38 S&W - is there a Lee Factory Crimp Die for this caliber?

[Model19man]

I got some 146 grain / .360" diameter bullets from Old West. Want to put together some 38 S&W with them. I have a set of carbide dies. Will a FCD made for 38 Special work? Also interested in any pet loads that have worked for you.

I have Unique, Bullseye, 231 and Lil Gun powders that all seem appropriate for this caliber.

 

[mikld]

I don't think an FCD for 38 Special would work. The 38 S&W bullet is about .004" larger in diameter than a 38 Special bullet. The 38 Special FCD will probably resize the cartridge/bullet too small for decent shooting...

 

[Model19man]

The OW 38 S&W bullets measure .360" while typical 38 Special are .357" diameter. I don't know of anything else that is .360".

 

[rockquarry]

It depends on how wide the .38 Special factory crimp die will open. Have you tried crimping using the die that came with your die set?

Consider loading some cartridges using both crimp types and do an accuracy comparison using just enough crimp with each die to prevent bullet movement under recoil. Of course, all needs to be in spec and the cartridges should chamber normally. One crimping method may produce better accuracy than the other. Shoot enough groups to verify. Good luck-

 

[meistermash]

9mm makrov die.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

For a powder; I loaded my last batch using 158 grain SWC and Winchester 231 powder. Unique defiantly has lots of loading data. Bullseye has some data but it is on the fast/hot end of the spectrum.

The 38 Special FCD is too tall/long for the 38 S&W rounds. I have always used the standard roll crimp.

Ivan

 

[DWalt]

For many, many years I have loaded .38 S&W using a .38 Super FL sizing die and 9mm expanding and seating dies. I really see no difference between using .358 and .361 bullets. Lead bullets only. Absolutely no need to crimp bullets. You will find that .38 Special expanding and seating dies are too long.

You can easily load .38 S&W to .38 Special ballistics if you have a solid frame revolver, never use them in a top break revolver. Tons of published reloading recipes are out there, most are intended for use in top breaks. 3 grains of Bullseye or similar will work fine with any bullet weight.

 

[raljr1]

I used 2.4 grains of 231 behind 125 grain LSWC from Rim Rock in mine. crimped them with the die from the lee three die set

 

[reddog81]

Why? Are you running into issues with your .38 S&W reloads?

 

[BC38]

You can use a second seating/crimp die with the seating stem removed as a crimp-only die.

 

[glowe]

You have carbide dies, so I assume they have a roll crimp finish for .361 bullets?? That is all I have ever used with my 145g LRN and have not dislodged a bullet yet.

 

[murf205]

My venture into 38 S&W territory was made a lot simpler when I bought a set of Lee 38S&W dies. $30 well spent. My Accurate Molds die drops at .361 and that's what I load them at. .358 lead bullets lead the barrel like crazy. What gun are you shooting these in?

 

[Model19man]

It's an Enfield revolver, WWII surplus. I ordered a 9 MM Makarov FCD but will try some without it first.

 

[rosewood]

I bet a lee 38 taper crimp die will do the trick. It doesn't size the case again like the fcd does. I use it for cast boolits in the 38 special.
Rosewood