.38 S & W crimp die

David LaPell

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I was going to order a Lee 3 die set for the .38 Smith & Wesson, I don't see a crimp die listed. Will a factory crimp die for the .38 Special work on .38 S & W?
 
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I was going to order a Lee 3 die set for the .38 Smith & Wesson, I don't see a crimp die listed. Will a factory crimp die for the .38 Special work on .38 S & W?
 
No. Not only is the .38 S&W Special case diameter smaller than the .38 S&W case diameter, but the crimping shoulder is higher, and the shorter case mouth won't even reach it.
 
+1 I tried using the 38 special die after getting a "yes" from Lee ! No go !! Ordered a custom 38 S&W FCD in late Feb and am still waiting !!!!! They used to take 3 weeks tops. Now they say they are just trying to keep up with providing the regular dies.
 
Originally posted by canoeguy:
I have a Lee three die set in 38 S&W, and the crimping die is provided, the crimp is done by the seating die.

I just loaded some 38 S&W ammo yesterday with a set of those dies. That seating die sure does put a nice roll crimp on the rounds. Save a step and the extra cost (and the wait) of a custom FCD. Give up nothing
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I have been completely satisfied using my 9mm die set for loading .38 S&W. To avoid confusion, I usually leave a note on the die set that tells me which cartridge the dies are adjusted for.

HTH,
 
I use the standard two or three die sets for all my reloading and simply insert one of the "adapter" rings under the seating die and re-adjust the seating stem to seat the bullets in one step and then pull the ring out - run the seating stem all the way up or out completely - and run the rounds through with the die set for crimping. I also own several extra "Gun Show" priced sets of dies that I have taken the Seating Die out of and set these up for bullet seating "Only" and then I don't have to mess with the adapter ring. Most of these Gun Show dies need to be cleaned before use but they are also generally pretty cheap because they don't work any more because the owner has let them get so dirty they don't work properly.
 
I have the FCD's for 38/357 and 44 Mag as well as all my semi auto calibers. I see no use for the extra step on the revolvers. As stated the regular seating dies will crimp just fine.

For the semi autos I like the factory die as it post sizes the round and have not had any feeding problems.
 
Originally posted by R-Tex:
I have been completely satisfied using my 9mm die set for loading .38 S&W. To avoid confusion, I usually leave a note on the die set that tells me which cartridge the dies are adjusted for.

HTH,

So I wasted my money on a set of .38 S&W?
when I had 9mm all the time?

BTW - What diameter bullets do you use?

DCC
 
I find it interesting that R-Tex uses the 9mm dies on 38 S&W. The 38 S&W had a .360 diameter bullet while the 9mm has a .355, I tried to used my RCBS 9mm dies on my 38 S&W brass and they crushed my brass.

However, you might used the 9mm dies on 38 special brass.


I ended up buying a set of Lyman dies for the 38 S&W and they work great.
 
Originally posted by Calaveras Slim: I find it interesting that R-Tex uses the 9mm dies on 38 S&W.
If R-Tex doing this then he also has to be using undersized bullets in the .38 S&W and the bullets are rattling down the bore with very low pressures. Years ago, I found I could use swagged .357 diameter HBWCs for loading the .38 S&W because the very soft lead would do a pretty good job of filling the bore but it wasn't very accurate. But, back then bullets were nearly impossible to get in the right diameter without casting your own. To this day not many people offer these bullets even today.
 
Sorry for the late response - I just now saw the thread again.

The dies that I use are older Dillon 9mm dies. I load 158 grain .38 spcl Magtech LRN (they have a base that's quite a bit more than just concave, but not quite a real hollow base) over 3.5 grains of Unique with a Winchester primer. OAL is 1.165". I have not slugged the barrel, but the Magtech bullets will not enter the barrel at either the forcing cone or the muzzle.

I use Fiocchi 38 S&W brass that I acquired from buying 100 rounds of Fiocchi 145 gr. LRN cartridges.

An unfired Fiocchi cartidge mikes .382 just below the crimp. The mouth of a case fired from my S&W .38 Regulation Police revolver mikes .384", while a round loaded with my 9mm dies mikes .378. The .004 discrepancy between the factory cartridge and my reloads seems to have no adverse effect on accuracy.

If I were going to shoot lots of 38 S&W, I'd probably spring for a die set, but this method is working fine for my needs. OTOH, Lee dies are quite inexpensive.

HTH,
 
Lee dies are quite inexpensive.

In fact - I paid $25.99 from the Reloaders Bench near Nashville - great little gun store - they even accepted UKP and had Sierra bullets for my Broomhandle! That was on my last visit to Tn when the exchange rate was about 2:1...
Guess I should have bought .38 S & W bullets there too - never realised how hard the would be to get the in correct diameter in UK. As it was, came back with about 50# of reloading kit.

DCC
 
I have a friend that has a 9x19mm revolver. We have had some success using .38 S&W brass, resizing it with a 9x19mm sizer die, and then trimming it to 9x19mm length and loading it with .355 bullets. Makes a nice little rimmed cartridge as a nice option to moon-clipped 9x19mm.

I don't see why 9x19mm dies would crush .38 S&W brass, we have never had the problem.
 
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