Dillon Square Deal B die question

lrrifleman · Jan 25, 2025

Greetings!

I have acquired an older SDB die that is exclusively for the 38 Special (#20102). Yet Dillon is currently listing a 38 Special/357 Magnum die (#20240). The 38 Special only die appears to have been dropped.

What is the actual difference between the two dies? I would imagine that the difference lies in the crimping die (#4), but I am having difficulty visualizing what that difference is.

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

SmithNut · Jan 25, 2025

lrrifleman said:
Greetings!

I have acquired an older SDB die that is exclusively for the 38 Special (#20102). Yet Dillon is currently listing a 38 Special/357 Magnum die (#20240). The 38 Special only die appears to have been dropped.

What is the actual difference between the two dies? I would imagine that the difference lies in the crimping die (#4), but I am having difficulty visualizing what that difference is.

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

I believe the only difference is how far in or out you set the dies up. The only difference is the .357 cartridge is 1/10" longer than the .38 special. Sooo, you should only need to adjust the dies in the shell holder, unless I'm missing something due to it being the Square Deal press.

Ivan the Butcher · Jan 25, 2025

The 38 Special case flaring/powder thru die, the seating die, and the crimp die are not adjustable for the 357 case. On your old set the sizing die may be short also.

Most high volume reloaders use 38 Special specific loading dies. My F-I-L has 2 Dillon 1050 presses, one for 45 ACP and one for 38 Special full WC loads. He has a custom die set for 38 Special WC. I think it is/was from Huntington Dies (but they are defunct now.) When we load a batch of 38 Special 158 gr RN or SWC ammo we change out the seating and crimp dies for RCBS dies. 3000 rounds and change back. The die adjustment take as long as the loading (at least the first time did!).

Ivan

JackM · Jan 25, 2025

I have a Square Deal B and I have a 38/357 die set for it. The insert dies are marked 38/357 while the seating stem (Station #3) is marked 38 on top. That’s the marking that is visible when the dies are installed. I don’t know about any 38 Spl-only die sets. So long as yours are 38/357 you can load either round, but if it’s adjusted for 38s and you inadvertently try a 357, the case will look like a trumpet after it clears station #2, powder measure and belling.

Mike SC Hunter · Jan 25, 2025

SmithNut said:
I believe the only difference is how far in or out you set the dies up. The only difference is the .357 cartridge is 1/10" longer than the .38 special. Sooo, you should only need to adjust the dies in the shell holder, unless I'm missing something due to it being the Square Deal press.

Nope. You are correct......Just adjust the dies to the cartridge..40-10mm 38-357 44spl-44 mag. The sizing die does not have to adjusted.

I have been running SD's since 1988. Currently have 4 and 9 caliber changes.

socal s&w · Jan 25, 2025

Mike, SC Hunter is correct. A single die set specifically for the SDB is all that is needed to load either one .38/.357. It's a simple matter of adjusting to the desired round.
Station 1 requires no adjustment as it resizes and deprimes.
Station 2 requires adjustment to the depth of the belling for bullet starting, adjustment for powder drop (while it reprimes, there is no adjustment necessary between .38/.357).
Station 3 requires adjustment for bullet seating.
Station 4 requires adjustment for final crimp.
Super simple. I have often thought that one could 'add a plate' to the toolhead that is .10" thicker to enable using the same set up from .38 to .357. It SHOULD work, but I've never tried it....yet!

mike

Dillon Square Deal B die question

lrrifleman

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SmithNut

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Ivan the Butcher

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JackM

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Mike SC Hunter

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socal s&w

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