Lee 3 die set for cast .38 special?

pretty sure all die sets for pistols come with an expander,it's the crimp die that is sometimes the optional die.
For loading cast bullets,that separate crimp die is THE way to go ,it keeps the seater die from getting gummed up with lead and lube that is shaved off while crimping...when u crimp u are still moving the round up into the die,and after several hundred rounds that little bit of shavings adds up.

Yes you'll be perfectly fine with the 3 die set. The 4 die set includes the factory crimp die which would allow you to seat and crimp in separate steps. The pros and cons have been debated forever and seems to me is all preference but for only $6 or $7 more i would recommend the 4 die set.

I do have the Lyman M die and honestly I don't see much difference between the lee expander and the m die but others may have different results.

SASS#23149 said:

pretty sure all die sets for pistols come with an expander,it's the crimp die that is sometimes the optional die.
For loading cast bullets,that separate crimp die is THE way to go ,it keeps the seater die from getting gummed up with lead and lube that is shaved off while crimping...when u crimp u are still moving the round up into the die,and after several hundred rounds that little bit of shavings adds up.

Click to expand...

Yep, a crimp die is not included in the 3 die sets. You can seat/crimp simultaneously, but it can be a real pain sometimes (for me). IMHO, the separate crimp die is worth every penny.

If you like Lee products, the deluxe carbide pistol set is a real bargain. It includes a Factory Crimp Die and shell-holder.

Your best bet is to start out with a Lee set with a carbide sizing die. Removing the sizing lube takes up additional time that you could be reloading and the steel resizing die can get dirty which will scratch your cases.
I started out with the cheapest steel dies until I was schooled by the reloaders at the Rod & Gun Club at Fort Greely, AK who explained the reasons for using a carbide resizing die. I only reload straight wall pistol calibers and carbide is the only way to go.

I bought a lee 4 die 38/357 die set two years ago... One of those dies havent seen more than 50 rounds. I havent used the factory crimp die since the day i got the dies in the mail. Why spend twice the time to do something you can do in one pull? All my lee turrets are fitted with the standard three dies and a bullet sizing die... no need for the fcd.

Lee three die sets are great for cast bullets.

The "expanding die" you are talking about, I believe is the powder charging die. It is designed to slightly bell the mouth of the case while charging the case with powder. A side benefit is as the case is coming out of the die, the bell 'pops' helping the powder flow.

The Dillon die sets do not include an expander die, since the powder measure performs this function in a Dillon progressive press.

Lee will work fine

Since you mention you are going to use cast bullets, be aware that bullet lubricant tends to build up in seating dies. Watch that you are not seating your bullets successively deeper.

The Dillon seating die has a feature I have grown to like a lot as a cast bullet shooter: you can take it apart for cleaning, without losing adjustment on the seating die.

The Lee Carbide 3-die sets are all I buy for pistol cartridges. I really like the powder-through expander, saves time by letting me charge at the same time I'm expanding. Never saw a need for the extra FCD, especially in revolver cartridges - the seating die seats and crimps just fine if set up correctly.

I bought a lee 4 die 38/357 die set two years ago... One of those dies havent seen more than 50 rounds. I havent used the factory crimp die since the day i got the dies in the mail. Why spend twice the time to do something you can do in one pull? All my lee turrets are fitted with the standard three dies and a bullet sizing die... no need for the fcd.

Click to expand...

Whatever works for you. I have never seen the need for a bullet sizing die on a reloading press. All of my bullets are sized correctly before I start to load them.

The lee 3 die set has an expanding die

Crunchy Frog said:

The Dillon die sets do not include an expander die, since the powder measure performs this function in a Dillon progressive press.

Click to expand...

To clarify, the Dillon caliber conversion set contains the correct expander which is used in conjunction with the powder measure.

The Lee 3 die set has worked fine for me for decades. Even with cast bullets.

The Lee powder through expander die is "ok" but using the Lyman expander die opens/expands the case better and is not tapered as much as the lee expander is. The bullet does seem to start into the case easier.
In theory real soft lead can be swaged [squished] by setting the bullet into a real tight case. The bullet becomes smaller in diameter at the base and less accurate. loading lead it much different than loading FMj.

I have 2 of the lee Dies for .38s/.357

1 Setup for 38s
1 setup for .357

they work great..... I do trim the .357 1 shot cases to keep em uniform so they crimp better... havent seen the need yet for .38s....

I do have the factory crimp Die.. but have yet to use it


yer Fine with the 3 die set

I use Lee 3 die sets for loading cast bullets in .38 Special, .40 S&W and 9mm.
I have a 4 die set with the separate crimping die for .45 Colt, but never use the separate crimp die so it may as well be a 3 die set.

As has been mentioned a couple times already, the Lee does come with an expander die. In fact, it is a hollow die that allows charging at the top of the stroke, which does come in handy.

I agree, the Lee powder through die is the expander die and it works just fine for the .38 special, including with lead bullets. I load mostly cast bullets and I use Lee dies for the 38/357.

You won't be disappointed by the lee dies, I load all cast bullets for 32 mag. 38 special, 44 mag, and 45 colt. Works very well for me. I do use the lee factory crimp die for each though. I like to do the crimp in a separate step.