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38 Special dies for 38 S&W
Cconan
Member Posts: 27 ✭
Anybody know if the 38 Special reloading dies work for 38 Smith and Wesson reloading?
Comments
No, too small in diameter too long in length.
As mentioned, the "38 Short & Weak" is different in all dimensions from a .38 Special. I know of no other dies that can be used as a substitute for the actual ones.
I don't know you, so don't take offense at the following…
There are a LOT of guns out there that were chambered for the .38 S&W but which are too weak to even consider shooting. Be very diligent in researching your gun to see if it falls into that "exhibit ONLY" category.
Even if your gun is considered okay to shoot, do NOT think of this as a round you can hot rod. Keep to the very mildest loads. This is a curiosity gun and cartridge, not a daily defense gun.
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I tried, but missed the "agree" button.😉
That's why I want to reload them. Make some low pressure black powder rounds. It's still good and solid. Should shoot the rounds it was intended to shoot. My reloads will be even lighter than those.
Kudos.
Right or wrong, I've used 9mm luger dies to some success.
It is entirely possible to reload straight wall cartridges without using reloading dies, as long as the cartridge is used in the chamber that it was originally shot in. Have you thought of using round balls for a mild reload? As stated above there may be other dies that work "close enough" to perform the task for casual shooting, either pistol or rifle dies. Good luck.