Lee Dies

Seadweller · January 29, 2010, 10:38 PM

Little help, please?
I just back into reloading and got a Lee Classic Cast Press and a set of Lee Carbide Dies for .38/.357 Mag, and noted that unlike my old RCBS dies, these did not include a magnum ring. I also noted that the instructions did not discuss how to adjust these for .357. I have two questions for you experts: (1) can I simply set the dies for .38 and when loading for .357, simply use my old RCBS Magnum ring? and (2) does the seating die make a sufficient roll crimp or do I need to get the Lee factory crimp die? Seems I got along quite nicely before with a set of RCBS dies, and the seating die made a good roll crimp. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

Shoney · January 30, 2010, 12:41 AM

I am not sure I understand what you mean by "magnum ring". With Lee dies for any of the 38/357, 40/10, or 44Spcl/Mag, the crimping die is used for each cartridge by raising or lowering the die to fit the case length. You can adjust the amount of roll crimp by fine tuning the die up or down.

Freight_Train · January 30, 2010, 01:10 AM

He means a spacer ring.I have a set of dies(I want to say they are Lee also) that have a spacer.You set the dies for 38 special and lock the ring down.If you want to load magnum just unscrew the dies,place the spacer on them and tighten back down.in theory if the brass is to the blue print you won't ever have to adjust anything.

colospgsAVID · January 30, 2010, 01:24 AM

Contact Lee Precision. They will give you the info you need. I am unsure if you are talking about a seating die, or a sizing die. I assume you are talking about a seating/crimping die. If so just use the knurled knob to adjust the seating depth. Make sure you have the die (in the press) screwed out enough not to impart any crimp. Once you have seated your bullets to the correct depth and want to impart crimp, unscrew the seating knob a several full turns, begin to screw the die itself into the press. Do this incrementally until the desired crimp is had. A sizing die will give instructions on where to start with the die. Seating and crimping will use the same instructions, I would assume. Not to quote the instructions of the Lee Dies that I own.

colospgsAVID · January 30, 2010, 02:04 AM

You should be able to figure the width of the ring using the 7/8-14 thread pitch...less ring. Two turns measure .143". 1/14 = .071429 times 2 =.142858. The difference between the two cases is...1.290 - 1.155 = .135. The two turns of said pitch is within 10% of case length. My guess is it is quite close. 38 Special and .357 MAG are both straight cases. Thus said IMHO you should be able to use the same dies for both. I've never loaded for either though.

alloy · January 30, 2010, 06:02 AM

Quote:

I also noted that the instructions did not discuss how to adjust these for .357.

It says in the instructions to back them out two turns for .357
Works out to .143 as colospgsAVID mentions. Differenece in case length specs I checked was .142

NCMountain · January 30, 2010, 07:22 AM

There is no spacer. You just simply readjust when going from .38 to .357. That is why I bought a second .38/.357 die to set up for my .357 specifically. For only $36 for the die it is worth getting a second one for just that reason.

Seadweller · January 30, 2010, 03:11 PM

Thanks, everyone. It seems I was unclear in my earlier post. I used to use a "magnum spacer ring" with my old RCBS seating /crimping die, and I should have simply asked whether I could use that same ring for the Lee seating die rather than readjust the die when converting from .38 to .357. The consensus appears to be that either should work. In either event, I will likely continue to use my RCBS Seating die for .357 and the Lee for .38. Thanks.

As for my second question, is the Lee factory crimp die really necessary, or is the regular seating die sufficient? Any thoughts on that one?
Thanks again!

Lost Sheep · January 30, 2010, 06:01 PM

Quote:

As for my second question, is the Lee factory crimp die really necessary, or is the regular seating die sufficient? Any thoughts on that one?

If you are not loading very heavy loads, the seating/crimping die should do. If you want a very heavy crimp, I would do the extra step of the Lee Factory Crimp Die (Lee FCD). You don't want the last bullets in your cylinder backing out of their cases because of recoil from the earlier rounds.

I can't think of any other reason.

Lost Sheep

colospgsAVID · January 31, 2010, 10:57 PM

You know what they say..."If you got'em, smoke'em." If you have the ring by all means use it. So it seems, two turns out in any operation will be sufficient.

EDIT: The ring should work with any type of die.

Seadweller · February 1, 2010, 09:37 AM

Thanks for the insight, gentlemen.
Looking forward to getting back in to this, it's been too long!!

crimsondave · February 1, 2010, 09:56 AM

I love the Lee factory crimp die because it will full legnth size after the bullet seating. It takes any error out after bullet seating. I use it even if I'm not going to crimp very much for that reason.

Sevens · February 1, 2010, 10:24 AM

I don't think you will EVER need the Lee Factory Crimp die for .38 Spl or .357 Mag.

Most folks who use the FCD and the past sizing feature use it to promote feeding on semi-auto rounds. It's most popular in 9, .40 and .45.

In .357 Mag or .38, you won't have any feeding issues (unless you have a S&W model 52, and I'm guessing ya don't!

) and your standard seater die that comes with every 3-die carbide handgun die set that Lee sells does a fine job of a roll crimp.

The need for the Lee FCD is very much over stated by the folks that use them, in my experience. This is a die that only Lee makes and markets and every guy that's been handloading since Elmer Keith has made great ammo in every caliber with dies and equipment from every manufacturer (Lee very much included) long before and since Lee introduced the FCD.

