A couple hundred pieces of brass just arrived, so I’m ready to start loading for the Contender.
I’m new to IHMSA and .357 Maximum, so what are the best dies to get?
Best dies for .357 Max
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
You can't go wrong with RCBS. Great products and good customer service.
- braud357
- Class A
- Posts: 652
- Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:56 am
- IHMSA Member#: 13794
- Location: Gonzales, LA
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
I have all of the major brands (RCBS, Hornady, Redding) - I have received the best service from RCBS and Hornady. Any of these brands should do you a good job.
IHMSA # 13794 Joined May, 1980
Match Director Ascension Silhouette Gonzales, LA 1991-2009
Louisiana IHMSA Deputy State Director 1983 - 1985
Louisiana IHMSA State Director 1995 - 2007, 2014 -
IHMSA Region 2 Director 2007 - 2009
Life Member - NRA
Match Director Ascension Silhouette Gonzales, LA 1991-2009
Louisiana IHMSA Deputy State Director 1983 - 1985
Louisiana IHMSA State Director 1995 - 2007, 2014 -
IHMSA Region 2 Director 2007 - 2009
Life Member - NRA
- contender1121
- Class C
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2017 11:43 am
- IHMSA Member#: 57830
- Location: Central Oklahoma
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
Consider the RCBS 3 die set #18212. Carbide sizer die needs no lube. Available from Amazon/Midway for a little over $50.00, plus shipping.
- 260 Striker
- Class AA
- Posts: 1623
- Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:41 pm
- IHMSA Member#: 0
- Location: DeGraff, OH
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
Most important to remember is buy a set with a carbide sizer die.
Redding dies are good but probably the most expensive.
I have more RCBS and Lyman dies than other makes.
Redding dies are good but probably the most expensive.
I have more RCBS and Lyman dies than other makes.
Lynn Shultz
IHMSA #15692 since 1980
Past Match Director Logan Handgun Association
Current VP Logan Handgun Association
NRA Member
United States Air Force Veteran
Retired USAF Civil Servant (47 years)
937-407-4885
IHMSA #15692 since 1980
Past Match Director Logan Handgun Association
Current VP Logan Handgun Association
NRA Member
United States Air Force Veteran
Retired USAF Civil Servant (47 years)
937-407-4885
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
OK, let me rephrase
I’ve been reloading .38/.357 for decades and have an old RCBS set with carbide sizer.
I was thinking more along the lines of should I upgrade to a set of competition dies, and maybe a special crimper of some sort?
I’ve been reloading .38/.357 for decades and have an old RCBS set with carbide sizer.
I was thinking more along the lines of should I upgrade to a set of competition dies, and maybe a special crimper of some sort?
- nutcase
- Site Admin
- Posts: 929
- Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:44 pm
- IHMSA Member#: 42084
- Location: Yuma, AZ
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
reloading the 357 Max is just like reloading for the 357 Mag. Since you are shooting them in a contender, crimp is not important. Only when shooting a revolver.
The RCBS carbide die set that works for all 3 works very well.
Just for info, use small rifle primers in the 357 Max due to the increased pressure compared to a 357 Mag. and be forewarned, loads near max with heavy bullets (200 Grain) are just downright Painful to shoot!
buying the competition die set is not really needed. the Max is not a finicky round.
The RCBS carbide die set that works for all 3 works very well.
Just for info, use small rifle primers in the 357 Max due to the increased pressure compared to a 357 Mag. and be forewarned, loads near max with heavy bullets (200 Grain) are just downright Painful to shoot!
buying the competition die set is not really needed. the Max is not a finicky round.
Daniel Hagerty
IHMSA # 42084L
IHMSA News Editor - 2015-2017
.22 records Coordinator - Present
CA State Director - 2015-2019
Match Director, Stockton Silhouette club 1990-1995
NRA Patriot Endowment Life Member
IHMSA # 42084L
IHMSA News Editor - 2015-2017
.22 records Coordinator - Present
CA State Director - 2015-2019
Match Director, Stockton Silhouette club 1990-1995
NRA Patriot Endowment Life Member
- Richard Pickering
- Class B
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:56 am
- IHMSA Member#: 5905
- Location: Stone Mountain, Ga
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
Even a Carbide sizer die set from Lee will work. As mentioned, you dont need a crimp in a TC. Do you intend its use with cast bullets or jacketed ?
For the Big Bore targets, yes, a 180 or 200gr bullet is helpful. However loads do not need to punish you if you can hold velocity to around 1200fps.
Using a 200gr, you need to strike the ram at about 850fps. rp
For the Big Bore targets, yes, a 180 or 200gr bullet is helpful. However loads do not need to punish you if you can hold velocity to around 1200fps.
Using a 200gr, you need to strike the ram at about 850fps. rp
I have served as assistant match director, Southern Silhouette club, 1980s. Also, the Griffin Gun Club for Silhouette during the 1990s, to about 2005. For a short period I authored the ''Cast Bullet'' section of The IHMSA News. Joined IHMSA March 1979.
- 35isit
- State Director
- Posts: 798
- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:36 am
- IHMSA Member#: 36827
- Location: Central Ky
- Contact:
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
Since I started cleaning with stainless pins. I've found a little lube is a big plus with the MAX. I've used a carbide sizer for nearly 30 years on one. But I've found that long case has a lot of resistance and so now I use Hornady One Shot on my cases. But I clean my cases after depriming not before. I now use it on all my straight wall cases.Richard Pickering wrote:Even a Carbide sizer die set from Lee will work. As mentioned, you dont need a crimp in a TC. Do you intend its use with cast bullets or jacketed ?
For the Big Bore targets, yes, a 180 or 200gr bullet is helpful. However loads do not need to punish you if you can hold velocity to around 1200fps.
Using a 200gr, you need to strike the ram at about 850fps. rp
Greg
Life Member of N.R.A.
80X80 7/27/2010
Ky State Director
Life Member of N.R.A.
80X80 7/27/2010
Ky State Director
- aggshooter
- IHMSA VP
- Posts: 467
- Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:53 pm
- IHMSA Member#: 29087
- Location: Terre Haute, Indiana
Re: Best dies for .357 Max
My RCBS 38/357 Carbide die will run Max cases. All the sizing is done on the bottom half inch of the die, the rest of the inside body is recessed and touches nothing. I also use my plain old 357 mag die for seating.
Rich Hawkins
#29087
IHMSA VP
"Go ahead and shoot. The bullet has to go somewhere."
George Hawkins 1917-2000
#29087
IHMSA VP
"Go ahead and shoot. The bullet has to go somewhere."
George Hawkins 1917-2000