Die set for .357 Max, .357 mag and .38 Spcl?

[Arkansas Paul]

Hey guys. I have a co-worker who is getting into handloading, mainly because of the availability and cost issues with the .357 maximum round. We were talking today and he is wondering if one die set will load .357 max, .357 mag and .38 Spcl.

I figure most will, but I have no first hand experience with the .357 max at all so I'm not 100% certain. It certainly seems like it would be fine, as long as the die is long enough for the maximum round.

So 2 questions.
Is it feasible?
Is one brand of dies better than another for this particular application?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jwrowland77]

I believe the RCBS die set has all three listed on the box. I don't load .357 Max, but I'm pretty sure it's listed on the RCBS box.

Here's a picture showing all three are listed, so I would say yes, it can be done. You'll have to zoom in. Bottom grey box.

View attachment 199209

 

[fguffey]

Not in the beginning, the first set was stamped 38 Special. That one set would load 357 and 38 Special, but, adjusting the 38 Special seating die to crimp and seat bullets for the 357 Magnmum did not occur to everyone, even back then there were reloaders that adjusted the die ever time. They were the ones that did not purchase the second set, the second set would seat and crimp the 357 but was too long to seat and crimp the 38 Special.

Point, make sure the die set will crimp the 38 Special.

The new sets come with a spacer that is added beneath the lock ring when crimping the 357 Magnum.

F. Guffey

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/72...et-38-special-357-magnum?cm_vc=ProductFinding

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Thanks.
I just did a quick search and Hornady lists all 3 on the box as well.

I should have done a little research instead of being lazy and just asking you guys first.

 

[witchhunter]

Any 38 Special die set will load all three. Yoou cannot load 38's with a .357 set though, the die is too long to crimp the brass. love the .357 Maximum in my Contender.

 

[NCsmitty]

I've used my old Lyman 38/357 die set to load 357 Maximum since it's inception. My reloads were used to take a deer with my Contender years ago.


NCsmitty

 

[gamestalker]

Many will function for all of those, some won't. I bought the RCBS #18212, printed on the box ".357 mag, 38 spl, .357 max".

Years back I had a Lee 10mm die set, so when the .40 came into production I figured it would work just fine for that cattridge as well. But I discovered that although it sized fine, I couldn't bell or crimp with those dies. So some similar die sets will work, while others won't.

GS

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Thanks guys.
I pulled up the Hornady dies that list all 3 on Midway at work and showed them to him. I think he's going to get these.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/49...l-357-magnum-357-maximum?cm_vc=ProductFinding

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks guys.
I pulled up the Hornady dies that list all 3 on Midway at work and showed them to him. I think he's going to get these.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/49...l-357-magnum-357-maximum?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I have mostly Lee dies for loading handgun cartridges and I have no complaints. If I were starting over right now I would buy Hornady dies for handgun loading because of the nitride sizing ring. I think you made a good choice and you will like those dies for sure...

 

[Peter M. Eick]

One suggestion. Just buy 3 sets of dies. It is far easier to set them up once each then keep changing them. They can be found on ebay or at gun shows cheap. I just put a tick next to the label to keep the max differentiated from the mag from the specials.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

One suggestion. Just buy 3 sets of dies. It is far easier to set them up once each then keep changing them. They can be found on ebay or at gun shows cheap. I just put a tick next to the label to keep the max differentiated from the mag from the specials.

I did the same. I load on a turret press and I have dies set up on their own turrets for loading .38 Special and .357 Magnum ammo.

I was thinking about doing that for a while so when Midway put dedicated .357 Magnum dies on closeout I couldn't pass up the price! I probably would have been better to buy another set of .38 Special dies which also does the .357 Magnum because of the versatility but like I said, I couldn't pass on the price! (60% off)

 

[Arkansas Paul]

That would certainly be the ideal thing to do.

 

[RealGun]

I don't believe I'll go for anymore Hornady dies. I was recently introduced to RCBS dies, and boy, was I impressed. I do like my Reddings and Lymans. The Lyman is the best value for lead because of the included M-die expander. Never tried Dillon, but have nothing against that idea.

My current setup for 357 Magnum on my Hornady LnL AP is a Lee sizer (the smoothest I've tried), Hornady powder drop/expander, powder cop, Lyman seater, and Redding Profile Crimp die. Of the die boxes I have tracked down, only Hornady lists 357 Max as one of the capabilities. However, the Lyman website shows their 3 die set including 38/357 Magnum/357 Max. That would be my pick for 357 Max. More expensive but really good dies for what I have from them..