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Old 03-12-2017, 09:02 AM
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Default Newbie question

I'm just getting ready to start reloading, and I've decided on a Lee press; mainly because the only guy I know who reloads has one, and I can pick his brain. I have a question or two for you guys too.

I want to reload the whole .38 spectrum; from 38 Short Colt to .357 Magnum. What different dies, etc... do I need to get, and what powder would be best to cover the range I want to hand load?
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Old 03-12-2017, 10:43 AM
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Hand Gun Dies - Lee Precision

38special dies will also load 357 mag. Not the other way around.

I do not know about 38 SW I do not load that

The above link will help
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Old 03-12-2017, 10:59 AM
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38spl and 357 mag will use the same die set. For your 38 colt you can resize the cases with the 38/357 dies, but unless I'm mistaken you'll be needing to use something shorter like a 9mm or a 380 flaring die to expand the case mouths. Don't take this as expert info though as I have never tried to reload a 38 short Colt.
As for powder, that's like asking what oil should I use in my car. You'll get a million opinions on that. For full on 357 mag loads I use W296 or H110. Alliant's 2400 is also a great magnum powder. Unique is one you can use pretty much across the board. Unique will work in 38spl, but due to low pressures it will burn dirty. For 38 spl I like either Universal or Titegroup. Bullseye works well in 38spl too. I think the consensus on bullets in 38 spl or 357 for best accuracy both seem to favor 158 gr. SWC.
Nothing wrong with a Lee press. Lee has been making equipment for a long time. Doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get started with Lee either.
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Old 03-12-2017, 11:08 AM
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Just don't get the Lee 1000 progressive loader. They are a major P.I.T.A.
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Old 03-12-2017, 02:54 PM
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Consider getting a turret press (Lee is OK). They will negate you having to pull and replace dies at each stage of the operation, and the force required for pistol reloading isn't enough to require a mega heavy duty press.

And Jake1945 is spot on about the Pro 1000. The only good thing to ever come about from the two I owned was they convinced me to buy a Dillon 650XL.
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Old 03-12-2017, 03:17 PM
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I have a couple of friends with Lee turret presses. After watching one get set up and in use, I wouldn't trade my Dillon 550B for all the Lee's in China! (pun intended)

If you are just starting, consider getting a single stage press, like the RCBS Jr. You can buy a starter kit for a reasonable price. After you have loaded awhile and understand the process and issues, you can move to a progressive like the Dillon 550C. If you are serious and have the money, you can start with the Dillon. They have instructions on set up and video as well as great phone and on line support.

However, you first purchase should be the Lyman Reloading Handbook that explains about all you need to know about starting reloading.

Its great fun.
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Old 03-12-2017, 03:36 PM
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Here is a great place for reloading knowledge.

So you're thinking about getting into reloading...

As far as your specific question about .38 cal. I don't think you will find one powder and one die set to handle all applications you mention.
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Old 03-12-2017, 04:58 PM
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I got a lee turret press about 2 years ago you can start out slow doing one thing at a time. then as you go along and get more experence you can go faster .what i like most about the turret press is you set the dies in the turret and your set to go . Each cal i reload is set up in a differant turret so it is set . I reload 9 mm to .308 so all i have to do is change turret and ready to to next cal
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Old 03-12-2017, 05:55 PM
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Your mind seems to be already made up for the press;so no need to develop the subject any more.As for the powder to use that'll cover the spectrum,I don't think that it is a good idea.Not that it doesn't exist but at best you will have a compromise that will only do ok in every cal you intend to use it in.
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Old 03-12-2017, 06:01 PM
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I also would like to steer you CLEAR of the Lee Pro 1000. I bought one used and now know why the guy wanted to be rid of it. Everything works fine except the damned priming system. In short the thing will drive you insane trying to load on it. I recommend a turret press of whatever brand you like.
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Old 03-12-2017, 07:37 PM
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Thanks for all the replies. The one I was looking at Lee Precision Challenger kit. My main reason for wanting to reload is because of the lack of availability of .38 SC and .38 LC (at least locally.) 38 special would also be nice, but truth-be-told I'll probably not reload .357 magnum. I just don't shoot enough of it. Eventually I want to add .30 carbine, and 8 mm Mauser; but that's down the road. Right now what I want to load is just .38 SC and LC. Then when I get comfortable, add the others.
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Old 03-12-2017, 08:47 PM
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The 38 S&W cartridge and the 38 Special are different shaped, length, and a few 1/1000ths different diameter. Plus they use a different shell holder. Except for all that, they are the same.

As to one powder for everything: there is only one, UNIQUE. These will most likely be slow and lead (and filthy) But, it can be used in everything. They old Lyman 45th Edition, had at least one load for every known cartridge with Unique. I am of the old breed in that I like WW231. It will do low to medium velocity loads in almost every handgun round. But for true target loads, the king is Bullseye! My F-I-L won 2 national championships and a room of trophies with Bullseye in 38 Special and 45 ACP. (He used, and uses ALCAN primers, which haven't been made in decades.) When his house burnt down about 25 years ago he lost about 30 pounds of Bullseye and 40,000 Alcan primers. (and probably 30,000 round of reloads) The loading presses and loading components were replaced before the kitchen table!

The only other truly universal powder is FFFg Black Powder, and that is a different level of reloading! Some of those 38 Short Colt and 38 Long Colt and a few 38 S&W revolvers are Black Powder only pistols, so be careful!

Ivan
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Old 03-12-2017, 09:08 PM
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The most powders that you will need will be three. A fast burning, medium burning and for top magnum loads, a slow burning powder.

If you know that you are going to concentrate on target or max loads you can drop one on either end and use two.

You can get by with two if you don't want to load the most magnum magnums because some medium powders can be loaded up pretty warm.

