38 spl reloading
Hi guy's, I just got a 38 spl. My question is, I have 357 mag dies and brass, can I use the 357 dies and trim the brass to 38 spl length to reload for the 38 spl? I don't have a 357 and the shells would stay in my personal stock.
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Sounds like a lot of work,since 38 special cases are so plentiful, But
I see no reason it would be unsafe.0 -
Ya, Its just that I hate to pay for anything I don't have to, and I got the time. 0 -
Sorry to say, but the .357 crimp die won't work with the shorter .38 spl. case. You could grind or file the die to the shorter length. Now if the box of dies say 38/357 you are in business. You can load the longer cases with the shorter die but not the opposite. In the old days I made a spacer to put in place when loading the 357 with 38 dies. This way I didn't have to readjust each time I changed calibers. I did the same with 44spl/44mag. Eddie 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Pistollero1050
Hi guy's, I just got a 38 spl. My question is, I have 357 mag dies and brass, can I use the 357 dies and trim the brass to 38 spl length to reload for the 38 spl? I don't have a 357 and the shells would stay in my personal stock.
How much 357 brass ya got? I got lots of 38 special brass I don't need. Maybe we could work out a trade.0 -
quote:Originally posted by elubsme
Sorry to say, but the .357 crimp die won't work with the shorter .38 spl. case. You could grind or file the die to the shorter length. Now if the box of dies say 38/357 you are in business. You can load the longer cases with the shorter die but not the opposite. In the old days I made a spacer to put in place when loading the 357 with 38 dies. This way I didn't have to readjust each time I changed calibers. I did the same with 44spl/44mag. Eddie
mine does0 -
quote:Originally posted by reloader44mag
quote:Originally posted by elubsme
Sorry to say, but the .357 crimp die won't work with the shorter .38 spl. case. You could grind or file the die to the shorter length. Now if the box of dies say 38/357 you are in business. You can load the longer cases with the shorter die but not the opposite. In the old days I made a spacer to put in place when loading the 357 with 38 dies. This way I didn't have to readjust each time I changed calibers. I did the same with 44spl/44mag. Eddie
mine does
Then you must have the dies for the shorter case. It is physically impossible to crimp a 1.155" (.38 spl.) case in a crimping die set up for a 1.290" (357) case. The case is too short to reach the beveled crimp in the die. Please check your die box to see if it says 38/357. If it does, I agree with you. I do have an RCBS set of dies marked .357 with a manufacture date of 1974 that will not crimp a .38 Special. A .38 special will not crimp a .38 Long Colt. A .38 Long Colt will not crimp a .38 Short Colt. But a .38 Short Colt will crimp all four cases if adjusted (unscrewed) to accommodate the longer case. I am not questioning resizing or belling of the case as the stud can be adjusted, but the crimp can not be lowered to accommodate the shorter cases. Anxiously awaiting your reply and in put from other avid reloaders. Eddie0 -
At one time, dies were made for the .38 and the .357. The .38 dies would load both - merely by adjusting the crimp die upwards to handle the longer .357. But if you had .357 dies, you couldn't crimp shorter .38 cases. In a forehead-slapping moment, it dawned on them that they could make .38 dies and merely label them .38/357 - and so that's how it's now done.
Unless your dies are more than 20 years old, they'll load both. That's also true for .44 spec/mag and even 45 Colt/Casull, BTW. Some but not all 41 Mag dies will load the semi-wildcat 41 Special.0 -
Thank you for backing me up, Rocky. Ed 0 -
My RCBS dies have a .125 spacer in the box to do both. Theoretically without adjusting the dies. 1982 vintage 0 -
My dies are the old RCBS. The box has the white lettering on it. The p/n is 18206 labeled .357 mag swc. Probbly at least 20 yrs old cause I got them from my old man. I have about 67 rounds of .357 brass so a trade might not be economical. But email me if still interested. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Pistollero1050
My dies are the old RCBS. The box has the white lettering on it. The p/n is 18206 labeled .357 mag swc. Probbly at least 20 yrs old cause I got them from my old man. I have about 67 rounds of .357 brass so a trade might not be economical. But email me if still interested.
E-mail me your address and these are yours (I couldn't figure out how to add a pic to a Gunbroker e-mail). Don't worry about sending the 357's, I've got plenty. Shipping is on me too. Us "Junior Members" gotta stick together.[:)]
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SWEET!!!!!!!!! I'll be in touch. 0 -
It'll be in the mail Monday. 0 -
Great I'll keep a sharp eye out for it. I have something you might enjoy for you. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Toolfogie
quote:Originally posted by Pistollero1050
Hi guy's, I just got a 38 spl. My question is, I have 357 mag dies and brass, can I use the 357 dies and trim the brass to 38 spl length to reload for the 38 spl? I don't have a 357 and the shells would stay in my personal stock.
How much 357 brass ya got? I got lots of 38 special brass I don't need. Maybe we could work out a trade.
As do I. Inm fact, even if you don't need the .38's I still would be interested in buying the .357 brass. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.
GH1[:)]0 -
Just for reference:
All of my RCBS dies are marked on the top with a 2 digit number indicating the year of manufacture.
[:D]0 -
I called RCBS today. They informed me that I would have to get a 38 spl seating die. It won't work the other way around. So now the search is on. 0 -
Yup, just as we suspected. BTW, I was in the exact same peccadillo a couple decades ago: had a set of RCBS .357 dies and couldn't load .38 Specials with them. 0
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