I reload mostly .357 but have started loading 38 SPL and need a die for crimping the shorter brass. I already have the sizing, decaping, and seating die for the .357mag that works for the 38 SPL but I cannot crimp 38 SPL with it. I live in Orygun.
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I reload mostly .357 but have started loading 38 SPL and need a die for crimping the shorter brass. I already have the sizing, decaping, and seating die for the .357mag that works for the 38 SPL but I cannot crimp 38 SPL with it. I live in Orygun.
Hellgate in Orygun
With 16+revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap&ball.
If you do not subscribe to a newspaper you are uninformed. If you do subscribe to a newspaper you are misinformed. Mark Twain
”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
I'm not sure I am reading your post correctly but the same die will work for both 357 and 38 Special cartridges, you only need to adjust the die.
The easiest solution is to use a spacer ring under the lock ring for the die, that allows you to remove the spacer and screw the die down when loading the shorter 38 Special casings without adjusting the position of the lock ring on the die.
Back in the '60s the usual answer was not to buy another die, or die set, but to obtain a 13/16ths or 7/8ths washer(s) with a thickness of 1/10th inch, which will allow you to use the die for both without changing the setting on the die.
I should have read all of Petrol and Powder's post. Xin Loi.
Ed
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What I have is a .357mag 3 die set and I cant screw the seating/crimp die down far enough to crimp 38SPL. I’d have to machine .10 off the bottom of the 357 die. I’d rather just buy a beater 38SPL die or used set. Thanks for trying to help me save $$$. I appreciate your time on this.
Hellgate in Orygun
With 16+revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap&ball.
If you do not subscribe to a newspaper you are uninformed. If you do subscribe to a newspaper you are misinformed. Mark Twain
”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
Hellgate, you have a PM
Duane & I just done a deal. Thanks.
Hellgate in Orygun
With 16+revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap&ball.
If you do not subscribe to a newspaper you are uninformed. If you do subscribe to a newspaper you are misinformed. Mark Twain
”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
If your seating die is a RCBS or Redding, you can call RCBS Customer Service or Redding Customer Service and they will send you a adapter ring and you can set your die for .357 magnum and then when using it for .38 Special, all you will have to do is slip the ring onto the lower threaded part of the die and screw the die into press and you will have your die crimping .38 Special loads. You may have to adjust the seater die to accommodate the differences in different bullets but you would have to do that anyway. The Spacer Ring is what I use for the job. james
My dies are for .357 mag only, not .357/38SPL so the crimping ring is machined high up inside the seating die for use on .357 mag only. I wish I could just screw the die down closer to the shell holder but that doesn't work for these dies. I wasn't thinking when I bought the dies many years ago. The box has yellow labeling rather than today's white RCBS labels.
Hellgate in Orygun
With 16+revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap&ball.
If you do not subscribe to a newspaper you are uninformed. If you do subscribe to a newspaper you are misinformed. Mark Twain
”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
Got it. Makes sense to me now. I had forgot that some of the dies produced were single use (.38 Special or .357 magnum) some years ago. james
Got the dies yesterday. Done deal. Thanks all.
Hellgate in Orygun
With 16+revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap&ball.
If you do not subscribe to a newspaper you are uninformed. If you do subscribe to a newspaper you are misinformed. Mark Twain
”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn
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