38 S&w

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

I've got a Ruger Blackhawk 357 Mag with the 9mm cylinder. The friend that I bought it from had cut the chambers of the 9mm cylinder deeper so that it will chamber 38 S&W. It shoots great. He was doing all the reloading for me, but I haven't been able to catch up with him lately, so I decided to load my own. Powder, primer, and bullet info is on the box, no problem.

My question is, should I use dies for 38 S&W or 38 Special/357 Mag? It shouldn't matter, but I am using a Dillion 550B.

Thanks in advance,
Oakville Shooter

 

[Claude Clay]

i load 38/357 on my dillon. 38S&W on a lee 4 hole progressive. 38 S&W cases besides being a lot shorter are also fatter by about 100th of an inch than 38's. lee dies cost about $25. worth it for me, YMMV.

 

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

i load 38/357 on my dillon. 38S&W on a lee 4 hole progressive. 38 S&W cases besides being a lot shorter are also fatter by about 100th of an inch than 38's. lee dies cost about $25. worth it for me, YMMV.

I realize that they are slightly fatter. That is really where my question comes from. Since the chamber diameter is cut for 9mm and the barrel for 357, if I size the cases for 38 S&W, will they work?

 

[2sigs]

I load .38 S&W with Lee dies also, I considered using other caliber dies also as I had 9mm and 38/357 dies on hand. I decided that even though it is a low pressure cartridge that working the brass may not be desireable as I did not want to lose any to split cases. Also the 38/357 bullet seating die may not be able to seat low enough for the .38 S&W or .38 Colt New Police cartridge. I considered using the 9mm seating die but after a bit of thought decided that for the money I would be better off using the lee set which comes with the proper shell holder also. I load Hornady HBWC's to 750fps for a 1922 Colt P.P.

Edited to ad: I also have a RL550B however for the small quantity of loads I load mine on my Boss press. I have considered picking up a LEE UNITIZED LOADER for this caliber as it a nice change of pace and nostalgic to load this way. I used to carry a pouch with my 32 derringer and a unitized loader complete with powder,Primers and bullets in my shave kit. Nice way to spend a night in a motel, your boots heel serves as hammer.

-2sigs

 

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

2 sigs, are you shooting a gun actually chambered for 38 s&w, or 38 spcl/357mag?

 

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

loaddata.com shows the following sizes:
38 s&w-.361 bullet dia, .385 case dia
9mm-.355 bullet dia, .380 case dia @ mouth, .391 case dia @base
357 mag-.357 bullet dia, .379 case dia

No real surprises there. I should add that he has been using 158 grain lead for 38 special in the 38 s&w loads.

 

[Walkalong]

I have some .38 S&W brass and loaded rounds at the house. I use Lee .38S&W dies with it. I can check when I get home and see if it will chamber in my .38's and .357's sized that way.

 

[dogrunner]

I have loaded .38 S&W using 9mm dies. One cannot size the case fully but it IS possible to assemble usable ammunition if care is taken throughout the process. That said, life would be a LOT easier with the proper die set tho and If you're going to use the caliber a lot I'd strongly suggest it!............Having no proper mould I also substituted a Lyman 147gr 354242 bullet (unsized, but lubed) with really good results. All the foregoing was for an ancient 3rd model S&W, but frankly, the results were easily as good as factory with a light charge of BE.

 

[Walkalong]

I just tried some .38 S&W rounds loaded with Lee .38 S&W dies in a Model 10, 19, 28, & a GP-100.

They would go in the GP-100 about 1/8", the Model 10 about 1/4", and the Model 19 & 28 about 3/4's of the way.

That does not mean they would not chamber in different guns.