What is “38 S&WL”?

[jski]

I recently purchased a Lee die set for 38 Short & Long Colt. The die set is actually 3 dies from 3 different die sets: a 38 Spl / 357 sizing/decapping die, a 38 S&W expanding die, and a “38 S&WL” seating die.

What the heck is “38 S&WL” ?

 

[Zendude]

Maybe just the code to differentiate it from the 38 special seating die? My Lee 38 special seating die is labeled 38/357.

 

[RealGun]

Lee site tells us they are using the same die for both 38 S&W and 38 Long Colt (38 S&WL), even though 38 S&W guns historically are .361 rather than the .357 of 38 Long Colt. I have the same die mentioned and use it to load 38 Long Colt.

 

[mdi]

Could the "38 S&WL" be a typo for a seating stem for 38 SWCL?

 

[jski]

I called Lee today and asked them. They had no idea what “38 S&WL” stood for. I’ve used these dies to load my 38 Short Colt brass without any problems but …

 

[RealGun]

38 S&L (short and long) would make more sense, I think, because those are what the dies will load.

 

[kennedy]

not sure if this relates, but I was looking thru some of my old bullets for .32 auto, since I am going to reload for it, any way I had a 32s&W and one that had a longer case and it said on the headstamp 32s&wL,

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

not sure if this relates, but I was looking thru some of my old bullets for .32 auto, since I am going to reload for it, any way I had a 32s&W and one that had a longer case and it said on the headstamp 32s&wL,

Measure the case length. It is most likely a .32 S&W Long, as opposed to .32S&W. The original shorter cartridge is not referred to as a "Short." There is only .32S&W and .32S&W Long in that cartridge family.

There are myriad dozens of other .32 cartridges based on the S&W designs but they are marked for their makers. EX: the 1880's .32H&R is longer than a .32S&W, shorter than a .32S&W Long, and was only made for a short time for H&R revolvers but you can make a .32H&R from a .32S&W Long very easily.

 

[jski]

Measure the case length. It is most likely a .32 S&W Long, as opposed to .32S&W. The original shorter cartridge is not referred to as a "Short." There is only .32S&W and .32S&W Long in that cartridge family.

There are myriad dozens of other .32 cartridges based on the S&W designs but they are marked for their makers. EX: the 1880's .32H&R is longer than a .32S&W, shorter than a .32S&W Long, and was only made for a short time for H&R revolvers but you can make a .32H&R from a .32S&W Long very easily.

Not sure a 32 S&W (either short or long) seating die would work with 38 anytime?

 

[kennedy]

I did not imply they did, but sharing that I have a 32s&wL, so maybe you see other calibers marked with the L