During　axial-torsional　loading　in　type　302　stainless　steel　an　obvious　stress　delay　appears　in　comparison　with　the　strain　increment　vector　after　the　turning　point　of　a　strain　path　for　all　specimens.　Macroscopic　response　shows　that　the　equivalent　stress　suddenly　drops　then　increases,　firstly　softening　and　subsequently　hardening　degrees　are　related　to　the　turning　angle　values.　The　deformed　dislocation　configurations　were　defined　by　means　of　transmission　electron　microscopy.　A　tendency　to　form　dislocation　cells　with　the　increase　of　nonproportionality　and　accumulated　plastic　strain　is　repeated.　These　macroscopic　phenomena　are　explained　based　on　the　observation　of　microscopic　dislocation　structure　and　the　analysis　of　maximum　shear　plane　change　during　nonproportional　loading.　Finally,　the　evolution　regularity　of　dislocation　configuration　with　nonproportionality　and　accumulated　plastic　strain　is　discussed.　Copyright　(C)　1996　Acta　Metallurgica　Inc.