Lee dies. 357 Mag for 357 Max

Reloader2 · March 20, 2014, 12:37 AM

Does Lee make special dies for the 357 Maximum or can I just use my 357 Magnum dies?

KMAX · March 20, 2014, 06:11 AM

38 Sp dies can be backed out for 357 mag. The 357 mag dies can be backed out for 357 max. don't remember how much though.

Don P · March 20, 2014, 10:20 AM

They may not work. 357 mag case length is 1.29 and the 357 maximum is 1.605 in length a difference of .315 roughly just under 5/16 of an inch longer. Call Lee customer service and they should be able to answer your question

Salmoneye · March 20, 2014, 10:42 AM

You may need to decap with something other than the sizing die (depending on configuration), but I'd think you can 'neck size', bell, seat, and crimp with any .357 mag dies...

buck460XVR · March 20, 2014, 11:36 AM

My RCBS dies state right on the box, .357/.38SP/.357Max.

This from the Lee website.....

Quote:

Note: The 357 Mag die set can load Maximum cases. The 357 Mag cannot load the 38 Special.

Salmoneye · March 21, 2014, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Note: The 357 Mag die set can load Maximum cases. The 357 Mag cannot load the 38 Special.

I found this out when I went to try and crimp some .38spcl rounds in a Lee .357 die set...

I clamped the seating/crimp die in my vice, and ground the base of the die down till a .38 would crimp...

lee n. field · March 21, 2014, 07:32 AM

Quote:

I found this out when I went to try and crimp some .38spcl rounds in a Lee .357 die set...

I clamped the seating/crimp die in my vice, and ground the base of the die down till a .38 would crimp...

uhhhhhh....oh, nevermind.

In the same situation I just bought a Lee .38 crimp die.

243winxb · March 21, 2014, 09:21 AM

http://leeprecision.net/support/inde...hangeable-dies.

Quote:

Interchangeable dies
Posted by on 19 October 2011 02:01 PM
Frequently, dies from one caliber may be used to load other calibers. Due to the locations of crimping shoulders, the operation may only work for dies of the shorter caliber to the longer. You may notice a label depicting the shorter die in your set for the longer version of the cartridge, we do this to reduce costs.

Even though some dies are interchangable, in many cases, different shellholders are necessary. You can see a complete list of shellholders under "Case Preparation" then "Shellholders and Calibers".

32 H&R Mag - 327 Federal Mag
45 Colt - 454 Casull *
44 Special - 44 Magnum
38 Special - 357 Magnum
30-30 Winchester - 30 Remington
357 Magnum - 357 Maximum
38 Super - 9mm Largo
44 Russian - 44 Special
40 Smith & Wesson - 10mm - 41 Action Express
32 Smith & Wesson - 32 S&W Long - 32 H&R Magnum **

*The 45 Colt expander die will also work for the 454 Casull by backing the die out approximately two turns to compensate for the difference in case length.

**Our dies allow the use of .308 bullets in the 32 H&R Magnum. The other bullet diameter commonly used is .311 and that is the expander that comes with the set. To use .308 bullets, it is necessary to purchase an additional expander and turn it down to .308. This can be done using a drill press and emery cloth or if you buy the additional expander from the factory, we will do it for $10.00.

Salmoneye · March 21, 2014, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee n. field

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salmoneye

I found this out when I went to try and crimp some .38spcl rounds in a Lee .357 die set...

I clamped the seating/crimp die in my vice, and ground the base of the die down till a .38 would crimp...

uhhhhhh....oh, nevermind.

In the same situation I just bought a Lee .38 crimp die.

I'm cheap...

And I like to tinker...

lee n. field · March 22, 2014, 04:54 PM

Quote:

I'm cheap...

So am I.

. The FCD was something like $15 when I bought it.

TimSr · March 23, 2014, 01:37 PM

Try it. If they do a full resize, and can be backed out far enough to expand and crimp, it works.

Jimbo-Indy · March 24, 2014, 11:23 AM

I have used Lee 357 Mag carbide dies and factory crimp die on 357 Maximum with no problem. Everything from 110 gn. to 180 gn bullets.

March 20, 2014, 12:37 AM	#1
Reloader2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2013 Posts: 263	Lee dies. 357 Mag for 357 Max Does Lee make special dies for the 357 Maximum or can I just use my 357 Magnum dies?

March 20, 2014, 06:11 AM	#2
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	38 Sp dies can be backed out for 357 mag. The 357 mag dies can be backed out for 357 max. don't remember how much though. __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC!

March 20, 2014, 10:20 AM	#3
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	They may not work. 357 mag case length is 1.29 and the 357 maximum is 1.605 in length a difference of .315 roughly just under 5/16 of an inch longer. Call Lee customer service and they should be able to answer your question __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

March 20, 2014, 10:42 AM	#4
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	You may need to decap with something other than the sizing die (depending on configuration), but I'd think you can 'neck size', bell, seat, and crimp with any .357 mag dies...

March 23, 2014, 01:37 PM	#11
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	Try it. If they do a full resize, and can be backed out far enough to expand and crimp, it works.

March 24, 2014, 11:23 AM	#12
Jimbo-Indy Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2008 Location: Owasso, OK Posts: 334	I have used Lee 357 Mag carbide dies and factory crimp die on 357 Maximum with no problem. Everything from 110 gn. to 180 gn bullets.