Using 9mm Luger sizing die on .38 Special and .357 Magnum
Quote from Reloader on October 16, 2021, 7:52 pm9mm Luger neck size is .380" OD and .38 Special is .379". I examined my .40 S&W sizing die, which also does 10mm Auto and the carbide sizing portion does not extend for the whole length of the longer case. Since I cannot buy a Dillon Carbide Die Set in .38/.357 at the moment, I was thinking that I might be able to use the Sizing Die from my 9mm Luger kit. There is no sizing being performed on the inside of the case, which surprised me.
Since the .38/.357 uses a roll crimp, I wondered if the inside of the case might also be resized by the caliber specific Sizing Die. Maybe someone who owns this set could check and see if an expander ball is dragged through the case mouth?
I actually think that the Bullet Seater Die from the 9mm Luger kit might also work (since I measured it), but the Crimping Die would need to be different to produce a roll crimp.
9mm Luger neck size is .380" OD and .38 Special is .379". I examined my .40 S&W sizing die, which also does 10mm Auto and the carbide sizing portion does not extend for the whole length of the longer case. Since I cannot buy a Dillon Carbide Die Set in .38/.357 at the moment, I was thinking that I might be able to use the Sizing Die from my 9mm Luger kit. There is no sizing being performed on the inside of the case, which surprised me.
Since the .38/.357 uses a roll crimp, I wondered if the inside of the case might also be resized by the caliber specific Sizing Die. Maybe someone who owns this set could check and see if an expander ball is dragged through the case mouth?
I actually think that the Bullet Seater Die from the 9mm Luger kit might also work (since I measured it), but the Crimping Die would need to be different to produce a roll crimp.
Quote from Reloader on October 16, 2021, 11:23 pmI think it probably might not work because the 9mm Luger case is tapered .011" from base to rim. Both the 10mm/.40 and the .38/.357 have straight walls. I have only new cases at the moment, but I'll run one through to see what happens.
I think it probably might not work because the 9mm Luger case is tapered .011" from base to rim. Both the 10mm/.40 and the .38/.357 have straight walls. I have only new cases at the moment, but I'll run one through to see what happens.
Quote from Reloader on October 17, 2021, 12:40 amThe Sizing Die ran down the case easily with only slight resistance. Whether it will work on fired brass I do not know. The Seating Die from 9mm worked, but, of course I have no seating stem for the wadcutter shaped bullets. Since I am loading only .38 Special at the moment, I imagine the 9mm Luger Crimping Die would be fine for that. The case fill for all the powders of which I am in possession is very low and that concerns me. My best choice, which is Hodgdon Universal, fills to only 50% while not exceeding the 17,000 psi maximum pressure of .38 Special, although the gun is capable of enduring .357 Magnum pressures. QuickLOAD says 835 fps out of the three inch barrel with a 125 grain XTP. Hodgdon Trail Boss would be a much better match for the .38 Special, but I have none.
The Sizing Die ran down the case easily with only slight resistance. Whether it will work on fired brass I do not know. The Seating Die from 9mm worked, but, of course I have no seating stem for the wadcutter shaped bullets. Since I am loading only .38 Special at the moment, I imagine the 9mm Luger Crimping Die would be fine for that. The case fill for all the powders of which I am in possession is very low and that concerns me. My best choice, which is Hodgdon Universal, fills to only 50% while not exceeding the 17,000 psi maximum pressure of .38 Special, although the gun is capable of enduring .357 Magnum pressures. QuickLOAD says 835 fps out of the three inch barrel with a 125 grain XTP. Hodgdon Trail Boss would be a much better match for the .38 Special, but I have none.
Quote from Reloader on October 24, 2021, 2:04 amI bought a Seating Die and a Crimping Die from Dillon, both of which were available and which I have already received, and I have ordered a Lee Sizing Die to tide-me-over. I even Photoshopped a 14400 label for a Dillon die box I had bought from Graf's that was being used for Hornady bullet puller collets. The label came out so well that I made two other labels that were missing in action from the reloading setup I bought used. That was really silly because I am keeping the dies in their own caliber specific toolhead!
I bought a Seating Die and a Crimping Die from Dillon, both of which were available and which I have already received, and I have ordered a Lee Sizing Die to tide-me-over. I even Photoshopped a 14400 label for a Dillon die box I had bought from Graf's that was being used for Hornady bullet puller collets. The label came out so well that I made two other labels that were missing in action from the reloading setup I bought used. That was really silly because I am keeping the dies in their own caliber specific toolhead!
Quote from Reloader on October 26, 2021, 5:50 pmThe box I bought is not actually a die box as there are no ridges to hold dies. I guess it's just a utility box. The Lee Die is shorter than a Dillon Die and required screwing down as far as it would go, but it works.
The box I bought is not actually a die box as there are no ridges to hold dies. I guess it's just a utility box. The Lee Die is shorter than a Dillon Die and required screwing down as far as it would go, but it works.