New to 38spl\357mag need advice

[Sauer Grapes]

Just bought 3 S&W revolvers. Have never loaded these before. Been loading 9mm, .40 s&w and 45acp for about 7 years now.
Mainly interested in loading lead and I guess heavy bullets? {target loads}

I have Clays, ClayDot, Universal, American Select, HP38, 800X, WSF, IMR 4756 and 7625.
Any of these work well with one or the other? Probably won't load much 357mag, but would like to do some.
I guess it doesn't matter, but I'm on a Lee Turret press.

One set of dies does both?
Do I need magnum primers?
Roll crimp? How much is too much.
Your favorite bullet weight?

Any advice\tips are more than welcome. Class is now in session...lol

You know what, I just realized, all my friends are semi auto guys.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Not necessarily the best first answer, but I love 4.1 gr of Unique pushing 158 gr lswc. Coated bullets from MBC or Bayou Bullets. Either Magnum or Standard small pistol primers will suffice. Good luck!

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[Steve C]

One set of dies does both? Dies are usually marked for .38 special and .357 mag. If you where to buy an old used die set you could get one for .357 mag only but they're rare.

Do I need magnum primers? You need to use magnum primers if loading with ball powders like H110/W296 where their use is needed otherwise standard primers work fine for both.

Roll crimp? How much is too much. Revolver ammo is roll crimped. Duplicating what you see on factory loaded ammo is a good guide. How much depends upon what you are loading and the guns you are shooting them in. Bullets will pull under recoil and can extend beyond the cylinder face enough to tie up the revolver so you need enough crimp to prevent this. Generally this happens more in light weight guns or with heavy recoiling mag loads. Using certain ball powders like H110 requires heavy crimp and magnum primers to ensure proper ignition. Light target loads with full wad cutters generally require very light to no crimp.

Too much crimp is when you bulge or crush the case.

Your favorite bullet weight? I mostly load 158gr lead semi wad cutters and round nose bullets for target shooting with .38 spl cases in both .38's and .357 mag revolvers. Use soft lead bullets for the .38 spl. If you want to shoot magnum velocity cast use hard 18 bnh bullets. Generally I use jacketed bullets for magnum loads.

Of the powders you list IMR 4756 and 7625, HP38 and Universal will be your most useful and loads can be found for the special and the magnum.

You can find some limited data for Clays and American Select. Clays being very fast is OK for light wad cutter and semi wad cutter target loads in the .38 spl though the charges will be light and max charge level is around 3.0 grains. Loads using WSF can be found for both .38 spl standard and +P using 158 gr lead bullets in Speer 13. Nothing for .357 mag.

If you want full power magnum loads you will have to find a slower pistol powder to use like 2400, H110/W29, AA9, M-300, LongShot, Blue Dot.

Clay Dot is not used for metallic loading according to Alliant.

 

[Jlr2267]

Just bought 3 S&W revolvers. Have never loaded these before. Been loading 9mm, .40 s&w and 45acp for about 7 years now.
Mainly interested in loading lead and I guess heavy bullets? {target loads}

I have Clays, ClayDot, Universal, American Select, HP38, 800X, WSF, IMR 4756 and 7625.
Any of these work well with one or the other? Probably won't load much 357mag, but would like to do some.
I guess it doesn't matter, but I'm on a Lee Turret press.

One set of dies does both?
Do I need magnum primers?
Roll crimp? How much is too much.
Your favorite bullet weight?

Any advice\tips are more than welcome. Class is now in session...lol

You know what, I just realized, all my friends are semi auto guys.

Of the powders listed, Universal for mild 357 loads, HP38 for 38sp. You don't need magnum primers with either of these two powders. A very modest roll crimp will work with 38sp...need a firm crimp with hotter 357 loads and heavier bullets.

Lee 38 dies will also make 357. I like the classic 158gr bullets myself.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like 158gr bullets in the 38/357. I use almost nothing other than W231/HP-38 for loading .38 Special ammo.

If you want full power .357 Magnum ammo you will want a slower powder like W296/H110, AA#9, 300-MP, 2400, Enforcer and the like. If you are using a slow burning ball powder like W296 you will want a magnum primer.