If you aren't going to shoot slow moving target loads, you can drop the fast powder.

I'd say that you at least need two powders and will never really need more than three.

Some faster target powders can actually be loaded to warm ranges, but beware. Many of these powders requre only a tiny amount of powder and it's easy to double charge a case, which will blow up a gun. Bulkier powders that fill the case more are desirable for beginners until you develop your reloading as to eliminate, as much as possible, the chance of an overcharge.

Some means of monitoring powder fill is needed.

For those of us that charge powders away from the press we look down the cases with a flashlight when finished charging to check the powder levels.

Anyone starting reloading needs to read at least one how to section of a good reloading manual that will tell you what to avoid, differences in types of cartridges, and safety tips.

PS. If you want you can prime off press also with a hand primer. Of course its' less handling if you can do all of the operations on the press, but some of us have reasons to vary.
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Old 03-12-2017, 09:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Flintstone View Post
Thanks for all the replies. The one I was looking at Lee Precision Challenger kit. My main reason for wanting to reload is because of the lack of availability of .38 SC and .38 LC (at least locally.) 38 special would also be nice, but truth-be-told I'll probably not reload .357 magnum. I just don't shoot enough of it. Eventually I want to add .30 carbine, and 8 mm Mauser; but that's down the road. Right now what I want to load is just .38 SC and LC. Then when I get comfortable, add the others.
Just out of curiosity,may I ask why the .38SC and LC and not the .38Spl which would be much easier and I think safer to start with?
Qc
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Old 03-12-2017, 10:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Qc Pistolero View Post
Just out of curiosity,may I ask why the .38SC and LC and not the .38Spl which would be much easier and I think safer to start with?
Qc
It's just a personal hobby shooting short and long. It would be much easier if I could load them myself.

I'll probably buy both the dies for SC/LC and a set for .38 Special/.357. I may start with 38 special and work my way down, or the other way around. Like I said earlier, I'm a complete novice, but I do take instruction and constructive criticism well. I know how much I don't know, but I'm willing to learn.

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Old 03-19-2017, 03:52 PM
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Well, I got all my stuff set up yesterday. I started with 38 special. I wanted to start really light, so I loaded 3 gr trail boss with 125 gr swc. They were pretty cool popcorn loads, and I was able to shoot 2 inch groups at 30 ft with a Taurus 85. Later I reloaded some 38 short colt brass that I had with 2.4 gr Titegroup, and the same 125 gr swc. They actually felt a little more powerful than the specials I loaded, but still very light. As I get more comfortable I'll amp up the loads a little.

Lee doesn't make a trimming die for LC or SC, so I'm at a loss as to how to trim those to length. Since I didn't have any LC on hand, I wasn't able to load any of those.
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Old 03-19-2017, 04:37 PM
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Mr_Flintstone,

Lee makes a .38 Short and Long Carbide die set. You can buy this and load .38 SC, LC, .38 Spl. and .357 Magnum by adjusting appropriately. They will not load .38 S&W, .38 ACP and Super. or .380 ACP.

There is virtually never any reason to trim any revolver cartridge case, Never! Save your self some grief and forget this.

Unless you have revolvers specifically chambered for .38 SC & LC save your self time and energy and forget about these. If all your guns are .38 Spl./.357 Magnum then stick with those cases. Then buy the .38 Spl./.357 die set.
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Old 03-26-2017, 02:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom S. View Post
Consider getting a turret press (Lee is OK). They will negate you having to pull and replace dies at each stage of the operation, and the force required for pistol reloading isn't enough to require a mega heavy duty press.

And Jake1945 is spot on about the Pro 1000. The only good thing to ever come about from the two I owned was they convinced me to buy a Dillon 650XL.
I bought a Lee Classic Turret Press. I can use it single stage or progressive mode. It's really easy to work with, change outs are super fast. The lever gets great leverage so even swagging is easy. I would recommend this press to anyone.
I have never own the Lyman Turret but it's made in Ct. which is a good thing, Go USA! I just saw them on sale at Cabelas for $139.99. I'm tempted to buy one at that price.
I'm never in a rush when I reload so I don't own any "Progressive Presses." I suppose if I was to buy one I'd most likely go with a Dillon 650. My 2 cents!!
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Old 03-27-2017, 12:30 PM
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I have a Lee single stage, Anniversary edition, I like the breech lock capibility for things like switching from 357 to 38 special, I just get extra set of dies. The Hand Press is pretty awesome, too, if you travel or something like that.

I'd suggest buying 2 sets of dies, one for 357 and one for 38 special, same dies, they'll just be set to different OAL, etc. and save you the hassle of always re adjusting them for each cartridge.

I'm not sure on the 38 SW, but whas the advantage of going this caliber? I can load 38 special to what seems to be almost 22lr kick and thump for smaller game, and 357 up to pretty potent rounds. Why mess with an oddball third? Just asking, maybe you have a specific revolver or something?
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Old 03-27-2017, 12:37 PM
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I see now about the 38 SW, it is more like a 9mm, so it would take a third die set. And a second gun as well it would seem, as it wasn't made for 38 spl or 347 mag. Larger bullet, different case and all
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Old 03-29-2017, 07:32 PM
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I've had continued success with the 38-series. My 38 SC is nearly identical to the Remington factory loads. I've loaded a variety of 38 special, and have settled on a mid-range target load for my target rounds. I also found a solution to making 38 LC Brass. I use a 9mm Lee quick-trim die, and stack four 3/8 washers on the brass before I start trimming. It trims the rounds to 1.025 inches instead of the 1.031 listed, but my factory 38 special brass is short by about the same amount. I've trimmed and loaded a few with 125 gr lead, and they are nice little rounds.
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