Another noob question - 38/357 dies

[orangeusa]

Lee's documentation says the 38spl dies will do both 38/357. BUT that the 357 mag will not do 38.

1. Well, the resizer is clearly the same part.
2. The powder thru/expanding die - at least the expanding part is different.
3. The Bullet seat is a dfferent part number.
4. The Lee Factory crimp is the same part number.

What gives here? I was assuming that I could screw in the 357 a couple of turns and go to town for 38spl.

CAVEAT:
I've NOT tried a 357 round OR a 38 round, but just curious. I'm getting a love-hate relationship with Lee. They make great / innovative stuff at reasonable prices, but their documentation leaves much to be desired - i.e. the part numbers and markings on the dies are just inconguous.

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[XDRoX]

I'm slightly confused by your question but I can tell you that I have 38spl/357 Lee dies and load both calipers without issue.

[Dutch3]

If the bullet seat die is a different part number, perhaps the .357 die is longer, which would eliminate the possibility of screwing it in for .38 SPL.

I have an older RCBS set that will do both. It includes a spacer to quickly reset (unscrew) the seating die from .38 SPL to .357 MAG.

[Hallx7]

My assumption would be that the 357 specific expander and bullet seater bodies are longer and cannot be dialed down to 38 specs

[orangeusa]

Lee die set SKU: 90510 - 38 spl.

"Note: 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. "

http://leeprecision.com/3-die-set-38sp-carbide.html

Lee die set SKU: 90511 - 357 Mag.

"Note: The 357 Mag die set can load maximum cases. The 357 Mag cannot load the 38 Special. "

http://leeprecision.com/3-die-set-357-mag-carbide.html

What up with that?

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[russt]

Just get the 38/357 and be done with it. I also have the lee 357/38 and load both with it.

[orangeusa]

My assumption would be that the 357 specific expander and bullet seater bodies are longer and cannot be dialed down to 38 specs

That's kinda what I was wondering. Weird that they sell two sets... Maybe they bottom out... I'll fiddle with it and report back. Inert rounds of course..

I think worst case, I might need to buy two die bodies.

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[Bill Steele]

Most dies these days are both 38spl and 357M. They just need to be long enough to accommodate the shorter 38spl case.

If you run into a problem where you have 357M only dies that are too short to be used with 38spl cases (that is, when screwed all the way down they still won't reach far enough down the 38spl case), I would try using the lock nut on the underside of the press and screwing the die down far enough to be used with the 38spl cases.

[orangeusa]

Just get the 38/357 and be done with it. I also have the lee 357/38 and load both with it.

I uh, bought this 357 set off of the interwebz - assuming it would do both.

We'll see.

BTW - they don't sell a die set that says 38/357. The sizer is marked that way, and the Factory Crimp is also... but not the expanding die and bullet seat.

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[orangeusa]

Most dies these days are both 38spl and 357M. They just need to be long enough to accommodate the shorter 38spl case.

If you run into a problem where you have 357M only dies that are too short to be used with 38spl cases (that is, when screwed all the way down they still won't reach far enough down the 38spl case), I would try using the lock nut on the underside of the press and screwing the die down far enough to be used with the 38spl cases.

Why oh why didn't I think of that!?? I'll post after I fiddle with both rounds.

Thx.
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[Dutch3]

Doesn't the Lee seating die also roll crimp? If the die length from the bottom of the die to the crimp is too long for the .38, will seating the die lower in the press even work?

Yes, getting confused.

[orangeusa]

Doesn't the Lee seating die also roll crimp? If the die length from the bottom of the die to the crimp is too long for the .38, will seating the die lower in the press even work?

Yes, getting confused. :crazy:

Yeah it does. You can set it to mush the bullet all the way to almost no crimp.

OD on both 38 and 357 are same, just a length difference. (Correct me if I'm wrong). Same bullet diameter too (ID?).

Sorry (I said that wrong) - you need to setup the dies for one or the other caliber and go to town.

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[Dutch3]

OK, so if you have a die designed for .357 only, I would assume that the length of the die body from the bottom of the die to the crimp at the top is going to be too long for a .38, regardless of where the die is set in the press.

i.e., with the brass fully seated in the die at the bottom, it will be trying to crimp above the top of the .38 brass by .080" or so.

But if using a .38/.357 die, the overall length of the body is shorter, so the die can be adjusted up in the press a few turns from the .38 setting to place the crimp in the proper spot for the longer .357 brass.

Does that make sense?

[Bill Steele]

OK, so if you have a die designed for .357 only, I would assume that the length of the die body from the bottom of the die to the crimp at the top is going to be too long for a .38, regardless of where the die is set in the press.

i.e., with the brass fully seated in the die at the bottom, it will be trying to crimp above the top of the .38 brass by .080" or so.

But if using a .38/.357 die, the overall length of the body is shorter, so the die can be adjusted up in the press a few turns from the .38 setting to place the crimp in the proper spot for the longer .357 brass.

Does that make sense?

That is a good point.

If the crimp collar is far enough up in the die body (on the .357M only seater), it may bottom on the shell holder before the crimp is applied. I wasn't even thinking about the crimp with the seater die. Goes to show you how long it has been since I seated and crimped in the same step.

[orangeusa]

Either way, I think moving the 357 die down by 2-3 turns (which is what is gained if you put the lock screw on the bottom), will allow 38 to be loaded also with the same dies. (Assuming that I haven't brought up a false problem here.

They dies would have to be reconfigured for 38 or 357.

I could be wrong.

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