38 special/357 dies - 1 or 2 sets?

I have two sets. But you could use a single die to size both types of brass. You would still need to have a seating/crimping die for each, or adjust every time you switch between 38 and 357.

chris

Forgot to say you need a flair/expander die for each as well. Again unless you adjust it for each caliber. This is what I did to a 357 case when I forgot to adjust my expander die:



chris

Stefan A said:

Just wondering. Those of you who load 38 special and 357 mag, do you have 2 die sets? Or do you keep readjusting 1 set?

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I have one 3 die set of RCBS with a carbide resizer die, in addition to that in have a taper crimp die and a Lee collet crimp die.
I think you could just buy a seat/crimp die, if you like to seat and crimp in separate steps.
The RCBS die set comes with a spacer washer for die 2 and 3, once the 2 and 3 dies are adjusted for .38 spl. the 2 and 3 dies are used with the washer for .357 magnum.

That's a money question and people with plenty will have 2. If they are progressive reloaders they have them setup on their own dedicated tool head.

I have two sets. Just makes life easier for me...

Because it's 90% of what I load I have a LNL for each

I think I have 4 sets of 38 Spl, and at least 3 sets of 357 Mag. I just acquired another set of 357 Mag a month back, make that 4 sets.

I leave them set up for specific loads, so in 38 Spl I have a LCT turret set up for HBWC, one for a 158gr RN load, one for a 125gr load, etc.

Stefan A said:

Those of you who load 38 special and 357 mag, do you have 2 die sets? Or do you keep readjusting 1 set?

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Because at least 90% of my 38 Special loads are just 38 Special, or 38 Special +P loads in 357 Mag cases, I seldom have to "readjust" my dies. I DO have a set of designated 38 Special dies somewhere, but I'm not sure where.

1 set with an extra seating die.

What makes it most curious is most people still adjust the seating die for different bullets so the keeping adjustments doesn't hold water.

CoalCrackerAl said:

1 set with an extra seating die.

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That's what I was going to say. The washer adjusts the sizing and flare dies, but it is a pain to keep adjusting the seating/crimp die (ETA: unless you use the same bullet). I get by with one set but don't load much of either cartridge and tend to concentrate on one or the other for some time when I do.

I have one set of dies that I use for .38 Special and .357 Magnum. The de-capping die doesn't need adjustment when changing between the two, but the other dies do. The amount of adjustment is just under two turns of the die body. If your dies have an integral adjustment stem, figure out how much you need to adjust, then mark the stem and body with a Sharpie. I recommend using separate seating and crimping dies.

Just 1 dies set 357mag. It came with a spacer, so you setup with the spacer for 357mag. Remove the spacer for 38 spl.

I only have a .357 revolver, no dedicated .38Spl.

To keep life simple, I only reload .357, some hot, some in the .38Spl. range.

One caliber of cartridge cases, same 158g bullet, one set of dies that require no adjustment.

No worries about the dreaded cylinder carbon ring that seems to annoy people here. lol

One set of dies only, and use the spacer washer for the flare die and seat/crimp die.

Continually readjusting dies when switching between .38 and .357, or using two sets of dies simply makes no sense at all.

One

Stefan A said:

Just wondering. Those of you who load 38 special and 357 mag, do you have 2 die sets? Or do you keep readjusting 1 set?

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One set.
Readjusting the dies between runs isn't a big deal.
(Dillon 550B) At least not enough of a deal to invest in another set of the same dies. I go through maybe 500 rounds a year in both those calibers combined these days, with all the other calibers going on.

I found an extra set of dies at the flea market so now I have a turret set for each, if I was using a single stage press I don't think it would be a problem

Stefan A said:

Just wondering. Those of you who load 38 special and 357 mag, do you have 2 die sets? Or do you keep readjusting 1 set?

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Adjusting. No big deal

Stefan A said:

Just wondering. Those of you who load 38 special and 357 mag, do you have 2 die sets? Or do you keep readjusting 1 set?

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Yes. One “set” pieced together a la carte from Lee and RCBS dies. I adjust every time but it’s not a big deal. Keeps me on my toes.

2 expansion and two seating dies. I use the same sizing die for both. I also have two powder measures. One for shorter cases and one for longer ones. Not a lot of adjustment is needed between all calibers.

RCBS 3 Die Carbide set and Lee FCD for 38/ 357.

Hikingman said:

RCBS 3 Die Carbide set and Lee FCD.

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Exactly what I use...