German Jim Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Anyone reload the .38 S&W cartridge? Do you crimp it? I have the LEE .38S&W die set, but they don't come with a crimping die. They'll make one for me for a price, but I'm wondering if there is a die that I could use instead of haveing one specially made? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Factory .38 S&W are crimped. It does help with the powders burn LG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I used to load these with a Lee 3-die set. Lee doesn't make an FCD for this cartridge. But you don't need a separate crimp die as the bullet seating & crimp are done with the same die. It takes a bit of fiddling, but it works very well and puts a nice crimp on the case Lee .38 S&W die set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Believe you may have misread the materials with the dies. If you have the carbide die set, Lee # 90569, the seater is also a crimp die. Per Midway's description (look for the line I marked HERE'S THE CLUE): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Set includes a Carbide Sizer Die, Powder Through Expander Die, Bullet Seater Die and a 2 year warranty. Reloading with carbide dies requires no sizing lube. Technical Information Material: Steel Accessories: Plastic Container Shellholder Powder dipper Load data sheet Notes: Adjustable crimp from slight taper to full roll HERE'S THE CLUE! This die set comes with a sizer die that is marked as 38 Auto. This is the correct sizer die for this die set and will work for either the 38 S&W or the 38 Auto ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check the die instruction sheet to find the directions for adjusting the crimp amount. Mine crimps well, and I need one since I load with BP in the .38 S&W. Good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I reload .38 S&W with the Lee dies. As others have said, the seater will also crimp. I've actually got several loads that I use, and all of them work well. This is the ONLY caliber that I have developed more than one load for, and it is one of my favorite calibers, period. I greatly wish there was a main match rifle chambered for it. Alas, no such thing exists. And, for what it's worth, betterbullets.com has a proper .360" bullet for use in this caliber. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Slim SASS #24733 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Two bits: I load BP loads for my 38 S&W pockets, and the LEE die seems to work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
German Jim Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 A-h-h. Yes, I re-read the instructions (RTM) and the last 4 sentences for step 5 "Bullet Seating Die" explains it. Thanks all for your replys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagonmaster ward Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 nevermind, I missread the post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 My method of setting the seat/crimp die for Lee dies and lead bullets: - with empty case, fully raise the case into the press - screw the seat/crimp die down until it touches the brass - lower the ram and turn the die another 1/3 turn - lock in place with the die nut - adjust the seating insert of the seating die This mostly matches the Lee directions but adds a bit more crimp for better combustion of BP and lower pressure loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubious Don #56333 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 A good crimp will make your loads burn more efficiently. The seating die on your Lee set should also be a crimp die. You can seat and crimp in one stroke of the handle or, seat wirh the die backed out just a bit and then back out the seating stem and crimp on the second run. Up to you. Proper bullet diameter is 360-361 however, some S&W revolvers made have 358-59 bores. Doesn't matter if you use the smaller bullets in bigger bore or vice-versa, both will work. I've always used 358-59 bullets. The HBWC will be seated out of course because the S&W case is so short but the hollow base expands and fills the bore on those 361 bores to give good accuracy. This was the very first load I used when I loaded for my first revolver, a Webley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Dog, SASS #20401 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Anyone have a source for loaded cartridges cheaper than the prohibitively expensive Rem&Win factory loads? $40 a box is too steep for this child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Anyone have a source for loaded cartridges cheaper than the prohibitively expensive Rem&Win factory loads? $40 a box is too steep for this child. \ $40 a box is actually a bit low from what I have seen of late. HOWEVER, my suggestion would be to haunt the gun shops and look at their shelves with a careful eye. If you see any boxes the "look old" chances are that they have been sitting on the shelf for a long time and have an old price on them. I've had this happen to me several times. I was in one shop not to long ago, and got a box for $15. The owner said to me, "Wow, how long has this been sitting here?" When he got some more in, it was his last box, the price had jumped to $45.00 each. Another thing to keep in mind, the nickle Winchster brass bulges if you try to load a .360 bullet in it to the point where they will not chamber. (This does not happen with the Remmington stuff) As such, this is why I developed multiple loads. With the Win brass I use .358 hollow base bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Foolery U.S.M. #2348 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I too use the LEE dies. I first loaded BP but my S&W Single Action 2nd Model didn't like the repeated firing (fouling). I use a RAPINE 148gn. hollow base soft lead bullet. I'm still working on a nice load. My latest is 1.6gn. of HP38 that I'll test this weekend. The brass I use has no headstamp. From what I was told, they were used as primer holders in land mines or grenades. What gun do you have?? Good luck TF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I too use the LEE dies. I first loaded BP but my S&W Single Action 2nd Model didn't like the repeated firing (fouling). I use a RAPINE 148gn. hollow base soft lead bullet. I'm still working on a nice load. My latest is 1.6gn. of HP38 that I'll test this weekend. The brass I use has no headstamp. From what I was told, they were used as primer holders in land mines or grenades. What gun do you have?? Good luck TF I have several guns in this caliber. In no particular order they are... Webley Mark IV (Everyone who shoots this caliber should, IMO, have a Webley Mark IV. They are probably one of the strongest guns ever chambered for this caliber, and make a great safe test bed when working up new loads. I use a very simple method. If the recoil seems to be more than Remington Factory in a particular loading, I will not allow said loads to be used in ANY other gun.) Iver Johnson Topbreak with target grips Merwin & Hulbert spur trigger 5 shot. (This is a sweet old gun, but silenced by a broken fireing pin. I really wanna get it fixed.) American Bulldog 6 shot DA Revolver. Fired this only a few times. My Dad decided one day to take it apart, and now it's in pieces in the drawer of his/my reloading bench. Some of the pins and other small parts have sadly vanished. Including the grips! 2 Uberti made '58 Remmingtons with Krist Konverters that I occasionally use as main match revolvers. I also run this cartrige through my Colt 1877 Lighting, using hollow based bullets. If anyone wants, I'll send them my loads. In fact, I am gonna do some test shooting and chronoing tomorrow, just for the heck of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I used to load these with a Lee 3-die set. Lee doesn't make an FCD for this cartridge. But you don't need a separate crimp die as the bullet seating & crimp are done with the same die. It takes a bit of fiddling, but it works very well and puts a nice crimp on the case Lee .38 S&W die set +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Rose, SASS #45478 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I use a 9mm seating die to seat and crimp. Also use a 9 mm flare die. Use a 357 sizer to neck size and screw the decapping stem way down. I use 358 bullets and shoot them with a very mild load of Trail Boss in an original S+W. Most of the side shoots are usually at table top distances and this load is accurate enough for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Leg Russ, SASS #41,697 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I use the Lee 3 die set and they work great. Mine do add the roll crimp. The instructions that came with the dies also had some recommended load data which I have used with a 125 grain lead bullet. They have worked great in my S&W pocket pistol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Smokepole #29248L Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I used to load .38 S&W in the 80's and used a 9MM parabellum taper crimp die for the final crimp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Foolery U.S.M. #2348 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I too use the LEE dies. I first loaded BP but my S&W Single Action 2nd Model didn't like the repeated firing (fouling). I use a RAPINE 148gn. hollow base soft lead bullet. I'm still working on a nice load. My latest is 1.6gn. of HP38 that I'll test this weekend. The brass I use has no headstamp. From what I was told, they were used as primer holders in land mines or grenades. What gun do you have?? Good luck TF BTW, the 1.6gn load was GREAT. Very little recoil. Even hit a coffee can at 25 yards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 BTW, the 1.6gn load was GREAT. Very little recoil. Even hit a coffee can at 25 yards Ya sure it didn't BOUNCE into that can LG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Foolery U.S.M. #2348 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Ya sure it didn't BOUNCE into that can LG It fell yer HEAD, did'nt it??? TF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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