38/357 sizing die?

[ndh87]

For a regular revolver do you size to .356 or .358? My mold is casting them out around .360 so they're spreading the case too much to chamber when I load them.

Also, how well do the lee sizing dies work?

[mdi]

Of the two you mention, I'd go with .358". Best size is what fits your cylinder throats. Run a slug/soft bullet through the cylinder and measure it (do all cylinders). Use this size as optimum size for your bullets (if they measure .358" then .358" bullets are best.). On most modern revolvers the cylinder throats will be larger than the groove diameter, so if your throats measure .358" and your groove diameter is .357", you will have a good fitting bullet.

I've been casting/sizing for my 5, .44 magnums for prolly 14 years and have only used the Lee push through sizers. They work great for me, and they are easy to "customize"...

[torker]

Hello ndh87, I normally measure the cylinder throat and size to that. the boolit should be a slight hand push through the throats. ( I use a pencil ) The lee sizing dies work ok. just measure the boolit when finished. should be .001 or .002 over bore for lead free shooting, pending on other factors,hardness,velocity,powder charge, etc. Hope this helps out..

[ShooterAZ]

.358 works well in all my 38 Specials and 357 Mags, including my Contender. No leading at all. The Lee sizing dies work OK as long as they are lubed prior to trying to push through. I did have one labeled .358 that was actually sizing under. Midway replaced it no problem.

[jdgabbard]

As mentioned by Shooter, .358 works well in all my .38 Cal pistols...except for my SP-101, which actually has a bore of .355... It'll shoot .358, but kicks like a damn mule. I size to .356 for it.

[**oneshot**]

I'm sizing in a 358 sizer that gives me a 359 boolit that really fits nice in my Dad's old Blackhawk.

[ndh87]

cylinder throats push sinkers out at .356

[jblee10]

What cartridge is that "regular revolver" chambered for. It it is .357 Mag and the throats are that small you may need to open them up.

[Griz44mag]

I use the Lee sizers for some bullets as well. use some kind of lube on them before pushing into the sizer though. I use a pump spray bottle with alcohol and a bit of lanolin, and push tem through when still wet. That way you don't scrape your bullets, you size them.

[bobthenailer]

for the past 40 + years and about 20 different 357 mags, cast bullets sized @.358 have been accurate / and no leading issues in them ! but sometimes you may run into something different !
Example after having about 10 different 44 mags! and cast bullets sized @.430 have been accurate and no leading in all but 2 they had larger cyl throats in those 2 i use bullets sized to .432 dia to acheive accuracy. In my 9mms & 38 supers i use .357 dia cast bullets

[hanover67]

Slug your barrel and then size boolits to .001" over that diameter. I recently slugged my Colt .38 Special Officer's Model and found it has a .353" bore and it shoots much better with boolits sized to .354 than larger ones.

[res45]

My two 357's like bullets sized differently,the .359 dia. bullet my Ruger likes is a bit tight in the Taurus so I size it to .358"

I size all my bullets with Lee sizers and use a little Imperial sizing wax if I'm going to pan lube bullets later. If I'm going to size tumble lube bullets I use a lite coat of Alox/JPW lube before and after sizing.