[thor745]

I just got a great deal on 38 special wadcutters. I was able to purchase 2000speer wadcutters for $80.00. Problem is I don't own any dies. I am fairly new to reloading, currently only loading for 45 ACP. Will the Lee 4 set of dies work with wadcutters or do I need a "special" set.

[W.E.G.]

I've loaded thousands of rounds wadcutters on Lee pistol dies.

Get the .357 set to load .38 spl. and .357 mag.

[Jim Watson]

Actually, if it is only marked one way, you should buy .38 dies to load both .38 Specials and .357 Magums.
Lee says: 38 Special (Can be used to load MAGNUM cases)

A dedicated magnum dieset might not crimp specials.

[rcmodel]

I would get the .38 Special set to load both .38 Special & .357 Mag.

The .357 seating die may be too long to work with .38 Special.

Can't swear to that with Lee dies, but that has always been the case with most other brands.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[ninja45]

The dies can adjusted up or down to accomodate .38/.357 rounds in any weight configuration.

Ninja45

[rcmodel]

Not all of them can.

Shorter dies can be adjusted longer, but not all longer dies can be adjusted shorter.

If you use RCBS dies, you better get .38 Special for .357.
.44 Special for .44 Mag.
.45 LC for .454, etc.

Otherwise, you will need another set of dies for the shorter calibers.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[zxcvbob]

I use a Lee 3-die .38 Special set to load .38's and .357's.

I don't think their .357 seating die can be adjusted short enough to crimp .38 Specials, so you'd have to use the 4th die for that.

I'd get the .38 special dies if I were you (3 or 4 die set, whichever you want).

Bob

[dwave]

I have the Lee Deluxe Pistol dies in .38 Special and load my .357s with them, no problems.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=309802&t=11082005

[lordgroom]

I use the Lee 4 die set for .357 and I have a dillon set for .38 Special. The lee set is supposed to be for both .357 and .38 but I have a dedicated set for each.

[dwave]

The lee set is supposed to be for both .357 and .38 but I have a dedicated set for each.

Exactly, though my dies are for doing both .357 and .38 special, I am going to get another set for .38 that way I don't have to readjust them when I want to switch.

[ArchAngelCD]

I use the 4 die Lee Deluxe Carbide set and I'm very happy with them. The Lee Factory Crimp Die is a great tool. I have a set marked .38 Special that works with both .38 Special and .357 Magnum rounds. Of course you have to make the proper adjustments for the Magnum rounds but they work well. I recently bought a .357 Magnum set and a turret for them so I don't have to keep making adjustments for the 2 rounds.

[jfh]

Ditto for what ArchAngelCD said. Given the price of the dies for a 4-die set and another turret, I dedicated a set to each.

Jim H.

[Walkalong]

Most die manufacturers sell .38/.357 dies (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=309802&t=11082005) that will do both and straight .357 dies (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=138415&t=11082005) are different, and as rcmodel said, those will NOT work for .38 Spl.

If they are straight .38 dies (http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=139464&t=11082005), they should work for .357, but everybody buys the "combo" sets, mostly.

I have been using one RCBS combo set for both for years, but am seriously considering getting another set, perhaps straight .38, to make things easier, as I am shooting more .38 and .357 lately.

[eliphalet]

Get the 38/357 set. I have two from RCBS a older steel, and newer carbide set, and both will do both rounds.

[rcmodel]

I made a .135" thick spacer washer for my .38 Spl. dies, and a .125" washer for my .44 Special dies, about 35 years ago.

Now, I think Redding invented them recently, and sells them for $11 bucks a set. :cuss:

Part #80901
http://www.redding-reloading.com/pages/accessories.html

You just set up on the short case once, then add the washer for the Magnums.
Works great if your cases are all the right length.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[zxcvbob]

I was gonna make a .135" shim, and I managed to *find* one already exactly the right size in one of my many junk boxes. It was an aluminum spacer out of an old hard disk drive that I took apart years ago looking for magnets.

This was not a totally good thing however, cuz it just reinforced my tendency to be a packrat. :)