Herter's Super Model 3 - .38 Special Set Up

Have an older Herter's press, was my Dad's. Decided to set it up to try hand loading .38 Special. I found a set of dies on e-bay, that well - they were cheap, that might work. What I don't think I have is the threaded case holder for .38. I believe it is the #6. I've seen some adapters, but they appear to be for the slotted type case holder and not the threaded ram type.

So, trying to source a #6 threaded case holder or adapter for the threaded ram to use other more common/modern case holders. Would prefer an original one, as I hear there are challenges with the primer function of the presses with the holder adapters, but not really sure - that's just internet info - so, some is good, some not so much.

Will add some pics and it may take a while, but follow this thread through to hopefully, actually taking some hand loads to the range.

I'll need the shell holder. I thought it was threaded, but actually just pulled the press off the old bench today and it is in the back of my vehicle still. I thought the shell holder was threaded, but it is the slotted type for the ram - so, I've seen those on e-bay so will just order one. Not sure what type of quality dies I got - they were $10, so - probably not a higher end item, but you never know (seller said they were marked Herter's and .38 special, so - good enough to just get going for me) - just wanted to get set up for it - then I have some equipment I can start tinkering with and looking at and figuring out how it should work. May get other/better dies and stuff as I go, but for now just want something to sort of keep the learning going. I have my mind set on doing .38 Special on that old Herter's press. I have vague recollections of it from when I was probably 6 or 8 and my Dad showing us how it worked. The more I look at it the more some of those distant memories creep back - I'm 47 now - so, that was 40ish years ago now.

Thanks for the tips on lubing the cases. I'm sure I'll run into challenges along the way, figuring out this and that, appreciate the heads up.

I was digging through the die sets that are with all my Dad's old equipment. One thing I found that made me do a double take, was it seemed like another primer arm/assembly for the Herter's press. Are there 2 arms for different size primers?

FROGO207 said:

What canisters of propellant do you have. There may be one or more you can use.

Click to expand...

There are several. I'll have to look at them in more detail, but think I loaded up 6 or 8 canisters of various powders. I have no proof or evidence on the state of the powders, so - not sure if they are what they say they are or if there is any way to check/test them. Maybe I should just get a fresh canister of something and that is one less thing to worry about as a new hand loader?

Oh, I plan on shooting the .38 Special in a Smith and Wesson Model 10-7 with 4" tapered barrel.
From the firearms and respective dies I've found, my Dad hand loaded .45 Colt, .222 Remington, 30-30, and 30-06 // so, there is a collection of powders and primers, dies, and odds and ends for each of those calibers.

on the left lower side of the Herter's press there is a threaded hole that goes through the frame to the Ram. looking through the hole you can see the Ram. I don't have a bolt that was threaded into this hole, nor do I know what it was for or if it is necessary. It is perpendicular to the Ram. What is that hole for?

mounted press. Took the ram out and cleaned up the moving parts - seems pretty smooth. have a 2 piece Herter's Die set coming, and a .38 Shell holder - so, in theory that's what I need to start figuring out how to use the dies.

I ordered // Speer Bullets 38 Caliber (358 Diameter) 158 Grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter

I was to shoot paper, can someone suggest a load for this? Powder will be Winchester 231

Pistol is Smith and Wesson 10-7, 4" Tapered barrel

I have some Speer and Hodgdon's manuals to use as reference. Just wondering about a 1st load. It appears my manuals are from the 70s and have no data for Win 231, maybe I need a new manual …

Is Win 231 and HP-38 actually the same powder? The old Hodgdon's manual I have from 1979 lists slightly different min and max loads for their own powder from then to now for .38 Special 158 Grain LSWC - comparing the old manual to their website. Actually, the max load is the same - it is the min, that in 1979 was 2.7 grains, now on their website they list as 3.1 as the minimum.