357 full length resize question from clueless newbie

[gacjr]

Just starting reloading. Got a set of Lee 38 special dies. My question is can I use the same dies to resize the cases and seat the bullets for 357 magnum ?
Searched the forum but didn't find any post regarding this.
I'm thinking that I probably can if I readjust the dies but not sure.

[Brick]

Dies for .38 Spec. are usually also for .357 magnum since both cartridges have the same dimesions except length which is about 1/8" longer in the magnum. Many such dies aer marked .38/.357. The same holds true for .44 Spec. & .44 Magnum and a couple others. Adjust your dies accordingly and you should be fine.

[Steve in PA]

Don't know about Lee, but I use RCBS and the .38/.357 and .44/.44mag dies all come with a spacer for reloading the magnum cases.

You just add the spacer when flaring the case mouth and seat a bullet. For resizing, no spacer is required.

[mardo]

Don't know about Lee, but I use RCBS and the .38/.357 and .44/.44mag dies all come with a spacer for reloading the magnum cases.

You just add the spacer when flaring the case mouth and seat a bullet. For resizing, no spacer is required.

You got a spacer with your's? That would make life a lot easier.

[tom vito]

I may be wrong, but I had thought that lee made three sets of dies, .38spl, .357 mag, and 38 spl/357 mag. THis may have been old stock, but my lee set is clearly marked .38spl/.357 mag.


After looking at their web page, it says .38 special can also load magnums, and .357 mag can load maxiums.

[Farbmeister]

The sizing die is not the issue. It wold be the vendors flaring die.

Lee uses a case activated hollow flaring die that really doesn't care how long the case is.. on the diameter.

If you looked at the die kit part numbers, they are probably the same.

[Bama Man]

Yes, yes, yes.
The Lee .38 special dies also work on the .357 cartridge.
The Lee instructions even give you the directions to use them for either.
Per my Lee instrtuctions " These dies can be used to load the 357 Magnum by backing out the bullet seater and expanding die two(2) full turns.
OR you can use a spacer that is .125in thick that fits under your die and do the same thing.
I just back out the dies my self.

[imashooter2]

Unless you bought the Lee "Speed Die" you can use the same set for .357 and .38. The Speed Dies are cartridge specific due to the way the decapper/expander works.

[Steve in PA]

You got a spacer with your's? That would make life a lot easier.

Yes, the spacer came with both sets.

[knight0334]

It depends.. Lee does, or did, have a 38spl dedicated die set.

It wouldn't full length resize a 357mag because it isn't reamed out to the 357mag's depth. The 38spl set will partially resize and will seat and crimp the longer cases, but your will have a bulged/ballooned cartridge wall when using once or more fired brass.