!! Sierra sportsmaster .357 bullets !!

[J_Hensley]

I recently ordered 400 of these 140gn jhp to load some .357 magnum. My bullet feed die was having a difficult time with them. I measures them and they are not the correct dimeter. These are 9mm projectiles. I opened the other 3 cartons and they’re all the same. I’ve reached out to the supplier to let them know.

Have you guys had issues like this before?

I also load 9mm, so I can still use them. I just was hoping to load some .357. I’ll have to order again.

 

[K22]

Wow! I am truly surprised by such a mistake by Sierra. I have always found their bullets to be outstanding in quality and performance. But I should know better, nothing is scared in the shooting sports anymore in this never-ending changing world.

 

[Hipshoot]

WOW! Looks like they copied the Hornadys minus the F'up in diameter.

 

[243winxb]

.355" bullets down a 357 barrel, no problem. RUGER Blackhawk convertable. 9mm/357.
Use a 9mm expander on 357 brass.

Have you guys had issues like this before?

No.

 

[J_Hensley]

My only real problem is that they don’t feed properly through my Hornady bullet feeder die.

 

[dhagerty40]

I would not trust your Hornady Caliper. I had one and it ended up in the trash as depending where I measured on the arm, it would vary about .005" (when I measured Nosler bullets). it also would vary .010" depending on the pressure you applied to them. I did not have this problem with my old RCBS analog caliper or my Fowler calipers.

 

[J_Hensley]

I would not trust your Hornady Caliper. I had one and it ended up in the trash as depending where I measured on the arm, it would vary about .005" (when I measured Nosler bullets). it also would vary .010" depending on the pressure you applied to them. I did not have this problem with my old RCBS analog caliper or my Fowler calipers.

I have thought about that. I’ve been looking at mitutoyo caliper. I do have an old manual caliper as well.

I have compared these bullets to other .357 and some 9mm bullets. I also physically put one of these projectiles into the cylinder of a 686. The cylinder just barely holds the bullet. They will fire just fine through the barrel.

 

[tommeboy]

Your barrel is 0.355" They seem to have this problem all the time. I have got a bunch of boxes like this. Recently Midway had bulk bagged 125gr a few months ago I bought 1500 of them and they were 0.3557". I still loaded and shot them as they were $0.14ea. They still shoot fine out of 2 of my 357 revolvers as they have 0.355" bores like every other 357 or 38 made.

 

[Jeff3680]

I have thought about that. I’ve been looking at mitutoyo caliper. I do have an old manual caliper as well.

I have compared these bullets to other .357 and some 9mm bullets. I also physically put one of these projectiles into the cylinder of a 686. The cylinder just barely holds the bullet. They will fire just fine through the barrel.

Being a machinist I can attest that even with quality calipers I would not trust them on exacting dimensions. Get a good micrometer when you want exacting dimensions.

 

[Cnsane]

I've spun metal for a living and I agree with Jeff. Get yourself a C clamp with carbide faces that has the vernier on the barrel for tenths. And a ratchet stop for some hope of beginner consistency. Spindle lock is nice also

 

[J_Hensley]

Is there any chance of accuracy around a $50 price point?

 

[J_Hensley]

I have spoken with a rep at sierra, he found some cartons from the same lot and measured them. His measurement showed .3564, so my budget Hornady caliper isn’t quite up to snuff.

This is the photo the Sierra rep shared with me.



The only real problem was these are too small to be held in my Hornady bullet feeding die, but the 9mm die did work for them.