Does anybody use shims to go from 38spl to .357? or 44spl/44mag?

[wonderwolf]

A new carbine has me loading a lot more .38spl and .357 Mag lately. I seem to remember some die sets would come with a sort of precision ground washer to put under the lock ring on your dies after they were set for .38 or .44sp so that you can just run with those settings for 357 mag or .44mag.

my question is does anybody actually use those? I imagine they would work fairly well. I have a dedicated seater and and bell die for .357 mag currently but could probably stand to downsize some.

[Guesser]

No; I never saw the sense of them. I've never been afraid to adjust my dies. I don't even secure my lock rings to the die on any of them.

[lancem]

I used to long ago since the majority of my loading was 38 spl and didn't want to spend the time readjusting just to load a box of 357. Since then I've simply acquired a second set of dies so that set up my Hornady LnL and go to town.

[Tim357]

They work great. Midway has them. They are made by Redding.

[Doc Highwall]

Years ago I used them for converting from 38Spl to 357 mag and they work great on my RCBS die set.

Set them up without the spacer for 38Spl and then use the spacer for 357mag, same for 44Spl/44mag.

[kenyerian]

They work great. Use the one for the 38/357.

[5Shot]

I'd call RCBS...They have fantastic customer service.

[John Allen]

I have used them they work fine.

[country gent]

The spaceer work getting very close but in my experience they get you close. You onlu need it under the seater and bell dies, Sizing the case is ran in all the way. Getting the perfect bell and or crimp with just the spacer dosnt always happen. You could experiment with varying case overal length to get the exact bell and or crimp you want with the spacer though. Or make your own spacer to do exactly what you want it to do. I use a .030 spacer to raise seating dies on BPCR rounds when I dont want or need to crimp

[james nicholson]

Being an old guy, when I bought my Lyman dies, they came with the spacer you are talking about. It works perfectly with over 40 year old Lyman dies.

[Dusty Bannister]

The Redding set that I have contains three spacer rings. One for 38/357, for 44 spec/44 mag, and neck size only.
They are handy if you use the same bullet for each caliber, but if you use different bullets for 357, it might not be as useful. Over time, I have been able to add used dies which are set for a specific bullet and caliber. It is nice to have the convenience but of course case length variables might enter into the mix. Still, they are worth the investment, or make your own. Dusty

[**oneshot**]

I use the 357/38spec spacer and it works great. I set mine up to bell the 357s with the spacer in place. Depends on your trim length when you move to 38s whether it will work great or so-so.

[gwpercle]

Been using the " shim" thing for decades . Didn't buy any precision ground, went to the local hardware store and found a washer the right thickness. Load very few 357 magnum, when I do, I just use the shim.
Gary

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Have always used them with 38 and 357 and they have always worked well for me. Having the cases trimmed to a uniform length helps a lot with adjustment. LLS

[wonderwolf]

Have always used them with 38 and 357 and they have always worked well for me. Having the cases trimmed to a uniform length helps a lot with adjustment. LLS

I was thinking that exact thing about case length as I was pondering the use of the shims....although I imagine few people trim their pistol brass they will still run into some issues across the board when it comes to crimping cases into crimp groves esp on cast bullets. I plan on trimming SOME of my brass for accuracy purposes but not all.


I'm not sure if I have a set of the shims for 38/357 around but I sure can make them if needed....thanks for all the replies, its interesting to see who takes advantage of the "technology" and who doesn't.

[NoZombies]

Heck, I'm lazy enough that I cut the side of the shims so I don't even have to remove the die fully, just unscrew the die enough to slip it in, and tighten back down.

I used a milling machine, but a hacksaw works. They should look like a "C" when you're done

[bangerjim]

I plan to make a 38 to 357 shim on the surface grinder this winter. They say they work great. I just hate messing with my dies once they are tuned in!

banger

[tdoor4570]

I got the shim when I got my dies have used it and never had a problem of any kind loading 38 and 357.

[Motor]

Yes it came with my RCBS die set. I use it mostly on the size die sometimes on the mouth expander die. It's not very practical on the seat/crimp die because this die always needs adjusted for best crimp anyway.

[KCSO]

I tried factory and they were close so I turned my wn set to the exact size I needed... then i got a second set of dies and the turned set are laying in the washer drawer.

[bedbugbilly]

I never loaded much 357 until I got my Handi-Rifle. i bought a couple of shim sets from Midway as I thought it would be an easy switch from 38 to 357. I use Lee's 4 die set on my 4 hole classic turret. First time I did it, it worked fine but I soon found out that it's actually quicker for me to just adjust the dies - especially with the Lee lock rings. I make up dummy rounds with the various cast boolit designs I load and they make the really speed up the initial adjustment of the necessary dies from one cartridge to the other - a quick fine tune and good to go.

[bobthenailer]

I did years ago , but now use dedicated die sets. you can still use one TC sizer for either 38/357 and another for 44s/44mag

[Petrol & Powder]

I've used them back in my single stage press days. I load so few .357's that I just set the dies in my progressive press for 38 Special casings and never looked back. Obviously a shim costs less than a die but over a long period of time it may just be easier to get another die set. If you are switching back and forth between the short & long casing a lot, Then the shims will save you some time & money but in the real world a second set of dies that you will keep for decades may be the better solution in the long run. YMMV

For a single stage press a second set of dies and a Lock-n-Load bushing set would be a fast and clean solution.
For a progressive press, like a Dillon, another tool head set up for the companion cartridge would be my choice.

[mdi]

No; I never saw the sense of them. I've never been afraid to adjust my dies. I don't even secure my lock rings to the die on any of them.

Me too. Adjusting dies should be like breathing to a reloader (easy, instinctive, piece o' cake, etc.). Sometimes I'll use a dummy round to get my seating die close, but readjusting dies ain't no big deal...

[jaysouth]

I once knew an old fellow that found some washers that were 1/10" thick with 1" ID to use as shims for his .38 dies so he could reload .357 without adjusting his dies.

I have an extra set of Lyman Dies that I bought for $5 at a yard sale. They stay locked down for my .357 loads and I use the Dillons for .38.

[Harter66]

I still use mine once in awhile but mostly for the sets that have 1 chamber and I want to neck only .

[country gent]

I use shims not only for 38 spl/357 but also have some made up for other cartridges that for one reason or another I want a second setting on the dies. One is cases I dont always full length resize or bump the shoulder back on. I set the die to bump shoulder where I want it and then make a shim to raise it to the amount I want to neck size. Some rounds I may only full length resize every 5-6 loadings this makes it easy when it comes time. I use shim stock when available or gage stock. If doing this you need to keep good notes with the dies to know what is going opn when loading.

[btroj]

I considered them and finally decided it was easier to get a second set of dies.

[NoAngel]

Nope. Setting a die is just too easy to mess around with more parts.

[NC_JEFF]

No shim for me. It's too easy to just grab my dummy round and turn my dies down on these. I only have to partially back the die out to adjust on the dummy.
JD

[6bg6ga]

I solved the problem by purchasing a second set of dies.

[HATCH]

I have some adjustable toolheads for my Dillon 550
40/10mm , 38/357 & 44sp/mag
I only have to adjust the sizing die when I change from one to the other.
Works great for me.
Looking to get them for my 650

[mac266]

I bought extra sets of dies before I discovered the shims :)

[fguffey]

I bought extra sets of dies before I discovered the shims :) In the beginning reloaders adjusted the 38 Special dies to load 357 Magnum. Then RCBS made a 357 Magnum reloading die set. Those that did not know the 38 Special die set would work on both 38 Special and 357 Magnum purchased the additional 357 Magnum set, then RCBS made one set that would load the 357 Magnum and the 38 special by adding the spacer. Reloaders had trouble sorting it out, the only reason for the spacer is to raise the seating die to crimp the longer 357 Magnum.


And then? They made another set of dies with a carbide sizer.

I adjust my dies every time I use them.


F. Guffey