Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry

.357 cases stretching?

All things reloading here
User avatar
Rifletom
Deputy Marshal
Posts: 3899
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:26 pm
Location: California Territory
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by Rifletom » Sun Apr 07, 2019 10:38 am

CP: wrote:I am experiencing some case stretching with Federal brass as well. My brass originated from inexpensive Federal American Eagle ammunition, so I am not really surprised. CP.
And that is exactly the factory ammo I've been using. What CP and a few others have mentioned, it seems the Federal brass has a history of being softer and stretching. Guess I might be buying Starline mighty soon. Dang!
0 x

User avatar
JEBar
Town Marshal / Deputy Admin
Posts: 19274
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:58 pm
Location: central NC
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by JEBar » Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:17 am

Rifletom wrote:Guess I might be buying Starline mighty soon. Dang!

I still have and load late 60's early 70's 357 brass ... mostly Winchester and Remington .... biggest issue has proven to be with nickle plated brass that eventually eventually has easily observable cracks from the open end .... we now only purchase Starline brass .... Starline's walls don't seem to be as thick and certainly not as stiff as the old Winchester and Remington brass but the serve really well
2 x

User avatar
Rifletom
Deputy Marshal
Posts: 3899
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:26 pm
Location: California Territory
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by Rifletom » Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:43 am

Copy that JEBar. The others I've measured haven't stretched. Only Federal brass seems to be doing this.
0 x

User avatar
Rifletom
Deputy Marshal
Posts: 3899
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:26 pm
Location: California Territory
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by Rifletom » Fri Apr 12, 2019 6:16 pm

**Update** Went to the desert Wed and shot a good number of .357 and .45 Colt rounds. All handloads. All the .357 rounds shot very good with a couple of different powders AND different cases. The Federal cases stretched again to 1.290" +.
The PPU and R-P cases, not at all, staying at 1.280". The Colt all had Starline brass and behaved as I had hoped. Both rifles were very accurate at the measured 75 yards hitting the steel gongs. Those dang Federal cases are giving me fits. But, I'm pretty sure it is NOT the rifle. Starline brass for the .357 coming up.
0 x

User avatar
Rifletom
Deputy Marshal
Posts: 3899
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:26 pm
Location: California Territory
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by Rifletom » Thu Apr 18, 2019 10:48 am

Late up-date here. I talked to Jeff at Henry Arms Monday and he said that as long as the cases are in spec, I'm good to go
As per Henry's policy, he did not recommend handloads, but, understands that a number of shooters do just that. So, I'll trim these Federal cases once and see what they do after a couple times. At least it isn't the rifle!
0 x

CP:
Tenderfoot
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2018 9:35 pm
Location: Montana
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by CP: » Thu Apr 18, 2019 6:04 pm

I have reloaded my Federal America Eagle 357 brass three times and have no pressure rings or lose primer pockets with any of the pieces. But, I had to trim on the first and third loading. CP.
0 x

User avatar
Ojaileveraction
Cowboy
Posts: 1292
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2017 11:49 pm
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by Ojaileveraction » Thu Apr 18, 2019 6:24 pm

CP: wrote:I have reloaded my Federal America Eagle 357 brass three times and have no pressure rings or lose primer pockets with any of the pieces. But, I had to trim on the first and third loading. CP.
How hot were the loads?
0 x
Pax at Justitia

CP:
Tenderfoot
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2018 9:35 pm
Location: Montana
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by CP: » Thu Apr 18, 2019 6:55 pm

158 gr. XPTs over 15.5 grs. of H110...
1 x

User avatar
Ojaileveraction
Cowboy
Posts: 1292
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2017 11:49 pm
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by Ojaileveraction » Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:16 pm

CP: wrote:158 gr. XPTs over 15.5 grs. of H110...
That is Hornady's max but more that a grain below the max for Hodgdon.
0 x
Pax at Justitia

CP:
Tenderfoot
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2018 9:35 pm
Location: Montana
United States of America

Re: .357 cases stretching?

Post by CP: » Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:41 pm

I am aware of Hodgson’s and other max H-110 loading numbers, but running 15.5 grs suits my needs just fine.
0 x

Post Reply