how to fix 357 mag brass

[swampy308]

Ok here go's, in the last few months I've bought 3 new pistol's.
1. Kimber Stainless II 45 acp
2. Ruger Blackhawk SA 357 mag.
3. Ruger LCR 38 special

Now to my question. I bought new Winchester brass, and some of the rims for the 357 are-.001 to.002 larger and wont go in the shell holder.

Has anyone here had this problem and how did you fix it.

 

[joneb]

Need details.
What shell holder and #

 

[swampy308]

Lee # 1

 

[Lost Sheep]

Sounds like it isn't the brass that needs to be fixed.

If you call Lee Precision, I bet they would send you a new shell holder that does fit. Is it rim thickness, rim diameter or body diameter that is the problem?

Lost Sheep

 

[dahermit]

Despite the fact that many hand loaders like Winchester Handgun brass, they have had a problem with inconsistent rim thickness on particularly .44 Special, .41 Magnum cases since the middle sixties (articles about it in the gun mags back then). I have measure them and compared them to Remington and found that Remington are much more consistent. Also, I have found many Winchester cases that would drag in the revolver due to overly thick rims. Out of frustration and anger for them not fixing the problem (Come on Winchester, you have known about the problem since the sixties!), I avoid Winchester rimmed, straight-walled cases. I have had some .357 Winchester cases that had to be filed to get them to enter my Dillon 550b's shell holder. Buy Remington or Starline, brass.

 

[spacecoast]

Sounds like it isn't the brass that needs to be fixed

Maybe, but a replacement may be no different if it's only Winchester brass with the problem. The OP should also try various .357 and .38 special brass and see if it works.

 

[swampy308]

Its the diameter of the rim. I tried both 38 & 357 new win brass, used Rem. Magtec, Fed. & PMC

The only one that does it is the new winchester 357 case

 

[eldermike]

I have been throwing WW pistol brass in the recycle can for years. Not all of them but the ones that will not fit in the shell holder. When I load plinking stuff in 38 special I use mixed brass, in fact lots of it. I can call all the WW cases without looking simply by how the primers seat. If I have to come up out of the chair and grunt it's a WW. If they don't fit the shell holder I toss em out.

 

[swampy308]

Im thinking of fileing them down, wont take much to do just wondered if anyone else on here had the same problem.
I have heared uf win having thick rims but never heared of being to big in diameter.

 

[kraigwy]

I've had problems with some Lee shell holders, normally if the Lee's don't work the RCBS will.

Take your Winchester brass to the store, try it in RCBS #6, if it works buy the RCBS shell holder, if it doesn't work, toss the brass.

Not worth trying to modify the brass.

 

[m&p45acp10+1]

Turning the rims down can be done though it is a real pain in the behind to do it. I have had to have a machinist turn down some. 38 spcl. rims for making cases for. 35WCF rounds.

 

[zxcvbob]

Measure the rims with a micrometer. If they are out-of-spec, contact Winchester. They should replace them if they're new.

 

[g.willikers]

If you don't want to throw them out, why not just sand the Winchester rims down a little, so they fit?
Brass isn't very hard.
I've done it with success on .44s, often a necessity.
Just make sure they are round and fit the cylinder properly, when you're done.

 

[swampy308]

Thanks for everyones info, I used a small file on them in a circular motion now they meas

ure the same as the rest of them.

Now waiting to get time to load them.

 

[BuckRub]

Agree with post #10.

 

[rc]

I wouldn't file my cases unless they won't allow cylinder to rotate smoothly. A few thousandths shouldn't make a difference in headspace but it might make an out of spec shell holder difficult to use. I use RCBS stuff cause it always works.........

 

[ljnowell]

Tell ya what....

I shoot a lot at the Olin/Winchester handgun facility in Alton, IL. I shoot in a bullseye league there and the majority of guys use 38s, almost everyone uses the match wadcutters(reqd to use olin ammo). I usually end up with a couple hundred empties from guys dropping them off to me on the bench. My son also goes along and forages on the ground for all kinds of brass.

Anyway, when it comes to Winchester 38 brass I usually find one in ten thats a real PITA to get in and out of the shell holder. No burrs, nothing like that. Its just a little out of spec. Other guys down there that reload say the same thing.

 

[swampy308]

As far as lee shell holder being out of spec. I dont know it could be, but to me that dosent mean that rcbs shell holders are any better, I have rcbs 223 dies and shell holder that ive had the same problem with a few peices of LC brass.

 

[dahermit]

Im thinking of fileing them down, wont take much to do just wondered if anyone else on here had the same problem.
I have heared uf win having thick rims but never heared of being to big in diameter.

I have had both. When a case will not fit into the shell holder, I put layout dye on it and try it again. The layout dye will indicate what the problem is. I have had Winchester rims so thick, that when I draw-filed them, almost all the head stamp was gone. I have also had the rims too large in diameter to fit into the shell holder and a little careful turning gets them the correct diameter. When I buy 100 count bag of brass and three or so will not fit, I hate to end up with an odd-number (less than 100), lot, so I "correct" them.

 

[swampy308]

Never heard of layout die, need to check on that.
I took my time with a small file and lightly worked around them and cant tell the difference from the other ones now.