Could the rifle dies be used to load a pistol round?

[bbogue1]

Here's my delima. I load on a Tru Line Jr. press using 310 dies. My son-in-law shoots .40. There is not a .40 310 die set unless the 310 shop makes one for me.

The rifle bullet for a 38-40 is the same size (diameter and weight) as a .40 pistol bullet.

AHH HAH!!!! there is a 310 die that is for 38-40 rifle. I am thinking decaping would require some care, case resizing would be limited to neck (or mouth) resizing, but seating and crimping should work, so, Could the rifle dies be used to load a pistol round?

[petroid]

How can you get a .40 case far enough into the die to resize it?

[bbogue1]

I don'think that would be possible, I think only the mouth could be resized like a rifle case above the neck. That is one reason I am asking.

How can you get a .40 case far enough into the die to resize it?

[mold maker]

Easiest answer is to try a case and see if it will chamber. There are tolerances that might allow it at least one reloading cycle. Eventually you'll wind to with brass that's too big to feed reliably.

[Wayne Smith]

38-40 is the 44-40 case necked down. The dies are set up for the length and diameter of the 44-40 case and the neck portion is far up the case compared to the 40S&W. It might conceivably work with the 10MM, but not the 40. Either opt for the 310Shop to make dies or get a standard press and dies, or have your son in law get his own!

[Mk42gunner]

310 dies only neck sized, so if you can get the .40 S&W far enough into the die to size, it should work. I do not know about the dies meant for the Tru-Line Jr.

If you were planning to use the 310 to load with, you would need a different shell adapter, probably the one for a .30 Remington since it was the parent case for the 10mm and .40 S&W.

Robert

[Harter66]

25,30,32 Rem maybe 225,30-30 , 32 WS or 375 Win dies would size a little depending on how big they are cut for Neck only sizing . The Remington primer die will work . Keep in mind the 40 is in the ACP length class so a substitute seating die is tough.

[Iowa Fox]

As I think about this the 40 usually requires a lot of loaded rounds. Even if you do get the 310 to work its going to be mighty slow going to load any amount of quantity. I'm thinking between the two of you acquire a cheap 7/8x14 press and a set of good used 40 dies.

[bruce drake]

Buy yourself and the son-in-law a pair of Lee Hand Presses or C-Presses and a set of modern 40S&W Dies.

[frkelly74]

To get decent performing ammo you need to use the right dies. You may be able to cobble a few together and hand feed them into your gun but it will get to be a chore real quick. At least it does whenever I try it, and I end up getting the proper equipment. Life is too short to be in a futile struggle on purpose.

[bbogue1]

Excellent!!!! Here's what I've learned so far:

The rifle case is longer than the .40 so the .40 could not be properly resized which most likely cause chambering problems.
Priming is possible with the right shell holder.
Most likely loading would be labor intensive.
Spend a little money to get the right dies and save the headache.
Life is short, don't do futile things.
Be prepared to shoot many many bullets.

[bbogue1]

I bought a CH press (made before it was CH4D. (Takes standard modern 7/8X14 dies). Now I am searching for dies and a mold for the .40 to allow my son-in-law to cast and load.

Thank you all for your input.

Brad

[Artful]

Least expensive is the Lee Dies and molds