dumb question on reloading hardware

[chaim]

I reload for .38spl/.357mag only. I have a Lee hand press (it is compact and easy to store) and Lee dies.

I have decided to finally start reloading for .41mag. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be a lot of options online for buying .41mag dies. So, I don't want to limit myself to only Lee in case I find something else more available. If I am using a Lee press do I need a set of Lee dies or will Lyman, RCBS, etc. also work? In other words, are the threads universal or proprietary on the dies and presses?

 

[Smokey Joe]

Threads

Chaim--Thank God, you can use almost any brand die with almost any model press. Almost all reloading dies made have a standard threading. Someone had an attack of good sense I guess.

The one fer-sure exception I know of is the Dillon Square Deal press, which uses proprietary dies. If you're going to buy a Dillon, it would seem to make sense to spend a bit more and get the next model up--all the other Dillons use the standard threading. This would be especially true if you already own standard sets of dies.

With yr Lee hand press dies, I THINK they will fit the standard threads. You could contact the manufacturer, Lee Precision, Inc, to find out. www.leeprecision.com

BTW, there is no such thing as a dumb question. And if there were, they'd still be easier to handle than dumb mistakes!

 

[BigO01]

chaim try www.midwayusa.com or http://www.grafs.com/metallic/581 , I don't quite understand how many options you need or want but both of those places have what you need , and they have it in stock .

O and by the way I have a Lee 4 hole turret press and it works very well especialy when you consider the price .

I have no problem with using Lee only dies myself .

 

[Chawbaccer]

Othern the above mentioned Dillon, there is the Lyman 310 dies to avoid.
7/8 14 threads are pretty much the standard othertwise.

 

[chaim]

Thanks guys. Still, with the price difference (about $10 on the low end and $20 on the high end) I think I'll probably go with Lee anyway. It is just that most places in person don't stock .41mag dies and several online places seemed to be out of stock so I wanted to maximize my choices.

 

[RyanM]

The only dumb question is the one not asked.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Any brand but Dillon square deal dies, or Lyman 310 series dies, will work in the Lee hand press.

Another brand of dies you might look at is Hornady dies. I especially like their seating die. It has a sliding alignment sleeve that helps align the bullet with the case before trying to push it into the case. All of their seater dies also can use the optional micrometer adjuster screw. And if you load a lot of lead bullets, the hornady seater die disassembles for cleaning without having to remove or readjust the die, even while the body is still in the press (the alignment sleeve and seating plug, the only parts that get dirty, drop out the bottom after you remove the spring clip). They also can crimp the case mouth in the same operation.

Oh, and Hornady lock rings are the best things since slice bread, combining clamping action with wrench flats. I put hornady lock rings on all my dies, no matter what brand.

I prefer hand presses too. I like the Lee for depriming (hollow ram!), and the Huntington Compac for everything else.

Hope this helps,

Andy

 

[loadedround]

Chaim: Let me stick my two cents in...Lee makes good servicable dies on the bottom rung of the price ladder, while I consider Redding dies the best on the market, they are on the top of the price ladder. All dies will get the job done and just remember to get dies with the carbide sizer die. The time and trouble saved in not having to lube cases is well worth the few extra dollars.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

I use lee dies for loading .41mag they work great. I highly recomend their carbide factory crimp dies as well.