Wanting to get into reloading 38 SPL.

[GA_Sheepdog]

I have no experience in reloading but I would like to get into it. I recently purchased a 642, no lock and I love it. This is the second J frame I've purchased but I ended up giving my 638 to my father. This is the only 38 SPL I currently own, all of my other guns are 9mm Glocks (17,19 and 26). I've never really felt the need to reload 9mm due to it being so cheap to shoot. I can find boxes for $9.99 and they function smoothly in my Glocks. Another reason is, I shoot mostly at a local indoor range and don't want to spend half my range time on my hands and knee's picking up brass. Plus the range I go to has a guy that comes in and sweeps up brass while you're shooting. Collecting brass with a 38 revolver would be easy as, empting the cylinder back into a box. Also 38 SPL is not an expensive cartage to shoot but is defiantly more expensive the 9mm.


Anyway, I've looked into supplies and reloading kits. I know there are many kits available but I don't want to drop $500.00 into a kit and the supplies at first, especially if I don't know if reloading is for me. I'm thinking of getting a basic Lee Loading kit. They can be had for around $25 to $35.


Any advise from the forum's reloader's? What would be a good kit and list of supplies I'd need to get started?

 

[g17]

For on the cheap, I would get a Lee Reloader (C-frame) single stage press with quick change bushings, a Lee 4 die set, an RCBS 5-0-5 scale and as an option that will make your life better, a Lee Auto-Drum powder measure.

 

[joebiker]

Lee kit is a good place to start. I have one and like it. A lee hand press is also a possibility.

 

[jringo8769]

well i would get some RCBS dies and press....it will be a little more...but good used stuff is out there...my Dad has had his since the early 60's and it works great...just remember u want the carbide ones...these are all over the place and can be found for same money as the cheap new ones...good luck on search....God Bless, John
also make sure u get some good books for loads too..

 

[reddog81]

Looking at what is included in the kits is a good start. Most of the kits contain extraneous stuff that most people don't use. The Lyman reloading manuals are good manuals. I'd buy that and read it so that you can start to understand the basics of reloading.

38 special is a good round to start on. 9MM is finicky and the cost savings are harde to realize.

The cheap Lee kits aren't a bad starting place except for the fact that I would recommend buying an RCBS rock Chucker for the press.

 

[GA_Sheepdog]

For on the cheap, I would get a Lee Reloader (C-frame) single stage press with quick change bushings, a Lee 4 die set, an RCBS 5-0-5 scale and as an option that will make your life better, a Lee Auto-Drum powder measure.

I'll admit when I first seen this I had no idea of what you were taking about. A quick search on MidwayUSA gave better idea. Other then the actually powder, shells, and bullets, would this be all I needed other then maybe a loading book to get started?

 

[Moe Mentum]

Lee stuff is cheap, and very reliable. You don't have to spend a fortune to make quality reloads.

 

[august1410]

I've been using the Lee Hand Press for years. It's very basic and if I can do it, you can too!

 

[GA_Sheepdog]

I've been using the Lee Hand Press for years. It's very basic and if I can do it, you can too!

How do you like it? I know there's more expensive and more convenient kits but is this kit good to start off with?

 

[snubbert]

I have no experience in reloading but I would like to get into it

Anyway, I've looked into supplies and reloading kits. I know there are many kits available but I don't want to drop $500.00 into a kit and the supplies at first, especially if I don't know if reloading is for me. I'm thinking of getting a basic Lee Loading kit. They can be had for around $25 to $35.

That's exactly what I'd recommend to start. I didn't know anything about reloading, got the itch to try it, looked at some of the presses but ended up getting the little Lee Loader kit and a simple RCBS scale. You can get away without the scale but it's certainly good to have.

A lot of people say don't bother with the Lee kit and go for a press because you can crank out more rounds faster, but to me part of the enjoyment of reloading is taking your time and building every round by hand. To me it's more enjoyable at the range. Every round counts even more. I'm not sure how long it takes to build a round with this kit but I'd guess in half an hour I have good handful.

You can always get a press with dies later. Right now, I have no desire to do that.

Another advantage of the Lee kit is that it's completely portable. If you run out of rounds, you can make new ones on the spot (I wouldn't recommend doing that at the range though).

