Reload .38 Special with .357 Dies?

[shaggy430]

I've got a set of vintage Bair .357 Mag Dies. Is it possible to adjust them down far enough to reload .38 Special?

 

[Canuck-IL]

Yes - same dies just a different height off the press.
/Bryan

 

[remingtondude58]

I load 38 with my 357 mag LEE dies

 

[1911user]

The only issue may be getting the 38 case far enough into the 357 seat/crimp die to actually crimp. Everything else should be fine.

 

[Walkalong]

Some dies are .357 only, but most are .38/.357. A quick check to see if the .38 brass will go in far enough to crimp will tell you.

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Yes, RCBS dies include a spacer ring for that purpose.

 

[Walkalong]

His are

vintage Bair

 

[rcmodel]

Yes is not the answer.

The answer is you will have to try it.

The sizing die will work.
The decapping / belling die will work.
Whether or not the seater / crimper will work can only be determined by trying it.

Back when Bair was still in business, you bought Bair, or RCBS, or any other die set in .38 Special or .44 Special to load .357 Mag. or .44 Mag
Unless you wanted to buy two die sets.

The "universal" .38. Spl/357 Mag, & .44 Spl/.44 Mag die sets are a fairly recent innovation in my experiance.

In the event the seat / crimp die will not work, you can grind 1/8"+ off the bottom of it, and it too will work.

rc