GasGuzzler wrote:horseman, that's great info. You always make sense out of making sense. Not to sound mean but it seems like your .357 has a problem if it's that fat. If built to spec would the Lee die work?
I'm nowhere near your knowledge or experience level so I'd like to ask what jacketed bullet fits a loose throat where a .360" lead bullet is required? Also, did you know you needed .360" lead when you tried the Lee die?
Twice now I've written a fairly long dissertation as to my reasons of why and how and both times they disappeared.....to answer your last question about size, no I didn't know what was needed. At the time I purchased these for my wife about 20 years ago my knowledge of shooting cast lead bullets was novice at best. The guns in question are Cimmeron Thunderers made by Uberti. These are copies of the first Generation Colt black powder revolvers and to my understanding were built to those specification. I know there was no such thing as a 357mag in 1873 but they probably were patterned after maybe the 38 colt of the day. Black powder guns of the time were "generous" in their sizing because of the fouling so more than a few rounds could be fired before "wiping" the bore would be necessary (I'm assuming most of this from things I've read) so under today's standards with smokeless powder this would be "oversize" for our components. Hence my 357's have a bore of .358 with cyl's of .359+ a bit, my pin gauges say a .359 will fit a bit loose but a .360 won't fit. The best article(s) I've seen or read about cast shooting is from LASC (Los Angeles Silhouette Club) it should be required reading for anyone wanting to know about shooting cast lead bullets. All my revolvers have been "optimized" for shooting cast bullets from what I've learned and am still learning. Cylinders are larger than bore size, (have had to ream a few of them, especially the early Ruger 45 colts) bullets are sized to cylinders, guns have been fire lapped to remove any constrictions and create a slight taper to the bore. They're accurate and I get no leading and have picked up a bit of velocity over "stock", not much but a bit.
I started using the LCFCD at the time because I wanted to crimp separately from seating because I read on the internet it was superior so it must be true right? Not....Now IF I want to do that I just use another seat die with the seater backed out. I seldom do this anymore because I find it isn't necessary and I can use the "extra" station for something else. I hope this has been of some help. I could write a couple pages on what I THINK I know about this.... ....