Search the Community

I have used Dillon separate seater and crimp die for years but giving thought to change in crimp die. Seems Lee crimps more what I call a ribbon crimp versus my Dillon crimp which appears more of roll crimp. Again my terminology. I have been testing some different bullet/powder (bp) combinations lately loaded from my 1050 with Dillon dies finding a few primers to seem to be backing out. Considering a need for different crimp I am thinking of a change in crimp dies. Trouble with roll crimp is a chance to bulge case if excessive. I am crimping on bullet and not in a "crimp groove". I am finding no problem with smokeless loading, in fact very impressed with load. BP not satisfying in particular bullet/powder combo. (T7-2f has been good for me for many years with several brand and weight bullets but now off in new experimenting.) Extreme accuracy can be a very much a mental satisfaction and I like that. For you veteran reloaders, do you prefer Lee over RCBS, Dillon, etc?

I know many of you use TiteGroup and I am quite sure I did maybe 25 years ago. But then I probably ran hotter loads and behind 125-130 grain .358 cast bullets. Times have change, I'm now 80 and I am much more pleased when shooting smokeless with .358 105 coated bullet at around 620fps. I am thinking 3.1 might get me needed FPS but got to satisfy me in accuracy also. Burning clean is of course important too. I shoot 38 special cylinders in my 4.25" Model 97 FAs. Clays and Clay Dot have worked fine but obtained this jug of TG for awesome price so figure might as well use it a while. Got some data? Now I have some data from brief testing this afternoon. Freedom Arms Model 97 38 Special cylinder with 4.25" Octagon barrel, fixed sights New, unfired Starline Brass, GM200M primers and Scarlett (Acme) 105 gr bullets. I had loaded around 20 3.2 and 10 3.0 grains from Sealed 1 lb can of TiteGroup that was several years old. I shot kneeling across table with barrel resting on bag. Steel target at 7-8 steps. 1st five rounds of 3.2 grains TiteGroup was not bad, lets say inch, yet not extremely impressive. Recoil was very acceptable if shooting as duelist. 2nd five rounds were 3.0 grains TG. Outstanding accuracy. If had not been swinging small target (4.25" circle), I might have thought I missed. Like four in same spot, other, I believe 1srt shot, was just enough to know all five were not on top of each other.. Next over chronograph at approx 15 feet, target at approx 10 yards. 3.2 grains 632 av, 78 ES, 27SD 3.0 grains 602 av (at chronograph), 66 ES, 23 SD--63PF I also shot some 3.2 muzzle up then down and down then up. SD changed very slightly. As I continued shooting at 10 yards I could see only slight difference in accuracy of two loads. As to be expected, as barrel heated up in 90+ degrees afternoon, velocity climbed slightly . Grouping and SD I feel above excellent for CAS. I am just sort of accuracy nut from so many years of shooting long range handgun. I am very excited about light recoil as I fired a few rounds as duelist. I will certainly be loading a lot more and testing in 73. NOTE: If you, and you should, try to get your loads within SASS given specs ("power factor") be cautious in using lower end volume and lighter bullets. That was my concern. So many variables in hoovering on border line (PF) loads (gun, barrel length, chamber specs, and not to mention altitude & temperature. As Gateway mentioned, I did not find concern in position sensitivity but cold climate could come into play down the road. As mentioned, probably for less chance than many known CAS used powders including my Clays & Clay Dot. I am anxious to try these loads in Sassy's guns. Her Jimmy Spur NMV with 4.62" barrels and 357 chambers may prove to better my PF, or be weaker. Fired brass could make a difference in future tests, hopefully for better as crimp will change slightly with use. I would certainly feel safer to re-test if I was to change bullet brand (although not likely anytime soon). Your seating depth could be slightly different than my 1.485" on Scarlett's .358-105. All matters in SD and PF.

Found this company while looking for 105 grain 38 special bullets. Just curious if anyone has had any experience with them. Thanks.