So I'm thinking about cutting some 38 special cases down to short colt and/or mid length dimensions to feed my moon clipped S&W's. (627,986. Trr8). I found an old thread where it seems some of you good folks have this all figured out so was hoping you might give some advice.

So my initial question is "what dies to use?" Do I need to buy short colt dies? Can I use 38 special, 38 super or 9mm dies? I would like to here who is using what on which case length.

Thanks!

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Dave

You can use a 38 Special die for sizing, and 9mm dies for seating and taper crimp. If your loads or less than full power you can get by very well with a taper crimp in revolvers [I did it that way with thousands of rounds for SASS shooting and my 1917 & 625 use both jacketed & cast bullets in moon clips.

Ivan

A tip of the Hat to Ivan, it never occured to me that a 9mm die could be used to taper crimp a 38 Colt.

Yes, on the Long Colt. No, on the Short Colt. I also use a 45 ACP tapper crimp on moderate loads for 45 Long Colt and 45 S&W (Schofield) too.

Ivan

If you are using a Dillon press, and loading Colt Short, you should use a 9mm powder funnel, because the 38spl powder funnel is too long. You might be OK using the 38spl powder funnel with Colt Long, but check.
There's a guy I shoot with that cuts his to 38 Super length and uses a 38 Spl powder funnel.
I just use Starline Colt Short brass.

Thanks, very helpful. I have a spare set of both 38 special and 9 mm dies .
I'm not competing with the gun , just looking for ease of loading (and an interesting project.).
My next question would be : What length?. I'm thinking short colt would load the easiest ( and I could just buy the brass) but something a hair taller / mid length would give leeway in load development. Anybody have preference?

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Dave

I load .38 SC with a .38 Special sizing die and everything else 9mm.

Actually just found a very comprehensive thread from 2014. I think I have good info to start.
Dave

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Dave

Could you link that thread sir? I can't find it. I'm a couple of days away (waiting on bullets from Midway) from some .38SC loading. I (foolishly) bought a Hornady manual - thinking/hoping it might have .38SC data - but it doesn't and is pretty weak on handgun rounds in general. I found some Rem 102-g .380 bullets on MW that have a crimping groove. I use Power Pistol - so I'm going to start midway (3.6-g) in the 100-g .380 data from the Hornady manual. The .38SC looks to have a little more case capacity than the .380 so I'll adjust the load after loading 10. I have a GP-100 in .38 Spec so I think it'll be able to safely contain things should 3.6-g prove to be too much! Hopefully the thread you found has more info...

Edited to add: the Rem 102-g bullets are .356 so that should also help to keep pressure down in a .38 Spec. The goal is to come up with a mild-shooting load for my J-frames. I picked up a box of factory .38SC last year ($32!) and it got me interested in using the short cases. Plus I can load them with new components less than half what I originally paid for factory.

I have loaded and used .38 SC brass (new from Starline) with the exact same 125 grain LRNFP (from Matt's) with the exact same powder charge as a 9mm Para. The .38 SC has just barely a smidge more capacity than the 9mm. Because my intent was efficient powder burn in a 2.125 inch barrel M640/940 this was not a max charge for 9mm. It is however above .38 special pressures.

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Certified Curmudgeon