.38 spl dies for .357mag?

IM_Lugger

IM_Lugger

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
216   0   0
Location
Hamilton
I have a .357mag revolver on the way and looking for (LEE) dies for it. For some reason I thought that there only one die for those two calibers. :redface: Now I'm not sure if I should get .38spl or .357dies?

I load 10mm with .40 dies and one thing I don't like about it is that when I'm seating the bullet if I press down hard enough (to make sure it's properly seated/crimped) it will crush the case. I assume same can happen when using .38spl dies when londing .357 cases?

Is is possible to load .38 with .357 dies? I'm guessing not...
 
I never heard of 357 dies, except 38/357 dies.
In other words, while there must have originally been dies for a 38 Special, all recent (like 70 years or so) dies are dual purpose.
Most of them come with a washer which is the thickness of the difference in length between the two cases. This means the dies can be set and locked for one length and will fir the other case, + or - the washer.
 
You mentioned Lee dies in your OP.

I have a Lee .38/357 4-die set bought two years ago. I had RCBS 38/357 3-die set that was probably 20 yrs old. My Dillon 550B had 38/357 dies back in 1990.

Chances are, all die manufacturers make only 38/357. Casing diameter is the same, .357 is approx 1/8 inch longer. All you need to adjust are bullet seat depth on the seating die and the bullet crimper screw on top of the FCD. (assuming Lee 4-die set)
 
You may use the 38 Special die set to reload for the 357 Mag. You would have to back out the Powder Thru Expander Die, and the Bullet Seating and Crimping Die about 2 turns to compensate for the longer 357 case. .357Mag dies cannot be used for loading .38Spl.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom