Reloading 38 S&W with lyman 310 tong tool

[taylorh]

Hello again,
I have a set of 310 tools and dies for the 38 special, but I also shoot 38 s&w in some older webleys. The webleys actually shoot a .360 sized bullet. What combination of dies can be used to properly load the 38/200 or 38 s&w rounds using the 310 tool? Did lyman ever make dies for the 38 s&w?
Thanks,
taylorh

[Char-Gar]

Yes, Lyman did make 310 38 S&W dies, I have a set. That said, the dies were the same as the 38 Special except being shorter. No difference in neck expansion size (.358) or neck sizing. Before I found them, I shortened some orphan 38 Special die bodies with the lathe and they were just the same as the S&W dies. The die bodies are butter soft and easy to trim back.

[Green Frog]

Taylorh, CharGar hit it on the Lyman/Ideal die situation, unfortunately! Some genius @ Lyman back in the day in the bowels of Lyman’s R&D Dept decided that since the American versions of 38 S&W (notably the S&W made British Service Revolver) had a sort of tight bore diameter even though the British 38-200 round it was “designed for” took the bigger bullet, the .360” X 200 gr. If you are going to load faithfully sized bullets for best accuracy in your British made guns, for instance, you may need a custom made (or at least modified) expander plug. Maybe you could turn a plug from a 375 expander (38-55, etc) down to what you need. I don’t know whether the guy at the 310 Shop or maybe our own Brass Magnet could help you on this.

Froggie

[Outpost75]

Cylinder throats on most .38 S&W revolvers I have measured pin .362 -.363 while barrel groove diameters.on S&W Victory, Regulation Police and Terrier run .359-.360". Colt Police Positive of 1920s manufacture .358 cylinder throats with .355 groove.

[taylorh]

Is there no .360 expanding plug?

[Green Frog]

At one time or another Lyman probably made one, but it’s not something you’ll run into often. Apparently they figure a .358” plug would work OK. If you really need a specific size, such as that .360” you mentioned, I’m guessing the most straightforward way to get it would be to turn down a somewhat larger one to the size you need. You can actually probably do it with an electric drill to turn the die and a file to cut it down. Finish with emery paper.

Froggie

[Outpost75]

Is there no .360 expanding plug?

RCBS Cowboy die set for .38 S&W has true .358 expander plug which is correct for a .360 bullet. If you want to load .362 bullets a Lee 9x18 Makarov die set will work, but you will still want a .38 S&W roll crimp seater. Accurate has a variety of molds for. 38 S&W in various weights, and NOE offers a .363" diameter clone of the .380-200 British Mk1 service bullet.