Here's my system and what I'd recommend:

- Lee Reloading Kit (I paid $26 new a couple years ago)

- Small 2-headed soft-faced hammer, I think this is the one I got:
Estwing 12 oz. Double-Face Soft Hammer-DFH12 - The Home Depot

- RCBS Range Master 750 scale ($120) - you can get away without it but I love mine, and it lets you use recipes other than the few that the Kit includes because you weigh the charge and don't just depend on filling the supplied spoon which limits you to a single weight

- Bottle of brass cleaner from your local gun shop. Typically dilute it and I just use a glass peanut butter jar to toss the brass in and shake, let it soak for a bit

- 38 special bore cleaning brush - I use it to clean out the cases before throwing them in the cleaner

As for a recipe, if I remember correctly I ended up finding one for Unique powder with a Speer 158 gr LSWC (leaded semi wadcutter) but I can't remember how many grains of Unique so you'll need to check the data. I use CCI #500 small pistol primers. The recipe ended being great for the range - pleasant to shoot but not too wimpy, yet not punishing either. Speer makes the 158 gr LSWC in 500-count boxes for around $45-$50.

A couple suggestions for the reloading process:

#1 NEVER work on a round with your head/eyes directly above it. Human nature probably causes us to do that: as we hammer in the bullet, we like to be directly above it, it seems natural, best view, etc. Never put yourself in the path for obvious reasons. Especially if you forget to do #2 below:

#2 After your new primer is seated, don't forget to put the "toilet seat ring" under the case before working on it. The hole/opening is what lets the primer NOT go off when you hammer away. This is particularly important when there's a powder charge in there, again for obvious reasons.

38 special is my favorite round and I absolutely love the Lee kit so let me know if you have any questions; I am by no means a reloading export/guru but I'll be glad to help. I like to keep things slow and simple (snub J frames, 38 special, Lee kit) so if that's your thing I think you'll be happy with this setup.

 

[jringo8769]

well best thing before u buy anything...i would highly suggest u go and look at them....maybe a friend or relative has some or check out gun shows or gun shops...look at the quality of the piece u are buying...i am very partial to RCBS and Dillon stuff but these is many excellent others out there too...reloading can be a lot of fun but can be a real nightmare with the wrong stuff too..please keep us posted on what u get and how it works...God Bless, John

 

[kbm6893]

I got into reloading about 2 years and started with .38. Very forgiving cartridge. I got the single stage Hornady kit. I use everything except the scale. Digital scales just aren't stable enough. I use Lee dies, because you can get them with the separate crimping die. If you go to the Lee website, they have great tutorials on setting their dies. I use the Hornady die adapters thst allow you to twist the dies out without screwing them out.

Reloading always saves you money, but in .38 it saves you big money. I can load 100 rounds of .38 for about 13 bucks. That's about 1/4 the price of factory. After you load 1000 rounds, the equipment I'd paid for.

Ask lots of questions here, and watch some YouTube videos. I've been happily cranking them out for 2 years now and I don't see myself ever stopping.

 

[otisrush]

On the chance you haven't seen it, in the Notable Thread Index in the sticky at the top of this forum is a posting titled something like "So You're Thinking About Getting Into Reloading". There is a *TON* of information in there.

Good luck and have fun!

OR

 

[GA_Sheepdog]

Thank you everyone for the great advice. Right now I got it in my head that the basic Lee Loader is the best for me to start out with. A couple more questions.

Some have mentioned it would be good to get a scale. If I had the little spoon that comes with the kit, what would the scale be for?

Also I use 158gr, lead semi-wadcutter's as my carry ammo. I'd like to also use these same bullets for my reloads. Does anyone have any advise on bullets, primer's and powder to buy?

 

[otisrush]

For bullets I love Missouri Bullet Company:
https://www.missouribullet.com/

I shoot these and they've been great for me:
Missouri Bullet Company

I happen to use Hodgdon HP-38 powder and it has been fine. More experienced reloaders can give opinions on what works best for them. I think there are lots of options.

OR

 

[Thomas15]

Since you are asking for advice here is mine (don't forget that I'm on the interwebs and you don't know me personally).

