Lee Classic Loader 38/357

[AgentAdam]

Can i use the .357 Lee Classic Hand Loader that you wack with a mallet to load .38spec also?

 

[1858rem]

i dont see why not, the 38 may not reach up to the crimping die though.... i have one for .38 and have trouble loading 357's..... mebbe cause im using 124 tl 9mm boolits though?. i intend on getting a set of lee carbide 357/38 dies for my press cause im shootin em faster than i can load em. if you get a boolit mold, try 6 cavity cause my 2 cavity does not keep up with me lol

 

[bakert]

I may be wrong since it's been a while since I've used it but i don't believe you can crimp the .38s. Might give it a try with an empty case to see. BTW, tap, don't whack

 

[AgentAdam]

So should i just use the .38 hand loader and back it out more for the .357? I'm not familiar with the seating and crimping method of the hand loader but my Lee .357 dies are just .38 dies with a spacer.

 

[1858rem]

seating you have to adjust the ....ummmm....well..., seater?.... to the OAL you want then lock it down(the lock ring tends to back out with repeated wacking). for a crimp i just give it a good enough tap to hold the bullet in place.... there is anok vid on youtube, look up lee loader and it should be one of the first vids.

 

[1858rem]

$13.59! when didja get that one?......crimp die is on flipside of sizing die.

 

[bakert]

adam38654, check this site out.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1228797679.3236=/html/index.html

1858rem, that price was a few years back. Hell I was almost a young feller then

 

[Steve C]

Its been many, many years since I use a Lee loader to bang together many boxes of .357 mag ammo. It was my first reloading tool and worked but slowly. I can't remember ever loading .38's with my .357mag kit.

Lee sells the kits in .38 and .357 without marking them as being able to load both which seems to indicate that its not readily doable.