Need Lee Bullet Seating die .38 Special

[Doug.38PR]

Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 38 Special 357 Mag

A while back for my Reloading Pro Deluxe I bought .38 Special reloading die. What I bought in the store came with only the deprimer/sizing die, the powder through expander die and that was it.

Now I'm looking for a bullet seating die. But I can't seem to find a place that sells only that. They sell the other dies individually except that. I don't want to buy a whole package just for one die.

 

[DWalt]

Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 38 Special 357 Mag

A while back for my Reloading Pro Deluxe I bought .38 Special reloading die. What I bought in the store came with only the deprimer/sizing die, the powder through expander die and that was it.

Now I'm looking for a bullet seating die. But I can't seem to find a place that sells only that. They sell the other dies individually except that. I don't want to buy a whole package just for one die.

Have you contacted Lee directly? I have found them to be very accommodating on such requests, although I have not requested a missing die. I did request a replacement FL sizing die as the one which came with the set new was damaged, and they took care of me right away, no questions asked.

 

[arjay]

I think you can get the die body and stem directly from Lee.

 

[colt_saa]

Like DWalt says, talk to Lee they are great people.

Do not send an E-mail, take the time to use the phone and you will have everything worked out in one call.

 

[Magload]

Call Lee I did as some how the treads got buggered on my seating die and they sold me just that one die. Don

 

[Alk8944]

On-line ordering works just fine with Lee. Everything you will need will be found on this page: 3 Die Set 38sp Carbide Parts - Lee Precision

 

[scooter123]

I believe that I would be talking to the store that sold you a 3 die set that only contained only two dies. Note, make sure you mention that the die that is missing is the Seat/Crimp Die, because Lee also sells 4 Die Set with a seating die that has NO provision for crimping. The 4 Die Sets use the Lee Factory Crimp Die to do hte crimp operation.

Then I would give Lee a call. Note, if Lee can't provide a solution I can tell you that Midway sells the RCBS Seat/Crimp dies as individual parts. I've purchased multiple of the RCBS Seat/Crimp dies so I can set them up for a specific bullet. Because these combined operation dies can be distinctly fussy to set up and I like to minimize how much fussing I have to do when reloading.

 

[aurora40]

Not Lee, but FYI this is on clearance for about what a single Lee die costs:

Redding Seater Die 38 Special

 

[gwpercle]

Go back to the store, you paid for a complete set. Someone removed it and you shouldn't have to pay extra.
Gary

 

[noylj]

You bought a three-die set with only two dies in it?
Call Lee. Complain to the store. Start checking things before you buy them.

 

[Doug.38PR]

Go back to the store, you paid for a complete set. Someone removed it and you shouldn't have to pay extra.
Gary

I bought this a year ago at Bass Pro. I talked to them about this at the time wondering if there wasn't supposed to be more than two dies in the plastic case. He said that's all theirs came with and all you needed for a progressive reloader. We double checked other dies on their shelf and all of them had only two, the sizing/deprimer and expander/powder. At the time I was new to progressive reloading so I thought he was right (thinking maybe the bullet seater that I already had for another caliber was some kind of universal for all bullet seating. (realizing there is a lot to keep up with in progressive reloading) I made the purchase and came back home (Bass Pro is 2-4 hours from where I live depending on which store you go to)

By the time I got around to actually trying to use the dies on my reloader and realized I was missing one, I think maybe more than a month had passed (and I was 2-4 hours away from Bass Pro...and it may not have even been their fault, it may actually be how they all came) and I just improvised using my RCBS seating/crimping die. That worked okay but I would have some trouble with it. I'd rather get Lee

I just want the bullet seating die. I'll give them a call and see what they say

 

[azjohn]

Email Dennis at Titan Reloading. I just got a complete seating die for 9mm for about $18.00 plus shipping. Very good service.

 

[k22fan]

A minor point of correction: Lee 4 die sets include their standard seat & roll crimp die and their factory crimp die. If you think about it there is no reason to make special seaters with no roll crimp shoulder. Just back the die out. Traditional roll crimping remains an option.

My experience with RCBS, Lyman and Lee customer service has been that they all want to retain you as a customer. They all have been generous to keep me happy. I would call Lee. Tell your story as briefly as possible and don't assign blame. Everybody knows the most likely thing is that a shop lifter stole your seater but because there is a chance Lee's packagers made an error I bet they mail you a free die. Keeping you a reloader who prefers Lee dies is worth more to them than one die.

I'm not retracting any of that, rather just making an observation. Old pistol 3 die sets that lack a carbide sizer sell for about $20. My LGS had a couple of RCBS .38 sets for $20 this week. Buying individual parts from Lee to assemble a seater totals $17 plus shipping. Between the two I'd choose the whole set.