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saguaro
07-03-2013, 05:40 PM
Anybody ever try loading .38 Long Colt with .38 spl dies?

Saguaro
smkummer
07-03-2013, 06:25 PM
they will size and decap but might not work to expand. Then if you do get them expanded, they might not work for the crimp. So I use 9mm dies for the expand and then the 9mm die for seating/crimping. For what it is worth, I just load 38 special brass with 2.8 grains bullseye and a 148 Hollow base wadcutter bullet (the standard 38 special mid-range target load) for my 1901 Colt army. Alliant use to publish load data for the 38 long colt and that was 2.8 grains bulleye and the 150 grain round nose bullet. If you have a 1903 army with the step in the chamber, then you can load any 38 special bullet. Since my gun does not have the chamber step, it need hollow base bullets for best accuracy.
saguaro
07-03-2013, 07:23 PM
I have cimarron 1872 opentops and they are marked 38 Long Colt. Thought I'd give them a try for the heck of it.
texassako
07-03-2013, 08:34 PM
I have a Lee die set. It has a .38/.357 sizer, .38 S&W expander, and .38 Super seater/crimper in it.
saguaro
07-03-2013, 11:18 PM
I might see what I can do as far as expanding and seating with my .380 dies. They're pretty close to the 9mm that smkummer uses.

Saguaro
saguaro
07-09-2013, 05:26 PM
Well I loaded up 5 using the .380 dies to expand and seat. Awesome! Gonna have to buy some brass now

Saguaro
smkummer
07-09-2013, 06:01 PM
If you can't get brass, let me know. I'll go check what I have. Like I said for my original Colts, I just shoot hollow base wadcutters out of 38 special cases as I don't have a chamber. If you actually have a 38 Long Colt chamber with a step in the chamber that won't allow 38 special, then you will be fine shooting any .357/.358 diameter bullet out of it. Of course you can also cut 38 special cases to 38 LC length.
saguaro
07-09-2013, 07:51 PM
I cut 38 spl's to length but I think I'll get some 38 long colt because it would be cool to have another kind of brass. Like I need another kind of brass!

It's not a stepped chamber because I've been shooting spl's all along. There's something about using an old cartridge when shooting Cowboy Action that makes it a little more fun.

Saguaro