? regarding RCBS .38/.357 dies.

ATTICUS · May 6, 2002, 09:28 PM

I am finally going to start reloading .38/.357's. Bought a set of (3) RCBS dies the other night and set them up. The seater/crimper die turns out to be a taper crimp die (marked on the die). Everything I've read indicates that a roll crimp it the way to go with most .357 bullets used in revolvers. So my questions are: 1) Why does RCBS include a taper crimp die in a set of dies that will almost certainly be used to load for a revolver? 2) Does anyone here taper crimp .38/.357's.

**Mal H** · May 6, 2002, 10:54 PM

I certainly wouldn't blame RCBS for including a taper crimp die in the set. They clearly mark their taper crimp die sets as such. They make both TC and RC sets for .38/.357. This is one of those "caveat emptor" things. You have to be aware of the type of set you are buying. I would also think the person/dealer selling the set to you should have mentioned that it was a TC set or ask what type of gun you will be reloading for. However, they may have been clueless as to what taper crimp means anyway and didn't know there was another type. So that brings up a question, where did you buy the die set and can you exchange it for the correct set?

C.R.Sam · May 7, 2002, 12:03 PM

Read labels. Communicate.

Store should exchange with no problems.

Sam

**Mike Irwin** · May 7, 2002, 01:28 PM

Taper crimping is a lot easier on the cases, and it's also not necessary to have every case the exact same length to get the same amount of crimp.

I find that a combination of tight neck tension and light taper crimping really reduces the necessity for much in the way of crimping at all.

It's really only with the heavy magnum loads that roll crimping really becomes a necessity.

ATTICUS · May 7, 2002, 03:49 PM

Actually I wasn’t blaming RCBS for anything. I’m just curious as to how I can make use of this taper crimper with .38 loads, to be used in a revolver. As I stated in the first post, I’m new to loading .38 (basically new at reloading period) so I was surprised to get a taper crimp in the set, particularly when the RCBS instructions point out that this type of crimp should be used for semi- auto pistols, using non-cantilevered bullets. Besides Coonan, how many .38/.357 semi-auto’s are out there? I bought the dies at Gander Mountain. I called them to see if they had a roll crimp die, but they only had two other sets which also included the TC die. I’ll probably contact RCBS and buy the extra die and keep the TC die to play around with.

pilon · May 7, 2002, 06:43 PM

Had the same "problem" and did axactly that - bought an extra RC -die. So I can use whatever crimp I want (roll or taper) and I can also seperate seating and crimping opetration on a progressive press.

coonan357 · May 7, 2002, 07:07 PM

I have both tc and rc sets and for the coonan you must Roll crimp the case other wise you are going to be pounding out slugs in the barrel this gun has to use heavy slow burning powder loads , or it will not function , what I did was I bought the Lee factory crimp die for my set and just use the seating /crimp die just for seating , the lee die also straightens out the case as it brought in and the crimps are more uniform . its 15 bucks but well worth it .

WESHOOT2 · May 8, 2002, 07:25 AM

Purchase a Redding Profile Crimp die.
Use a 'medium' crimp on 38; use a 'heavy' crimp on 357.

May 6, 2002, 09:28 PM	#1
ATTICUS Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 1999 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,100	? regarding RCBS .38/.357 dies. I am finally going to start reloading .38/.357's. Bought a set of (3) RCBS dies the other night and set them up. The seater/crimper die turns out to be a taper crimp die (marked on the die). Everything I've read indicates that a roll crimp it the way to go with most .357 bullets used in revolvers. So my questions are: 1) Why does RCBS include a taper crimp die in a set of dies that will almost certainly be used to load for a revolver? 2) Does anyone here taper crimp .38/.357's.

May 7, 2002, 01:28 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	Taper crimping is a lot easier on the cases, and it's also not necessary to have every case the exact same length to get the same amount of crimp. I find that a combination of tight neck tension and light taper crimping really reduces the necessity for much in the way of crimping at all. It's really only with the heavy magnum loads that roll crimping really becomes a necessity. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 8, 2002, 07:25 AM	#8
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	BETTER ADVICE Purchase a Redding Profile Crimp die. Use a 'medium' crimp on 38; use a 'heavy' crimp on 357.

May 6, 2002, 10:54 PM	#2
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 17,066	I certainly wouldn't blame RCBS for including a taper crimp die in the set. They clearly mark their taper crimp die sets as such. They make both TC and RC sets for .38/.357. This is one of those "caveat emptor" things. You have to be aware of the type of set you are buying. I would also think the person/dealer selling the set to you should have mentioned that it was a TC set or ask what type of gun you will be reloading for. However, they may have been clueless as to what taper crimp means anyway and didn't know there was another type. So that brings up a question, where did you buy the die set and can you exchange it for the correct set?

May 7, 2002, 12:03 PM	#3
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Read labels. Communicate. Store should exchange with no problems. Sam

May 7, 2002, 03:49 PM	#5
ATTICUS Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 1999 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,100	Actually I wasn’t blaming RCBS for anything. I’m just curious as to how I can make use of this taper crimper with .38 loads, to be used in a revolver. As I stated in the first post, I’m new to loading .38 (basically new at reloading period) so I was surprised to get a taper crimp in the set, particularly when the RCBS instructions point out that this type of crimp should be used for semi- auto pistols, using non-cantilevered bullets. Besides Coonan, how many .38/.357 semi-auto’s are out there? I bought the dies at Gander Mountain. I called them to see if they had a roll crimp die, but they only had two other sets which also included the TC die. I’ll probably contact RCBS and buy the extra die and keep the TC die to play around with.

May 7, 2002, 06:43 PM	#6
pilon Member Join Date: June 4, 2001 Posts: 35	Had the same "problem" and did axactly that - bought an extra RC -die. So I can use whatever crimp I want (roll or taper) and I can also seperate seating and crimping opetration on a progressive press.

May 7, 2002, 07:07 PM	#7
coonan357 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2002 Location: in a state of confusion and disbelief ! Posts: 726	I have both tc and rc sets and for the coonan you must Roll crimp the case other wise you are going to be pounding out slugs in the barrel this gun has to use heavy slow burning powder loads , or it will not function , what I did was I bought the Lee factory crimp die for my set and just use the seating /crimp die just for seating , the lee die also straightens out the case as it brought in and the crimps are more uniform . its 15 bucks but well worth it .