Reloading .38 special flare

[silverfoxdj]

I have only tried nickel plated so far. I have turned in the die to the point that the ram can't make full stroke and I assume that must mean that I have all the flare that I can get?

I've used the Lee expander die in 38 with nickel and brass and no problem.. but not with powder dispenser attached ..

 

[mmattockx]

I've used the Lee expander die in 38 with nickel and brass and no problem.. but not with powder dispenser attached ..

I have the Lee .38/.357 combo dies and they work fine with all .38 brass, with the powder measure installed. I have not loaded any .357 brass with it yet, but can't see a problem with adjusting the dies to suit the longer case.


Mark

 

[woodenpigeon]

This explains it from Lee. I bought the wrong set apparently. Made the assumption that when the packaging reads .38sp/.357 that they would do both.

 

[woodenpigeon]

I have the Lee .38/.357 combo dies and they work fine with all .38 brass, with the powder measure installed. I have not loaded any .357 brass with it yet, but can't see a problem with adjusting the dies to suit the longer case.


Mark

According to this, they should work fine if the die is stamped .38sp, not .357 like mine. I just wonder if somehow the wrong ppwk was put in my set cause it's stamped .357 on my dies but ppwk shows both.

 

[mmattockx]

According to this, they should work fine if the die is stamped .38sp, not .357 like mine. I just wonder if somehow the wrong ppwk was put in my set cause it's stamped .357 on my dies but ppwk shows both.

That sucks. I just went and looked at my dies; the sizing die is marked 38/357 and the powder thru die is marked .38 Special.


Mark

 

[woodenpigeon]

That sucks. I just went and looked at my dies; the sizing die is marked 38/357 and the powder thru die is marked .38 Special.


Mark

Maybe we could work out a trade Mark? Lol

 

[silverfoxdj]

Here is an interesting setup vid for 38SPL & 357

 

[Spawn-Inc]

well i was all set to help with a great response, but it won't work as i had hoped. the dies are externally the same but internally they are machines at different heights. i was hoping you could just add some washers (the difference in case length 38vs 357) on top of the expander but the internals will not change.

here is the difference for what it's worth,

 

[stampede]

"One thing I have thought about is just not resizing the cases as the bullets seem to fit snug enough in a spent casing from my gp100. "

If you are using it in the same pistol and it fits the chamber OK , I would not bother resizing. Your brass will last longer.

 

[woodenpigeon]

Thanks for all the help fellas, it is much appreciated.