 

[X-Ring]

It is the easiest cartridge to load for. Seat the bullet to the cannelure and don’t worry about the OAL. No need to trim brass unless you have OCD.

One set of dies does both?

Yes, as long as your dies are designed for both. A few older dies are not.

Do I need magnum primers?

None of the powder you list require mag primers.

Roll crimp?

Yes

How much is too much.

Use as little as possible, just enough to keep bullets from walking forward during firing. With light loads in 38spl sometimes no crimp works. Heavy crimps are only needed with the same powders that require mag primers.

Your favorite bullet weight?

158g SWC

 

[IMtheNRA]

You just bought THREE S&W revolvers and you "won't load much .357"?!

 

[cfullgraf]

38 Special dies can load 357 Magnum, 357 Magnum only dies may not adjust low enough for 38 Special.

But now a days, most new die sets will do both but best to make sure they are marked as such.

Some die sets come with a 0.10" spacer ring to use with the expander and seating dies when loading 357 Magnum. Then, you do not have to re-adjust the dies when swithing between the two cartridges.

The sizer die will do both without any re-adjusting.

If you do not have any components yet and all the revolvers are 357 Magnum, I'd suggest just buying 357 Magnum cases. Then you do not have to adjust the dies. They can be loaded to 38 Special levels if you want. If you shoot lots of 38 Special ammnition in a 357 Magnum chamber, a carbon ring will build up preventing chambering of 357 Magnum rounds. The carbon rings clean out easily but just an aggrevation.

But, if you have a cheap source of 38 Special cases...

Reloading manuals and reputable data are your friends. Use the primer the data recommends. Magnum primers are only needed in a few instances like when loading with W296 or H110. Also note, these two powders should not be used with light loads or loaded below the published data minimums.

148 HBWC (hollow base wad cutters) cannot be driven very fast. The skirt can separate from the bullet and lodge in the barrel. They were developed for bulls eye shooting. Any solid base wadcutter does not have that problem.

Any more, I shoot 158 grain SWC in 357 Magnum cases loaded at or near top 38 Special levels. I'm not a fan of wrist snapping recoil any more. I used to load 158 grain JHPs to magnum levels. I like heavier bullets. Your choice.

 

[mdemetz]

Some die sets come with a 0.10" spacer ring to use with the expander and seating dies when loading 357 Magnum. Then, you do not have to re-adjust the dies when swithing between the two cartridges.

0.135" for 38/357

 

[gonoles_1980]

I roll crimp my lead loads, I taper crimper my 357 CP loads. I use speer LSWCHP with my 38spl, xtreme LSWC with my 357 all 158gr roll crimp. For the CP loads I use xtreme LSWC taper crimp, 158gr with AA#5.

I bought the little washers that you can use so the settings stay close to the same one the dies. I use the washer for the 357.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I used 1 set of dies for 38 and 357 for years, but now have some separate dies for 38 just to reduce caliber change over time.

I also bought a taper crimp die for target loads, no need for a heavy roll crimp with target loads and fast powder.
For heavy loads I use the Redding profile crimp (modified roll crimp)

All your powders sound good for target loads except 4756 which is better used for magnum-lite loads.

7625 gave poor performance for me in light 357 loads, wild velocity swings from position sensitivity and poor accuracy. It works fine in smaller cases or heavier charges.

I use magnum primers for 4756, HS-6 and anything slower, standard primers will work fine for all your other powders.

These days I also load everything in 357 brass, even the light loads. I only load .38 for a friend.

Never really used much plain cast, for years I used the Hornady swaged bullets for light loads, very consistent and a better choice for the lightest loads IMO.

Now I like coated 125 grain RN's for my lightest loads, 158 plated for magnum lite loads, and 158 jacketed for magnum loads.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As for dies, like mentioned already most current .38 Spl dies will do the .38 Spl, .357 Mag and .357 Max. My first set did all 3 but when Lee was clearing out their .357 Magnum only dies very inexpensive I bought a set and mounted them on their own turret. I couldn't pass them up for only $10 w/shell holder.