Skip the Lee Loader. If money or uncertainty about your ultimate interest in handloading will pan out then ask around and find someone locally that handloads if they would be kind enough to show you what its all about. I was in Cabelas a few weeks ago when they had a gentlemen giving hands on demonstrations. I know of an LGS that has a press mounted off the side where interested customers can try it out.

I'm not yelling or scolding you but it is simply not true that you can buy 9mm ammo cheaper than you can handload it. A lot of people on the webs say it but the reason I know this isn't true is because I handload boatloads of 9mm. Between my wife, daughter, son and my needs I require about 1000 rounds 9mm per month.

We also own 2 S&W Airweight j frame snubbies. Love the guns but shoot no where near that amount of ammo. You of course are not me but seriously look at how much 38 ammo you actually consume and if it's less than 100 rounds/month it's not going to be worth your time to handload, if it's more than 100 rounds/month the Lee Loader will consume massive amounts of your time.

Powder scale. I know that the Richard Lee book has all kinds of data for using their dippers and auto-disk measuring devices but a serviceable digital powder scale (one that measures in grains) is about $30.00 and is the most important tool on the bench. Take one of your standard velocity factory rounds apart and pour out the powder and take in the minute amount that is in that big giant 38 case. The 38 was designed to be a black powder cartridge. A powder overcharge is something that after you experience will wonder why you ever thought that you were saving money my skipping the scale.

So in summery, my opinion is save your money, and while your waiting for the fund to hit $500.00, find or make a friend that handloads and find out what lies ahead. If you are the kind of person that hits the range 3 or 4 or more times/month buy the stuff you need to do this right and don't even think about handloading not being for you. Either way, the worse advice you could ever receive is to skip using a scale.

Yes I'm a mean person.

 

[apollo99]

The little spoon that comes with the kit is part of a lee set that has a whole bunch of spoons, they are measured in cc's and they correspond with powder weights. That same spoon/measure will dump different weights for different powders. Fluffy powder like unique will have less weight from that measure than let's say H110. You still need a scale to check the powder with the dump load of powder out of that spoon. Now there is a conversation table that goes along with the set and it gives you a fairly close estimate of the charge weight to powder for the individual spoons/measures. You still need a scale to check the weight.

 

[apollo99]

As you can see Thomas is a fireman and we are Police, that be said he is correct about the scale thing, also don't skimp on a scale, a RCBS 5-0-5 is a great scale, had one for 35 years still nut perfect dead on.

 

[GA_Sheepdog]

As you can see Thomas is a fireman and we are Police, that be said he is correct about the scale thing, also don't skimp on a scale, a RCBS 5-0-5 is a great scale, had one for 35 years still nut perfect dead on.

HAHA!!! I just now realized that!


I'm still going to have to research about why exactly I need a scale or what to do with it. I've spent a couple hours today watching YouTube video's of people using the basic lee loader. All they did with the powder was use the little yellow scoop and scoop some powder and put it in the cartage.

 

[packnrat]

ok so you do want to drop a lot of cash. but you can not go wrong and will be lots of cash ahead if you buy the rebs starter kit. it is based on the famous rock chucker single stage press. and comes with a balance beam scale. not as fast as a fancy computer scale but when worked right just as accurate.
after dropping cash on the kit get a couple books (about $100.usd yes they charge a lot for them). these will have the loading tables for your safety.

then just dies, the shell plate, for 38/357. (great starter cartridge).
a box of primers,(1000),
pound of powder.(can buy in one pound or 8 pound jugs),
lead.(can get very good pricing shipped to you bought online).
the only consumables in reloading.

buy quality dies,(2 or 3X the price of the cheap ones), if you decide to not reload easer to sell away.
many shy away from the lee stuff.
but rcbs has a very big fan base,
hornady has a single stage press,
dillion??
other brands??
but any company will not sell trash as they do not want to dragged into court.
check out flee-bay.

watch a lot of u-tube videos.
and only three things to remember
1: SAFETY
2: SAFETY
3: SAFETY.


for me i find it relaxing. but sometimes a chore.
if done right ammo will be half to one third the online store cost's.

.