Reloading 38sp and 357

[tookalisten]

Quick question - just curious....

I've been loading .357 lately and thanks to our good forum member, Chief 10 Beers, I now have a lot of .38 sp to load as well. (Thanks Chief!)

I use a single stage Hornady press. Since I am set up for .357, I am seriously thinking about just getting some more .38/.357 dies and set the 2nd set up for .38 sp.

I know, lazy.... but, once you have everything set, I just hate to change back and forth when I am reloading a lot of both .357 and .38.

Anyone else do this to keep from changing back and forth?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

It is some trouble to change back and forth but not that much for me. I make color marks with a 'Sharpie' on the dies for reference so when I go from one to the other I can find the adjustment quickly. Couple of turns here and a couple of turns there, not worth it to me to buy new dies. BTW I don't load many 38specials for my 357mag guns anymore because of that carbon ring thing in the chambers but I do load them for one 38special gun that I have. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[tookalisten]

thanks Jimbo - the sharpie idea is great - (should have thought of that, sometimes it's the obvious things that I miss)

I'm loading the .38's for my LCR and my daughter shoots a .38 too.

 

[revhigh]

When you reload .... reload A LOT of one caliber .... that way you have to change back and forth much less frequently. WHen I set up my press ... I NEVER load less than 1000 rounds of a given caliber. Depending on the caliber ... that doesn't last very long. :D

REV

 

[kelbro]

There are shim setups (machined washers) available that you can use without changing your die settings. I think that it's Redding that makes them.

 

[DeletedMember275]

There are shim setups (machined washers) available that you can use without changing your die settings. I think that it's Redding that makes them.

+1; no muss, no fuss; $10.59. http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/search/keywords/red80901

 

[Iron Mike Golf]

There are shim setups (machined washers) available that you can use without changing your die settings. I think that it's Redding that makes them.

My RCBS sets (.357/.38 and .44 Mag/Spl) came with those.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I have numerous die-sets for each cartridge I reload.

 

[callshot]

I made my own washer as mentioned above. Now I use the Dillon for the 38's and don't load hardly any 357's any more. One more idea that works well is to make a dummy round and keep it in the box with the dies. When adjusting, put the dummy round in the shell holder and just adjust the dies to the dummy round. I think the washer is an easy way to go. Steve

 

[Rclark]

I just have one set of dies per cartridge. I just readjust when necessary. Takes all of a couple minutes. Change bullet types readjust again. No biggie. Also don't do 'bulk' (1000 at a time). Every time I have an empty box of 100, it's time to sit down and crank them out :) . Can't stand having 'empties' sitting around ... plus it's fun! Most I do at one time is 200. I don't use dummy rounds either. To many bullet types and waste of a case(s) :) .

 

[Cherokee]

I have one sizer, several seaters and several crimp dies for 38/357 and different bullet styles so I don't have to spend time readjusting dies. Same for other cartridges I load.

 

[Sgt Garcia]

Quick question - just curious....

I know, lazy.... but, once you have everything set, I just hate to change back and forth when I am reloading a lot of both .357 and .38.

Anyone else do this to keep from changing back and forth?

Yep, I guess I’m one of the lazy ones. I have a dedicated Dillon SD setup for 38s and another for 357s. For me it’s more of a time issue.
Most everything I load with these 2 cartridges is done with the same load every time so it’s just a matter of mounting the press on the
bench…..3 bolts…..and readying the components, I can be producing ammo in short order. It will be nice to have enough bench space
to leave the presses mounted. That will come with a new loading room.

Dennis.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I use Jimbo's Sharpie method on Lee dies. My brother in law uses the shims that came w/ his RCBS dies. Both ways work just fine...

There's a box of dummies in the drawer that covers pretty much each caliber/bullet combo I normally load. Generally wait until I have several hundred to do so set up time's minimal.

Nice thing about this is there are MANY ways of going about obtaining the same results. Try a few--one will appeal to you!

Rick C

 

[Kanook]

I use the sharpie and dummy methed also.

I use worn out brass that would be normally recyled for the dummy round, that way I can use all the good stuff.

 

[revhigh]

It takes .... what ? ..... 5 minutes to set up a set of dies .... no big deal to me. Plus ... if by chance you get a different bullet ... they need adjustment anyway.

REV

 

[Pal Val]

I was doubtful about the washer spacers for .357 mag until I tried them. No need to reset dies anymore.

 

[44shootist]

If your die set was RCBS you will see that washer came in the box

It is for changing from 38spl to 357 so you don't have to reset dies, you pop the washer under the die for 357, take it out for 38spl. The washer thickness is the same as the difference between 38spl. and 357 this is all you need for single stage if you had a auto loader you would want 2 sets.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I like the competition seater dies with micrometer setting so I can just dial in a setting to seat bullets and separate crimp dies for special and magnum brass.
The washers never seem to work out for crimping.

 

[44shootist]

PO2 hammer, Always works fine for me for crimping, your micometer would be off enough not to work right with the crip die, works great with standard die sets.