rcbs dies for 38/357

1chig · January 22, 2011, 05:14 PM

I have a question, may be dumb, i dont know. I have a set of rcbs dies for the 38/357. I have loaded many 38 with them. Now i want to load some 357. They came with a spacer to put under the dies (except the sizer). Why do i need to use this spacer? Shouldnt i be able to adjust the dies using the 357 case? Or is there something i am missing ( which is probably the case). Also is it possible to use the lee 38 powder through expanding die for the 357 or will it be to short? Thanks for putting up with me!

Ideal Tool · January 22, 2011, 05:28 PM

Hello, 1chig. There is no such thing as a dumb question. You are absolutly right that you can simply adjust your dies for the longer .357 case. However, RCBS has made this adjustment easier for you by the use of this spacer. It is the same thickness as the difference in height between the .38 spec. & magnum. So, once your dies are set up for the special...merely inserting the spacer between the die lock ring & head of press will automatically give you the proper adjustment for crimping. You might have to adjust seater stem depending on bullet desighn. Best of luck!

P.S.
I kind of wish they had made a spacer for the .38 long-colt & .38spec. I was loading some l.c. & the special dies worked fine until it came to crimping...case too short! Now I didn,t want to buy a special crimping die for the few long-colts I shoot..What to do? I remembered I had an old early nickle plated Lyman 310 tool in .38 Spec. Now since ther are no shell holders with this tool..you can screw die down as far as you want..Presto! I now use this old vintage tool for crimping...good hand excersizer to boot!

454PB · January 22, 2011, 11:11 PM

It works in theory, but if there is much variation in case length, you can have crimp problems. Keep an eye on those crimps.

lee n. field · January 22, 2011, 11:20 PM

Quote:

They came with a spacer to put under the dies (except the sizer). Why do i need to use this spacer? Shouldnt i be able to adjust the dies using the 357 case?

You could adjust for .357. Or, you could just put the spacer under the lock ring of dies adjusted for .38, and voila!, they're adjusted for .357.

That's what it's there for.

1chig · January 22, 2011, 11:39 PM

the reason i ask is because i have a turret press, and only one spacer, if i had a single stage i would just use the spacer, no question., but i adjust all dies at once,and loadem thanks for the help

lee n. field · January 23, 2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

the reason i ask is because i have a turret press, and only one spacer, if i had a single stage i would just use the spacer, no question., but i adjust all dies at once,and loadem thanks for the help

Ahhhh.

It's RCBS. Call them up. Chances are good they'll just send you extra spacers.

January 22, 2011, 05:14 PM	#1
1chig Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2009 Location: central missouri Posts: 246	rcbs dies for 38/357 I have a question, may be dumb, i dont know. I have a set of rcbs dies for the 38/357. I have loaded many 38 with them. Now i want to load some 357. They came with a spacer to put under the dies (except the sizer). Why do i need to use this spacer? Shouldnt i be able to adjust the dies using the 357 case? Or is there something i am missing ( which is probably the case). Also is it possible to use the lee 38 powder through expanding die for the 357 or will it be to short? Thanks for putting up with me! __________________ those who anger you are those who control you!!!!

January 22, 2011, 11:39 PM	#5
1chig Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2009 Location: central missouri Posts: 246	the reason i ask is because i have a turret press, and only one spacer, if i had a single stage i would just use the spacer, no question., but i adjust all dies at once,and loadem thanks for the help __________________ those who anger you are those who control you!!!!

January 22, 2011, 05:28 PM	#2
Ideal Tool Junior member Join Date: October 6, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,080	Hello, 1chig. There is no such thing as a dumb question. You are absolutly right that you can simply adjust your dies for the longer .357 case. However, RCBS has made this adjustment easier for you by the use of this spacer. It is the same thickness as the difference in height between the .38 spec. & magnum. So, once your dies are set up for the special...merely inserting the spacer between the die lock ring & head of press will automatically give you the proper adjustment for crimping. You might have to adjust seater stem depending on bullet desighn. Best of luck! P.S. I kind of wish they had made a spacer for the .38 long-colt & .38spec. I was loading some l.c. & the special dies worked fine until it came to crimping...case too short! Now I didn,t want to buy a special crimping die for the few long-colts I shoot..What to do? I remembered I had an old early nickle plated Lyman 310 tool in .38 Spec. Now since ther are no shell holders with this tool..you can screw die down as far as you want..Presto! I now use this old vintage tool for crimping...good hand excersizer to boot!

January 22, 2011, 11:11 PM	#3
454PB Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Location: Helena, Mt. Posts: 122	It works in theory, but if there is much variation in case length, you can have crimp problems. Keep an eye on those crimps.