.38 s&w ?

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confederatemule

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I bought a Lee Loader through e-bay. I bought it to load .38 S&W cartridges. The kit came in the red, see through, plastic container. The box says nowhere that it is for loading a .38 S&W. The instructions nor load sheet did not come with the kit. On the lid someone hand wrote, with a black permanent marker, .38 S&W with a large question mark through the middle.
My question is; "How can I know for sure that it is for loading a .38 S&W?"

Thanks for any help.

Mule
 
the dies have info stamped on them what does it say ??? if unclear call Lee ....
 
I have a Lee die set for .38 S&W (Not Special) that I bought years ago.

My sizer is marked LEE 38 Auto B1

My expander is marked LEE - 38 S&W - A1

My seater is marked LEE - 38 S&W - JO

Hope this helps. AC
 
sorry ,that's going need a call to lee for them to exactly id what you have and ask for a of a set of instructions.....
 
I talked to Lee Precision.
They did make a Lee Loader kit for the .38 S&W. The Lee part number was 90256. Any caliber specifications were on the instruction sheet and load data sheet. The tech man said that, as I described the parts, all the necessary parts were in the box, with the exception of the dipper. He said that Lee could not help me out on a copy of the instructions nor data sheet.

As we all know this kit is obsolete and has been discontinued for a long time. I did ask when it was discontinued, but there were no record saying when.

The number used for the Lee Loader .38 S&W is now used for a .40 caliber bullet mold.

So...I am looking for, in the market for, instructions and load data for Lee Loader .38 S&W, or, maybe, complete Lee Loader .38 S&W kit.
 
!. Instructions for one revolver caliber Lee Loader will be the same as the next. You don't HAVE to have the sheet specifically for .38 S&W.

2. The Lee manual gives "load data" with dipper numbers.
 
Jim Watson said:
!. Instructions for one revolver caliber Lee Loader will be the same as the next. You don't HAVE to have the sheet specifically for .38 S&W.

2. The Lee manual gives "load data" with dipper numbers.
Click to expand...
My kit came with a set of instructions that were copied from another "worn" set of instructions. It does not have any information other than "how to", no load data.
I have a Modern Reloading Second Edition book, by Richard Lee. So, I guess I am set on the load data.
I just need to figure out if it is "actually" for a .38 S&W cartridge.

Mule
 
Overkilll0084 said:
Just my humble opinion, but I would hunt down a used single stage press and buy a standard set of .38 S&W dies. A Lee Hand Press my be worth a look if you aren't planning on setting up a bench. I'm assuming you currently don't have a typical reloading setup at this time. Lee also still sells the dippers in sets for about $10 to $13 depending on sourcing.
http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Breech-Lock-Hand-Press.html
http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Powder-Measure-Kit.html
Click to expand...
I have a set of Lee Reloading Dies .38 S&W .38 Colt New Police #90569. I have no kind of press.

Actually all I have towards reloading any thing is:
1] Modern Reloading Second Edition Book, by Richard Lee
2] Lee Loader .38 S&W ?
3] Lee Reloading Dies .38 S&W .38 Colt New Police #90569
4] Lee Safety Powder Scale #90681
I also have part of an old MEC 600jr.

I'd say I ain't in the reloading business. My desire is to have a Lee Loader for each caliber and gauge that I have, as well as a set of Lee Reloading Dies and some sort of press system. I will probably start with a Lee Hand Press.

I've spent over a year here on the internet searching and reading/watching about reloading. I don' remember as much as I used to , but I know more than I did.

Thanks for the links.

Mule
 
I have great luck on the local swap and sell forum. Also the Buy and Sell sub forum here is a great resource. You should be able to get an inexpensive press for your needs that is used with a little patients. If you want to make it portable mount your press on a 2X6 and clamp it to a table, this will work better than a handheld press. The Lee Loaders did not come in a lot of sizes then or now. Also they only neck size the brass and this does not work well for autoloaders. I have several and all the instructions are the same for the pistol ones that I have both old and new. If you want a readable copy PM me and I will get you one but I do not have the exact one for the 38 S&W loader. I have some loading data for that round but not for use with the lee dippers. You can make your own custom dipper by using an old brass casing, use say a 9MM or 45 ACP. Add a wire handle around the extractor groove. Make it similar to a aquarium fish net handle but smaller, then weigh a charge out that you previously worked up and want to duplicate. Put it in the dipper and see what space is left. Dump powder back onto scale, mix and add 5 min epoxy into the brass to about the level you think will give you space left for a full dipper with that charge. If it turns out that it is over filled just use a drill that is a little smaller than the inside of the brass and remove some of the epoxy till the dipped amount is correct. Label the handle as to the grains/bullet/powder and load some up. I make a lot of my stuff and it works just as well as that store stuff but I have more $$ to spend on components that way.
 
Thanks, Overkill0084. At least I know that I can get the components. I may have to buy a press for the Lee Dies, but I can make cartridges.
Judging from what I have read, today, The .38 special case has a smaller diameter than the .38 S&W. If that is the case, then a .38 Special cartridge should go into the Lee Loader sizing die, easily. I have a .38 Special cartridge and it will not go into the sizing die.

Reckon it could be a .32 S&W? Or at least a .32?

Hmmm.

Mule
 
A .38 Spl case will not easily go into a .38 S&W sizer, it just won't get sized as much as needed for .357 bullets.
 
I have a set of Lee Reloading Dies .38 S&W .38 Colt New Police #90569. I have no kind of press.

Actually all I have towards reloading any thing is:
1] Modern Reloading Second Edition Book, by Richard Lee
2] Lee Loader .38 S&W ?
3] Lee Reloading Dies .38 S&W .38 Colt New Police #90569
4] Lee Safety Powder Scale #90681
I also have part of an old MEC 600jr.
Click to expand...
confederatemule,
I hate to tell you this but for right around the same cost of the Lee Reloader you could have bought a very basic Lee press. This Lee Press is only $28.99 and while not fancy will load ammo much easier than a Lee Loader. (and you already have the 38 S&W dies) For less than $2 more you can get the press and the Lee Manual (Look Here) but I see you already have that manual.
 
I have a number of Iver Johnson break top 38 S&W revolvers that need special soft bullets and low recoil loads to keep down the stress on thin steel in the latch.

I have a number of the Colt 38 S&W revolvers, and they do not need to be babied at all.
While SAAMI registration of 38 S&W at 14,500 psi, I am running at 32 k psi.
I have inspected the design and "she's got it where it counts, kid."
 
ArchangelCD, I do realize that I could buy a Lee 4 hole Classic Turret press for around $85.00, and will, eventualy. I just would like to start at, or close to, the beginning. The simpler way.
This week I have bought a Lee Deluxe Loader for 12ga 2 3/4" & one for 12ga 3". I also bought a Lee Loader [not deluxe] for 20ga 2 3/4" & one for 20ga 3".
For what I spent on the shot shell loaders I could of rigged out a 4 hole turret and had money left over.
Now I am broke for the rest of the month.

Mule
 
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