Older RCBS 357 die sets

[jsoukup]

When I got my reloading gear, I got a few of RCBS dies, one set is a carbide, the other is steel. On the carbide set, the sizer decapper, it's marked 38 -357. On the seater crimper, it's marked 357. So last night when I ran my first batch of 38's, I was able to correctly seat the bullet, but the die is too long to crimp it. I mean I even took the die out of the press, unscrewed the seating plug, and dropped the cartridge into it and it bottomed out on the rim. So I'm guess this is a 357 only crimp? Is that right?

There is no crimper for the steel set.

Is the another way to crimp the 38's without another die? I thought about using the sizer die and just hitting the first 1/8", but I'm afraid of breaking the sizer.

[yooper77]

You could possibly use your sizer die with the decapping stem removed, to give them a slit taper crimp, but basically you are only taking the bell out of the case mouth.  When you are shooting the bullet might jump and jam up your revolver if that's what your using.

I had the same problem with I first bought a T/C Encore 454 Casull, so I bought 454 Casull die.  Later I bought a Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt and the 454 Casull crimping die cannot crimp the colt, so I bought the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die 45 Colt (Long Colt), 454 Casull so no more problems.

I would suggest to buy a Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die 38 Special, 357 Magnum, see link http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=251707&t=11082005

yooper77

[Tom W.]

I read the post and had to go look at my dies. The seating die said 38/357...



Call RCBS and talk to customer service. They help even clumsy people like me! I suspect that they may trade with you....

[Old Syko]

Well I've learned something new today.  I have 3 Lyman seaters and 4 RCBS and only 1 RCBS is marked 357 and is too long for 38 special use. 

In your case you may want to make a call like Tom suggests.  Who knows?  I've got enough to not be concerned.

Thanks for the heads up.

[jsoukup]

I need to order some odd ball stuff anyway (That I didn't find at the gun show!). I'll just get a crimper.

[Savage]

Almost 40yrs ago the 38/.357 were the first handgun cartridge that I reloaded. Used RCBS Steel Dies. I made some spacers that allowed me to use .38 dies to load .357 without having to readjust dies from one to the other. .38spl dies work for the .357, but the later are too long for loading .38. Still have the old dies, but use carbide dies these days-----------------life is good!
Savage

[Gun Runner]

If you call RCBS there open from 9am to 3pm M thru T Closed F, S, S. (pacific time)

You will probably winde up talking to Charlie. He will have a new die in the mail that day or the next Bus. day free of charge.

Gun Runner

[yooper77]

RCBS, will most likely have you sent them your seater die and they will shorten it for you.

I have an old set of RCBS 25-35 Winchester dies and the seater die was too long to crimp factory new Winchester brass, they wanted me to mail it to them so they could shorten it.  Well, I never got around to it and later bought a Weatherby die set for 257 Weatherby Magnum and guess what the seater die crimps my 25-35 Winchester.

RCBS is one of the best in the reloading business and they might send you a die or not, I would given them a try.  I normally use their email link.

Email link below to Ask RCBS your question or contact customer service toll free at 1-800-533-5000 (Monday - Thursday from 6:30am - 3:00pm Pacific Time).
http://www.rcbs.com/questions/reloading_questions.aspx
http://www.rcbs.com/questions/ask.aspx

yooper77

[jsoukup]

rcbs tech <rcbs.tech@ATK.COM> wrote:

    Subject: RE: rcbs.com - Ask RCBS Form
    Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:57:28 -0700
    From: "rcbs tech" <rcbs.tech@ATK.COM>
    To: <xxxxxxxxxxx@sbcglobal.net>

    Jon, you just need the spacer rings for the set. I will send you them
    and that will fix the problem. Have a great weekend.

>>>>>>>>>

Hmmmm... I don't think he understood my problem, but hey, I'm getting free spacer rings (washers!). I got a cheap Lee crimper yesterday, not as good of crimp as the RCBS does on the 357's, but it will work for my 38 plinking loads. Anyone recommend a good non +P 38 load for my Charter Arms snubby using 158gr SWCHP? Using 4.3 gr's of unique now, but pistol power looks more promising.

[yooper77]

Yes, he didn't understand what you needed.

I don't even use my RCBS seating die to crimp mt 45 Colt and 454 Casull cartridges, but to seat bullets in one step with my RCBS die and heavy crimp with the Lee factory crimp die.

I use AA#5 for all my standard 38 Special loads, with 158 - 170 hard cast lead bullets.

I have Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 38 Special, 357 Magnum and Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 45 ACP which work perfectly.

yooper77

[Savage]

Normally, anyone loading for the 38/357 buy dies for the .38spl. That way you just install the spacers and the dies are set for .357. I'm sure that's what the tech guy had in mind. I've never found a powder that made me want to change from BullsEye for my pistol/revolver range loads. It gives good performance thru a wide range of loadings in straight wall cases. It is also ecomomical at the low charge weights required for most range loads. For the 158gr LSWC in the .38spl, I load 3.4grs of BE. Good accurate load. Don't know what kind of velocity I'm getting as it's unimportant for my applications. It does take down the 25yd steel plates with authority. I also crimp as a seperate operation from seating and use the Lee Factory Crimp Die for all final crimps.
Savage

[PaulS]

The carbide sizer can be used with either case to size but a die that is made long enough for crimping 357 is too long for a 38. Most die sets can be purchased for both but you can also order dies exclusively for 357. Use the carbide sizer and one of the other seating/crimping dies. You can use the spacer set (I do) to swap between the cases as long as they are trimmed to the right length.