Seating, cannelure, crimping

[Luv the lever]

I'll start with "I am new to reloading".

Making a couple rifle rounds with out an issue and a couple of handgun rounds with a small hiccup that I was pretty sure I remedied.

So, the question today is about the cannelure and seating when assembling .38 spl to shoot in a revolver and a Henry 357.

Does the bullet have to be set so that the brass ends inside the cannelure? My main source is Lyman 50th Edition, it shows a 38 spl should be 1.55" OAL. To set at that length the cannelure is above the brass entirely. Crimping with a Lee Factory Crimp Die.

Also, the 38's set at 1.55" are never a feed issue in the lever, I've read some have issues with feeding 38's thru the 357 but I'm assuming the longer 38 is what is working for me.

Question is: Do I have to set at the cannelure? If I had bullets with no cannelure would that make a difference?

Thank you in advance.

[Steve51]

If i am loading plated or jacketed bullets with a cannelure, I crimp the bullet in the cannelure. The only exception for me was when I had a Rossi 92 lever gun in .357. I was using Hornady 158 gr. XTP JHP bullets and if I crimped in the cannelure the OAL was right according to specs but they were too long for the Rossi to feed, so I actually seated the bullets a little deeper in order for the Rossi to feed them. I have since sold that rifle and my Henry .357 has no problem feeding my reloads crimped in the cannelure.

[Luv the lever]

If i am loading plated or jacketed bullets with a cannelure, I crimp the bullet in the cannelure. The only exception for me was when I had a Rossi 92 lever gun in .357. I was using Hornady 158 gr. XTP JHP bullets and if I crimped in the cannelure the OAL was right according to specs but they were too long for the Rossi to feed, so I actually seated the bullets a little deeper in order for the Rossi to feed them. I have since sold that rifle and my Henry .357 has no problem feeding my reloads crimped in the cannelure.

thank you from another ISRA member. The more I look the more sense it makes to crimp at the cannelure. They will be a little shorter so feeding should be ok. The 357's feed well, the longer 38's fed pretty cleanly. but may end up becoming finicky. Time will tell.

[Steve51]

I never shoot .38 specials in my Henry .38/.357 rifle. In my revolvers I shoot both .38 spl. and .357 magnum but not my rifle. I have two loads I use for my rifle, same bullet for both loads but different powders. Velocities and POI for both loads are very close, so I am confident of hitting what I am aiming at. I rarely, if ever shoot distances over 25 yds with my revolvers, so they are pretty good with whatever ammo I shoot. A pop can at 25 yards has a great chance of survival if I am shooting a revolver (even one with 7 shots).

[DsGrouse]

I'm a fairly new reloader also. I will say that shooting 38's in the big boy x feeds fine. Even the 148 grain wad cutters. You do have to be slow and deliberate with your working of the gun. As for accuracy, I originally went by what the book said, and had some accuracy issues. I seat at the cannelure now, ( provided it is with in the COAL for the load) and have better accuracy. Then a gain, i may just not suck as much at reloading.