Depriming/Resizing .357 Same As .38?

[kbm6893]

All my dies are set up for .38 and I’ve loaded and shot thousands of them. A few .357 slipped in and I didn’t notice until after I deprimed them. Since the .357 is slightly longer I didn’t think it would deprime and resize. I’m sure I can’t seat a bullet or crimp without adjusting those dies to .357, but will a Depriming/ resizing die set for .38 properly prepare the case? And would the expanding die set for .38 properly expand a .357 case?

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Question #1: Yes, because it is longer.

Question #2: No, because it is longer.

 

[ronnie gore]

yes the sizing depriming die has the same adjustment for 38 or 357 unless your dies are older most 357 dies will load both shells with some adjustment.only one tenth of an inch difference.

 

[kbm6893]

Thanks. I shoot .357 occasionally and save the brass. I’ll deprime and resize the .357 brass I have and expand them later if I decide to reload .357.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have used my 38 die for 357 brass but........

I set the die on top of a large washer that is .155" thick
so the case does not get damaged when belled..........

if the die is kept at .38 special spec's.

If I don't want to re-set the 38 die, I just grab my 357 die set.

 

[Dvus]

I use the same die to decap/resize my 9mm brass as well. Mainly because my 9mm dies are not carbide and my .38/.357 are.

 

[Marshal Kane]

Most die sets now say .38/.357 so one set of dies covers both cartridges. The only thing to watch out for is the difference in case lengths when expanding case mouths, seating, and crimping bullets. Cases can be ruined if the dies aren't adjusted correctly.

 

[Marshal Kane]

I use the same die to decap/resize my 9mm brass as well. Mainly because my 9mm dies are not carbide and my .38/.357 are.

Be careful here because the 9mm case is not really a straight wall case, it tapers to a straight wall case mouth which is smaller than .358". I suppose you run your cases through a 9mm sizer die after resizing with the .38 die?

 

[bigggbbruce]

357 dies will load both shells with some adjustment.only one tenth of an inch difference.

I have used my 38 die for 357 brass but........

I set the die on top of a large washer that is .155" thick
so the case does not get damaged when belled..........

Well actually a 38slp case is 1.155" and a 357 mag is 1.29", so the math says a difference of .135".

The spacer supplied with my RCBS die set measures .128"..slightly over 1/8"(.125")

 

[mikld]

Some of the older die sets were for either 38 or 357, but not designated for both (I have an old RCBS set for 38 Special, designated for 38 Special only. I also have newer '90s of Lee dies and one size fits both). The difference between 38 and 357 is just 1/10" more brass in the front of the case so any length issue is from the longer case, bullet seating, crimping etc. If I were concerned, I would adjust the 38 dies longer and see if they worked on the 357....

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Uh, think about it...

Question #1: Yes, because it is longer.

Question #2: No, because it is longer.

If you used a dedicated depriming die to deprime and it was properly set to just touch the shellholder, you could deprime everything from 380acp to 45 Colt.

If the sizing die is set to just touch the shellholder, then a 357 magnum case gets sized the same as the shorter 38 Special case.

The expanding die is the exact opposite: if properly set for the shorter 38 Special case it is going to flare the longer 357 magnum case too much. In some die sets, way too much: almost like a funnel.

 

[reddog81]

Like others have said - The sizing die is the same and shouldn't need adjusting. The other dies can be used for either but will require adjusting.

 

[rwsmith]

You can buy a washer from midway.......

You can buy a standard washer thingy that fits under your die locking nut on top of the thread in the press. Instead of adjusting the die to do .357, you just pop the washer (spacer) between the lock nut and the press.

 

[kbm6893]

You can buy a standard washer thingy that fits under your die locking nut on top of the thread in the press. Instead of adjusting the die to do .357, you just pop the washer (spacer) between the lock nut and the press.

I was thinking about that. I use the Hornady lock and load bushings for quick changes. I guess put the washer in between the bushing and the die?

 

[Univibe]

Don't adjust. RCBS sells a spacer that makes up the length difference. You don't use it in the sizing die, but for the expanding, seating and crimping dies you set up for .38, then just use the spacer for .357.

They make the same thing for .44 as well (but not for 10mm and .40, alas.)

 

[STORMINORMAN]

And, the thickness of the...

Don't adjust. RCBS sells a spacer that makes up the length difference. You don't use it in the sizing die, but for the expanding, seating and crimping dies you set up for .38, then just use the spacer for .357.

They make the same thing for .44 as well (but not for 10mm and .40, alas.)

And the thickness of that (40/10mm) washer would need to be...?

And the thickness of the other two (38 Special/357 Mag) & (44 Special/44 Mag) is...? Are...?

Cheers!