I am new to reloading rimmed cartridges. I do load 45ACP. I clean my brass and reload. I don't trim the brass or clean the primer pockets as you don't really need to. Can I get away with this on .38 target loads. What is the best promers to use for .38. I have magnum small pistol primers can I use them.

Same thing with.38, no need to trim the case, or clean the primer pocket. You use small pistol primers in .38, non magnum.

If all you have is magnum SPs, then start low and work up, check for pressure signs as you go, you should be fine, IMO... For .357, use of magnum SPs depends on the powder you use. Slower burning powders like W296 need mag primers.

Do you have a reloading manual? If not get some and read them. Be careful of Internet reloading advice (including my own!). Have fun, and be safe!

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NRA Life Member

I prep my 38 brass the same way as you. I will occasionally check the cartridge length but have yet had to trim my brass. I only use standard primers in my loads. You should not use magnum primers for target loads.

I clean my brass and reload I do not trim the brass or clean the primer pocket either. Normally you would not use magnum primers in .38 cal. loads. if you do you will need to refigure your entire load data. As has been suggested if you don't have any reloading manuals get a couple and study them. May I suggest "The ABC's of Reloading and Lee's Reloading manual" both good resource. These book cover the basics very well. And remember take everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt or two. Read everything you can about reloading, check everything twice when reloading and stay focused on the task at hand, and you'll keep your hand and finger and eyes. Reloading is a great hobby and is just another way to enjoy the shooting sport.

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Carpriver.

I have a few questions. I have seen tumblers used. I was told you can boil the brass to clean it. How do you trim cartiges, and why do you use oil and how much do you use after you clean the brass? I do not reload but I plan on taking a class at some point and start reloading.

Trimming depends on how anal you want to be about accuracy and how hot the loads you're shooting. I don't worry about it for .38 plinker loads. For magnum hunting loads, I watch length and trim when needed.

I tumble, especially my .357s loaded with 2400. It's not the cleanest burning stuff.

I've always used CCI 500 and 550s for hotter loads. I'm not sure it makes that much difference, standard small pistol primers should do. Magnum primers should be safe, as mentioned earlier, just start low & work up. During the Great Primer Scare of 94, I switched to magnum primers for my light .44 special loads cuz that's all I could get.

Ed Matunas once listed the .38 special as one of his 7 easiest rounds to reload.

Trimming the cases in 38spl revolver fodder is much more an aid to loading them than accuracy and shooting them.
Out of all of the cases I have ever reloaded, the ones that vary the most are the 38spl ones. Min to max.....

Once, I grouped them all by length, +/- .005" so I could keep the same settings on my dies while loading. This worked but was tedious to say the least. Then, I trimmed a few hundred to make them all of the same length..Not doing that again......Then, I just decided that I would not put a crimp on them, close the case back to straight and call it good. With 3.5gr of Bullseye, it really doesn't matter anyway.

So, that is what I do now......Works for me.

You use a case trimmer to trim brass, there are several models by most or all of the reloading equipment makers. If you reload pistol you can probably get away without trimming.

you lube(oil) brass for the sizing step and all you need is a very thin film, there are pads like old fashioned ink stamp pads that you lightly roll the brass on or there are sprays. If you reload pistol & you buy carbide dies then the sizer has a very hard carbide insert that does the sizing & no lube is needed for those. Some people still lube every 5 or 10th round with carbide dies but most dont.

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Steve

Thanks for the clarification guys.