If it's an inexpensive upgrade to the 4-die set, sure, buy it. If it's a large extra expense, I wouldn't worry about it whatsoever. You can make great .38/.357 ammo with the standard 3-die set that anyone makes, Lee included.

January 29, 2010, 10:38 PM	#1
Seadweller Member Join Date: January 7, 2009 Posts: 15	Lee Dies Little help, please? I just back into reloading and got a Lee Classic Cast Press and a set of Lee Carbide Dies for .38/.357 Mag, and noted that unlike my old RCBS dies, these did not include a magnum ring. I also noted that the instructions did not discuss how to adjust these for .357. I have two questions for you experts: (1) can I simply set the dies for .38 and when loading for .357, simply use my old RCBS Magnum ring? and (2) does the seating die make a sufficient roll crimp or do I need to get the Lee factory crimp die? Seems I got along quite nicely before with a set of RCBS dies, and the seating die made a good roll crimp. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

January 30, 2010, 12:41 AM	#2
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	I am not sure I understand what you mean by "magnum ring". With Lee dies for any of the 38/357, 40/10, or 44Spcl/Mag, the crimping die is used for each cartridge by raising or lowering the die to fit the case length. You can adjust the amount of roll crimp by fine tuning the die up or down. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

January 30, 2010, 02:04 AM	#5
colospgsAVID Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 188	Using A Sizing Die You should be able to figure the width of the ring using the 7/8-14 thread pitch...less ring. Two turns measure .143". 1/14 = .071429 times 2 =.142858. The difference between the two cases is...1.290 - 1.155 = .135. The two turns of said pitch is within 10% of case length. My guess is it is quite close. 38 Special and .357 MAG are both straight cases. Thus said IMHO you should be able to use the same dies for both. I've never loaded for either though.

January 30, 2010, 07:22 AM	#7
NCMountain Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2009 Location: western, NC Posts: 121	There is no spacer. You just simply readjust when going from .38 to .357. That is why I bought a second .38/.357 die to set up for my .357 specifically. For only $36 for the die it is worth getting a second one for just that reason. __________________ Ruger GP100 4" SS; Ruger LCP; http://ncmountaingunner.blogspot.com/

February 1, 2010, 09:37 AM	#11
Seadweller Member Join Date: January 7, 2009 Posts: 15	Thanks, all! Thanks for the insight, gentlemen. Looking forward to getting back in to this, it's been too long!!

January 30, 2010, 01:10 AM	#3
Freight_Train Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Location: Gasdsden,Al Posts: 43	He means a spacer ring.I have a set of dies(I want to say they are Lee also) that have a spacer.You set the dies for 38 special and lock the ring down.If you want to load magnum just unscrew the dies,place the spacer on them and tighten back down.in theory if the brass is to the blue print you won't ever have to adjust anything.

January 30, 2010, 01:24 AM	#4
colospgsAVID Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 188	Contact Lee Precision. They will give you the info you need. I am unsure if you are talking about a seating die, or a sizing die. I assume you are talking about a seating/crimping die. If so just use the knurled knob to adjust the seating depth. Make sure you have the die (in the press) screwed out enough not to impart any crimp. Once you have seated your bullets to the correct depth and want to impart crimp, unscrew the seating knob a several full turns, begin to screw the die itself into the press. Do this incrementally until the desired crimp is had. A sizing die will give instructions on where to start with the die. Seating and crimping will use the same instructions, I would assume. Not to quote the instructions of the Lee Dies that I own.

January 30, 2010, 03:11 PM	#8
Seadweller Member Join Date: January 7, 2009 Posts: 15	Thanks, everyone. It seems I was unclear in my earlier post. I used to use a "magnum spacer ring" with my old RCBS seating /crimping die, and I should have simply asked whether I could use that same ring for the Lee seating die rather than readjust the die when converting from .38 to .357. The consensus appears to be that either should work. In either event, I will likely continue to use my RCBS Seating die for .357 and the Lee for .38. Thanks. As for my second question, is the Lee factory crimp die really necessary, or is the regular seating die sufficient? Any thoughts on that one? Thanks again!

January 31, 2010, 10:57 PM	#10
colospgsAVID Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 188	You know what they say..."If you got'em, smoke'em." If you have the ring by all means use it. So it seems, two turns out in any operation will be sufficient. EDIT: The ring should work with any type of die.

February 1, 2010, 09:56 AM	#12
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	I love the Lee factory crimp die because it will full legnth size after the bullet seating. It takes any error out after bullet seating. I use it even if I'm not going to crimp very much for that reason.

February 1, 2010, 10:24 AM	#13
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	I don't think you will EVER need the Lee Factory Crimp die for .38 Spl or .357 Mag. Most folks who use the FCD and the past sizing feature use it to promote feeding on semi-auto rounds. It's most popular in 9, .40 and .45. In .357 Mag or .38, you won't have any feeding issues (unless you have a S&W model 52, and I'm guessing ya don't! ) and your standard seater die that comes with every 3-die carbide handgun die set that Lee sells does a fine job of a roll crimp. The need for the Lee FCD is very much over stated by the folks that use them, in my experience. This is a die that only Lee makes and markets and every guy that's been handloading since Elmer Keith has made great ammo in every caliber with dies and equipment from every manufacturer (Lee very much included) long before and since Lee introduced the FCD. If it's an inexpensive upgrade to the 4-die set, sure, buy it. If it's a large extra expense, I wouldn't worry about it whatsoever. You can make great .38/.357 ammo with the standard 3-die set that anyone makes, Lee included. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.