.38 special crimp

[Kissmybrass]

Unless I"m not getting this right I cannot crimp .38's with my .38/.357 RCBS die set. Kinda strange this isn't mentioned anywhere. I just reloaded and set the bullets as normal but there is no reach due to the shorter shells. I'm getting a seperate Lee Factory Crimp Die for them unless I hear different.

[Gsurko]

That’s strange. Did you contact RCBS?

[Kissmybrass]

That’s strange. Did you contact RCBS?

If I don't hear from the guys here I will on Monday. The help on this forum is amazing! Years and years of experience and no BS

[Shakey Jake]

You should be able to. Place a empty case in the shell holder and run the die down until you feel it touch the case. Remove the case and then turn the die down an additional quarter to half a turn. If you have a loaded round back off the seating stem so that it doesn't seat the bullet any further. Run the loaded round again. You should then be able to see a crimp on the loaded round.
Jake

[runnin n gunnin]

KMB, I use a Lee Factory Crimp die. They are bone cheap at around 20 t0 25 bucks, once set good to go and it gives (in my humble opinion) a better crimp.
I use a Hornady progressive or a Redding turret.

I use Hornady or Redding dies, but the Lee is just easier and I get a better crimp.

[BigAl52]

Never had any issues crimping 38 special with 357 dies

[Kissmybrass]

KMB, I use a Lee Factory Crimp die. They are bone cheap at around 20 t0 25 bucks, once set good to go and it gives (in my humble opinion) a better crimp.
I use a Hornady progressive or a Redding turret.

I use Hornady or Redding dies, but the Lee is just easier and I get a better crimp.

Yeah I have a Lee I got from Al. Love it! Gonna do the same for the 38's

[Kissmybrass]

You should be able to. Place a empty case in the shell holder and run the die down until you feel it touch the case. Remove the case and then turn the die down an additional quarter to half a turn. If you have a loaded round back off the seating stem so that it doesn't seat the bullet any further. Run the loaded round again. You should then be able to see a crimp on the loaded round.
Jake

The bottom of the die hits the shell holder before any stoppage. Definitely using the right die. Don't know why this is perplexing. I reloaded .357 mags last week with zero problems. I bought the set used so maybe there's a chance this die is .357 only?

[Kissmybrass]

Yep, I tested a .357 magnum and it crimped perfectly. The bottom of the die was 1/16" of an inch from the shell holder explaining why .38s won't work.
Top of die reads as is:
RCBS .357 MG SEAT 80

Dies are working out really well minus the .38 crimp. Definitely investing in another Lee Factory crimp

[Rifletom]

Kmb, for simplicity, get the Lee FCD. I use one for .38/.357 with my old RCBS dies. But, I have in the RCBS box a spacer that is used with the .357 dies, except the sizer. I believe it measures 0.128". Without the spacer, all dies work and crimp .38's with no issue at all. Including the Lee FCD.
Hope this helps a bit.

[fortyshooter]

No problem with the Dillon 550. For 38 Special you just screw all the dies down except the first sizing die station and good to go.
I have height measurements written down that I set the dies to for the Mag and Special loads.

[Kissmybrass]

No problem with the Dillon 550. For 38 Special you just screw all the dies down except the first sizing die station and good to go.
I have height measurements written down that I set the dies to for the Mag and Special loads.

Looks like I'm waiting till December for some Lee dies to show up. Not spending over 50 bucks on eBay -