through a bunch of old stuff I found about 100 .357 loads I did in college (20 yrs ago). They are 200gr silhouette target loads. They developed a tiny bulge at the bottom edge of the bullet. Some of my other loads did this but these are about 0.002" too large diameter to chamber in the GP100. That was a first. Any easy fix or just toss them? I found the remaining half box of Speer bullets too.

First time posting pics from my phone w tapatalk, hope it works...

 

[DocAitch]

If one is available, a Lee Factory Crimp die (the 4th die in a Lee 4 die set) would squeeze them down and make them chamber. If one is not available, then the 1st die(sizer/decapper) without the decapping pin might do it..
I suspect that your accuracy would not be top notch but they should function.
DocAitch

 

[Magnumite]

Docaitch, that was an old bullseye shooters trick back in the day. And what the Lee FCD is based on. It won't hinder accuracy.

 

[jimbobborg]

Easy fix if you have a .357 carbide resizing die. Take the decapping assembly out, gently run the round about halfway, pull it out, and the crease is gone. This is what happens with long for round bullets in a straightwall pistol case. I've had this happen with 230gr 10mm bullets.

 

[John from MD]

Not an issue. Just run them into a carbide die without a decap rod as stated above.

 

[smdub]

Hmm. Found my old Lee set but it's only 3 dies. The carbide deprime/resize is 0.372, the autofill one is huge, and the bullet seat/crimp is 0.382. My GP100 cyls are 0.380. No way I can get it back through the resizing die now that a bullet is in and the seat/crimp one is too big. I guess I could machine a one-off steel die easily enough... Anyone know if one of the above mentioned 4 die sets the right size?

Edit: looks like the Lee carbide factory crimp die would do the job. (Thanks docaitch!) It's the 'extra' one they add to the 3 die set to make it 4. I'm a little slow sometimes

 

[jimbobborg]

No, just pull the pin out of the resizing die and run the cartridge through just enough to cover the bulge. I've done this quite a few times, take your time and it works.

 

[Pinecone]

Or order one of these:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690861

 

[smdub]

No, just pull the pin out of the resizing die and run the cartridge through just enough to cover the bulge. I've done this quite a few times, take your time and it works.

I can't (and not sure how you've done it unless w/ pure lead bullets.) The round (non-bulged part) is WAY too big to fit back though the resizing die. A .357mag round is almost .379. The resizing die is well below that (0.372) to account for the springback in the brass. The tip won't even enter that die. Its only $18 for the proper crimp/resize 4th die.