Pros/cons of combo reloading dies

[stickhunter]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a set of dies for reloading 32 H&R Magnum, and I've noticed that many of the big players sell dies that are specific to the 32 H&R as well as dies that work for both 32 H&R and 32 S&W, along the same line as using the same dies for loading 38 Special and 357 Magnum. I imagine the 32 S&W die bodies are shorter than the 32 H&R, and you just adjust them for either caliber based on how far you screw them down in the press.

I'm a little puzzled why someone would buy 32 H&R-specific dies over 32 S&W/H&R dies, but there must be a reason for their existence. Is it simply that 32 H&R dies are a little quicker to set up since you can just use the standard process of screwing them down to touch the shell plate? Is there something else I'm missing?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Raton57]

Only die you have to really mess for is the second and 3rd dies the sizing die sets up the same for both.

 

[deerfarmer]

Unrelated to you post @stickhunter but your PM inbox is full!

 

[Canuck65]

I believe you just have to adjust your sizing die. Just like 38sp and 357mag. Carefully setting up a sizing die is required for every cartridge you load for anyway. Doesn’t matter if it’s pistol, rifle, straight-wall, bottleneck … I can’t see why a combo die would be any less effective than a dedicated 32hr die.

 

[vagrantviking]

Only die you have to really mess for is the second and 3rd dies the sizing die sets up the same for both.

Sizing die is set and forget about it. Will be fine for 32 H&R or shorter brass.

If you are only doing one length case set up the expander die and it's done. Seating die will just need to be adjusted for different bullets after initial setup.
If using different length cases the expander and seating dies will need to be moved up and down for each length.

The advantage is that you know there's enough adjustment in the dies to do either of the cases it's marked and everything between. There is no down side.
I have both 357 and 38sp. Bought 2 identical Lee die sets and set one for each length. Both work perfectly.

 

[Meroh]

Sizing die is set and forget about it. Will be fine for 32 H&R or shorter brass.

If you are only doing one length case set up the expander die and it's done. Seating die will just need to be adjusted for different bullets after initial setup.
If using different length cases the expander and seating dies will need to be moved up and down for each length.

The advantage is that you know there's enough adjustment in the dies to do either of the cases it's marked and everything between. There is no down side.
I have both 357 and 38sp. Bought 2 identical Lee die sets and set one for each length. Both work perfectly.

This^. For those who don't know, for 38 S&W, you need a different shell holder, but 9mm dies work very well.