I am going to try today to reload for the first time. I will be reloading 357mag. Two questions.

1: I have all RCBS equipment and dies, but I bought the LEE Universal Shell Holder Set. The guy at Cabelas said they are interchangeable with any dies however when reading the speer reloading manual it says "its best to use dies and shell holders from the same make". Opinions please.

2: I bought "Berry's 38 158 gr RN bullets. On their web site they call them Plated Pistol Bullets. In the speer manual it says "never attempt to roll crimp jacketed bullets that do not have a crimping groove. Doing so will only damage the bullet and degrade accuracy" These bullets don't appear to have a crimping groove or cannelure. Should I not load these for my 357 mag?

Thanks to all for your help.
Joe

quote:

1: I have all RCBS equipment and dies, but I bought the LEE Universal Shell Holder Set. The guy at Cabelas said they are interchangeable with any dies however when reading the speer reloading manual it says "its best to use dies and shell holders from the same make". Opinions please.

The guy at Cabela's gave you good information.

I'll let someone else comment on Berry's bullets as I've never used them.

the copper plating on the berry bullets is very very thin and roll crimping will break through the thin plating. when you set your expander, set is so the bullet will seat beyond the expanded case just a bit. this will hold the bullet in just about as well as crimping

The shell holder will work.
The bullets will work.

I have had a problem with Berry's bullets in real hot loads from a 10mm, making ragged targets as pieces of the plating spin off.
The .357" bullets has a smaller radius, and may hold together better.

I do not need to roll crimp 38 special loads.
The hot 357 mag loads may need it in a low mass revolver.
If my 45 revolver kicks hard and there is no roll crimp, the bullets can get pulled out of the case mouth and jam the revolver. You may not have that problem, again the smaller radius makes for a better grip to bullet mass ratio.