38 dies, 357 magnums..

Texasred · May 6, 2010

I accidently bought or mistakenly received Lee carbide dies from midway. I thought I ordered 38/357, but alas they are marked .38 special. It seems that since the length is nearly identical I could still make due? Is this dangerous or wrong?

earlthegoat2 · May 6, 2010

Its fine. The only thing different about them is the powder scoop. Maybe the seater too but you can adjust it out to 357 length.

kludge · May 6, 2010

.38 works for both. You just have adjust the flare and seat/crimp die differently.

.357 only works for .357 (unless you add the Max)

fourdollarbill · May 6, 2010

Mine are marked the same but they are for both.
When used for 357mag just back out the seater crimp die and adjust to fit, same with the powder through expander.

Texasred · May 6, 2010

Wow, thanks guys!

oneounceload · May 6, 2010

or you can get a washer equal to the difference in shell length (what my RCBS dies came with). You would use it for flaring and seating

Mike 27 · May 7, 2010

My lee is marked both and works on both. I thought the same thing when I bought it as it was the first one that I started with and intended to use on 38SPC. Its fine on both as the other guys said.

ljnowell · May 7, 2010

I too have a lee die set that is marked 38/357. I do find though, that when using the autodisk powder measure that you have to put what i condsider an excessive amount of flare on the case to get the powder measure to actuate fully.

Walkalong · May 7, 2010

or you can get a washer equal to the difference in shell length (what my RCBS dies came with). You would use it for flaring and seating

Such as this Redding set. They work great.

Iron Sight · May 7, 2010

The instruction sheet I got from lee could have been clarified a bit.

Beelzy · May 7, 2010

You only need the washer if you plan on loading BOTH ...38 and 357. You set the dies up
for 38 then use the washer for 357 loads.

Just set the dies for .357 and you are done.

orrwdd · May 7, 2010

My Lee die set also came with the paper tab on the case printed 38 Special. I check Lee's part number against their website and there they said they were for 38/357 Magnum. So no problem, just a matter of labeling.

Bill

38 dies, 357 magnums..

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