Dies for both 9mm and .380?

Kittum · August 6, 2013, 09:14 AM

I am too lazy to do my research today.

I was wondering if there is a set of carbide dies made for both 9mm and .380.

Thanks!

rg1 · August 6, 2013, 09:40 AM

No they each require their own dies. The .380 case is approx. .373" outside diameter and the 9MM is about .380 at the case mouth and tapered to about .391" at the head. The .380 case is basically a straight walled case with no taper. You have to get both die sets.

g.willikers · August 6, 2013, 10:06 AM

What rg1 says is mostly always true.
But there are anomalies.
I once had a 9mm that must have had the chamber cut funny.
Dies for .38 Super made the best reloads for that particular barrel.
With all the guns being made, by the many manufacturers, the only way to be sure of a chamber dimension is to size it.
It may turn out that an alternate die will work better than the regular one.
Kind of like an inadvertent wildcat.

Kittum · August 7, 2013, 08:58 PM

Thanks guys.

That all makes sense if a guy thinks about it for a second or two.

noylj · August 8, 2013, 05:30 PM

First, always look at the case drawings.
Next, if dies are interchangeable, the die manufacturers are more than happy to so label the dies.
You could, of course, buy only a sizing die and see how well the expander, seating, and crimp dies work.

August 6, 2013, 09:14 AM	#1
Kittum Member Join Date: July 11, 2013 Posts: 27	Dies for both 9mm and .380? I am too lazy to do my research today. I was wondering if there is a set of carbide dies made for both 9mm and .380. Thanks!

August 6, 2013, 10:06 AM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	What rg1 says is mostly always true. But there are anomalies. I once had a 9mm that must have had the chamber cut funny. Dies for .38 Super made the best reloads for that particular barrel. With all the guns being made, by the many manufacturers, the only way to be sure of a chamber dimension is to size it. It may turn out that an alternate die will work better than the regular one. Kind of like an inadvertent wildcat. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

August 6, 2013, 09:40 AM	#2
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	No they each require their own dies. The .380 case is approx. .373" outside diameter and the 9MM is about .380 at the case mouth and tapered to about .391" at the head. The .380 case is basically a straight walled case with no taper. You have to get both die sets.

August 7, 2013, 08:58 PM	#4
Kittum Member Join Date: July 11, 2013 Posts: 27	Thanks guys. That all makes sense if a guy thinks about it for a second or two.

August 8, 2013, 05:30 PM	#5
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 858	First, always look at the case drawings. Next, if dies are interchangeable, the die manufacturers are more than happy to so label the dies. You could, of course, buy only a sizing die and see how well the expander, seating, and crimp dies work.