38/357 dies

Bass Man · February 3, 2005, 09:31 PM

Which way does it work? Will a 357 die load a 38 also? I know the 38 will load a 357 now that I'm home with them and have looked in the package.

Rodger Peterson · February 3, 2005, 09:45 PM

My Lee dies do both 38/357

Guy B. Meredith · February 3, 2005, 10:09 PM

I have not seen dies specific to either case length. I have RCBS and Hornady and just need to adjust the die height when going from one to the other.

lee n. field · February 3, 2005, 10:39 PM

A .357 seating and crimping die will not be able to crimp the shorter .38 case.

I can think of no reason to get a .357 only die set.

SDBettas · February 4, 2005, 05:07 PM

They are the same.

lee n. field · February 4, 2005, 11:08 PM

Actually not.

I have an old RCBS .357 die set. The crimping die, as I said, cannot be adjusted low enough to crimp a .38 case. It is different.

Paul B. · February 5, 2005, 12:36 AM

If the dies are marked .357 magnum, then they won't work for .38 Spl.

If the dies are marked .38 Spl., then you can reload both the .38 Spl. and .357 Mag. by adjusting the dies accordingly. However, to make it simple, I believe RCBS still sells spacers to use to eliminate the constant readjustment. Just set the dies up for .38 Spl. and when you want to do .357s, place the spacer between the die and the press. I made my own spacers from some delrin rings I had on hand. Had to file them down a bit as they were a bit too thick, but they worked just fine.
Paul B.

ojibweindian · February 5, 2005, 12:51 PM

My Lee 389/357 carbide dies puts a nice crimp on .38Spl cases.

Bass Man · February 5, 2005, 09:03 PM

I went to exchange them and the guy who runs the reloading department was out and they didn't have any .38 special dies in. I got anxious and tired of waiting (I'm like a child with a new toy) and tried them. They won't flare the case mouth on a .38 and I only tried to crimp on 2 .38 bullets. The first bullet I seated flush with the case mouth oops. The second I went a little past the crimp groove so it wouldn't crimp either. I think tomorrow I'll go to Bass Pro and see what they have in stock. Last time I was in the only had 3 Lee sets and I'm not sure what they were and they had a whole stack of RCBS dies bellow that. After using the Lee I think I might like the RCBS better since they don't have the rubber washers to prevent them from moving.

lee n. field · February 9, 2005, 03:09 PM

You could just get a Lee Factory Crimp die.

February 3, 2005, 09:31 PM	#1
Bass Man Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 92	38/357 dies Which way does it work? Will a 357 die load a 38 also? I know the 38 will load a 357 now that I'm home with them and have looked in the package.

February 4, 2005, 05:07 PM	#5
SDBettas Junior Member Join Date: April 19, 2002 Location: Miami Posts: 10	LOL Lee N. Field They are the same.

February 5, 2005, 12:36 AM	#7
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	If the dies are marked .357 magnum, then they won't work for .38 Spl. If the dies are marked .38 Spl., then you can reload both the .38 Spl. and .357 Mag. by adjusting the dies accordingly. However, to make it simple, I believe RCBS still sells spacers to use to eliminate the constant readjustment. Just set the dies up for .38 Spl. and when you want to do .357s, place the spacer between the die and the press. I made my own spacers from some delrin rings I had on hand. Had to file them down a bit as they were a bit too thick, but they worked just fine. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

February 3, 2005, 09:45 PM	#2
Rodger Peterson Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Location: Nevada Posts: 93	My Lee dies do both 38/357

February 3, 2005, 10:09 PM	#3
Guy B. Meredith Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 1999 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 1,581	I have not seen dies specific to either case length. I have RCBS and Hornady and just need to adjust the die height when going from one to the other.

February 3, 2005, 10:39 PM	#4
lee n. field Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2002 Location: The same state as Mordor. Posts: 5,569	A .357 seating and crimping die will not be able to crimp the shorter .38 case. I can think of no reason to get a .357 only die set.

February 4, 2005, 11:08 PM	#6
lee n. field Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2002 Location: The same state as Mordor. Posts: 5,569	Actually not. I have an old RCBS .357 die set. The crimping die, as I said, cannot be adjusted low enough to crimp a .38 case. It is different.

February 5, 2005, 12:51 PM	#8
ojibweindian Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2000 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 1,198	My Lee 389/357 carbide dies puts a nice crimp on .38Spl cases.

February 5, 2005, 09:03 PM	#9
Bass Man Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 92	I went to exchange them and the guy who runs the reloading department was out and they didn't have any .38 special dies in. I got anxious and tired of waiting (I'm like a child with a new toy) and tried them. They won't flare the case mouth on a .38 and I only tried to crimp on 2 .38 bullets. The first bullet I seated flush with the case mouth oops. The second I went a little past the crimp groove so it wouldn't crimp either. I think tomorrow I'll go to Bass Pro and see what they have in stock. Last time I was in the only had 3 Lee sets and I'm not sure what they were and they had a whole stack of RCBS dies bellow that. After using the Lee I think I might like the RCBS better since they don't have the rubber washers to prevent them from moving.

February 9, 2005, 03:09 PM	#10
lee n. field Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2002 Location: The same state as Mordor. Posts: 5,569	You could just get a Lee Factory Crimp die.