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357 rem max die set ?
- Thread starter rebs
- Start date
No. If the dies were short enough to work on shorter cases, they almost certainly would be labeled for the shorter calibers.
This may not apply to all brands of dies, but in general:
The die is limited to shells at least as long or longer than the specified size. The resizer will work fine for shorter shells, and MAYBE the flair die will also, depending on the brand of die; it all depends on if the expander plug can be lowered inside the die body. Your problem will be that there is no way for the crimping die to reach lower to touch the mouth of the case before the die bottoms out on the shell holder.
This may not apply to all brands of dies, but in general:
The die is limited to shells at least as long or longer than the specified size. The resizer will work fine for shorter shells, and MAYBE the flair die will also, depending on the brand of die; it all depends on if the expander plug can be lowered inside the die body. Your problem will be that there is no way for the crimping die to reach lower to touch the mouth of the case before the die bottoms out on the shell holder.
NoSecondBest
New member
Call RCBS and ask them. Then you'll really know.
This reminds me of the days back in the big inning. RCBS made dies for the 38 Special, and then came the 357 Mag, RCBS made another set of dies. After that they made another set.
At the same time there were a few reloaders that never knew there was a problem. The few reloaders I am referring to used the same dies for the 38 Special when loading 357 Mag cases. They never got into the habit of securing the lock ring to the die, they adjusted the die avertime they used them and then secured the die to the press with the lock ring. After RCBS made the 357 Mag dies and reloaders purchased them they found they could not use the 357 Mag dies on 38 Special cases.
BECAUSE? The crimp ring in the 357 Mag seating die was too high to crimp the 38 Special cases. BUT the 357 Mag seating die would crimp the shorter case; all the reloader had to do was adjust the die to crimp. Later RCBS included the shorter crimp die in ‘yet another’ set of dies and added a spacer.
The longer sizing die will size all three cases, the 38 Special, the 357 Magnum and the 357 Maximum. Back to the original problem, the reloader. If the reloader can adjust the shorter seating die he can adjust the short seating die to crimp all three.
F. Guffey
At the same time there were a few reloaders that never knew there was a problem. The few reloaders I am referring to used the same dies for the 38 Special when loading 357 Mag cases. They never got into the habit of securing the lock ring to the die, they adjusted the die avertime they used them and then secured the die to the press with the lock ring. After RCBS made the 357 Mag dies and reloaders purchased them they found they could not use the 357 Mag dies on 38 Special cases.
BECAUSE? The crimp ring in the 357 Mag seating die was too high to crimp the 38 Special cases. BUT the 357 Mag seating die would crimp the shorter case; all the reloader had to do was adjust the die to crimp. Later RCBS included the shorter crimp die in ‘yet another’ set of dies and added a spacer.
The longer sizing die will size all three cases, the 38 Special, the 357 Magnum and the 357 Maximum. Back to the original problem, the reloader. If the reloader can adjust the shorter seating die he can adjust the short seating die to crimp all three.
F. Guffey
Last edited:
I cannot remember where I got the max set,
Rebs, I do not know. There is a possibility you were speed reading.
F. Guffey
does anyone happen to have a 38/357 seat and crimp die that they don't use ?
Rebs, I can not speak for other members, I have at least 5 sets I do not use. Make me an offer.
F. Guffey
are you talking the whole set or just the seating die ?
I am talking about 5 sets, or a set or a seating die. I will need your contact information and shopping address.
F. Guffey
m&p45acp10+1
New member
The expander die is higher up so expanding the case mouth is not going to be able to be done. Also the seating die is higher up inside if by some chance you managed to flare the case mouth it will not take that out.
I am talking about 5 sets, or a set or a seating die. I will need your contact information and shopping address.
I appreciate your helping me, what is your price for a set of the dies or just a seater crimp die ? You didn't say if you have a 357 MAX and can use the dies I have.
The expander die is higher up so expanding the case mouth is not going to be able to be done. Also the seating die is higher up inside if by some chance you managed to flare the case mouth it will not take that out.
And I have always said from the big inning; My favorite die is a short die. My dies and presses have threads; threads allow me to adjust the die to, above or below the shell holder. And then; there is no shortage of tools that can be used to shorten dies.
I am the fan of adjusting dies. I do not secure the lock ring to the die, I secure the die to the press with the lock ring.
F. Guffey
At the same time there were a few reloaders that never knew there was a problem. The few reloaders I am referring to used the same dies for the 38 Special when loading 357 Mag cases. They never got into the habit of securing the lock ring to the die, they adjusted the die overtime they used them and then secured the die to the press with the lock ring. After RCBS made the 357 Mag dies and reloaders purchased them they found they could not use the 357 Mag dies on 38 Special cases.
when seating bullets, it was about that time many reloaders discovered they had three sets of dies; two of them they did not need because they just hated adjusting their dies.
F. Guffey
I am the fan of adjusting dies. I do not secure the lock ring to the die, I secure the die to the press with the lock ring.
This sounds to me like a better way of doing it.
Each type of Lock Ring Has Benefits
(I know this is a little off-topic for this thread, but when we start talking about having to make adjustment changes to dies, it really is germane to the subject)
On the other hand, not being able to secure a lock ring to the die so the adjustment never changes is one of the biggest complaints others have about Lee! And I can see that too, ESPECIALLY when I am loading on a single stage press. When I put dies in a turret, the Lee rings are perfect because they never have to be moved unless you have a specific reason to change the adjustment (like caliber changes), but when I need to spin the die out to change to the next step on a single stage, I hate having to take extra care to not move that ring, and even then I still have to double check the adjustment before continuing to reload. With dies that have a fixed lock ring, it is just spin the danged thing in and start cranking with no worries.
The solution, of course, is simple. If you have Lee dies that you are regularly having to switch in a single stage, you simply buy an inexpensive set of Lyman lock rings or the Hornady LNL bushing conversion setup. Either way you still have better dies at a lower total price than other brands.
That is one of the reasons why some people love the Lee lock rings with rubber o-rings for good friction fit - all of the Lee die threaded parts are adjustable without tools - makes changing the bullet seating depth, amount of crimp, or mouth flair a real dream. I really hate having to pull out my wrenches to make those same adjustments with other brands of dies.I am the fan of adjusting dies. I do not secure the lock ring to the die, I secure the die to the press with the lock ring.
(I know this is a little off-topic for this thread, but when we start talking about having to make adjustment changes to dies, it really is germane to the subject)
On the other hand, not being able to secure a lock ring to the die so the adjustment never changes is one of the biggest complaints others have about Lee! And I can see that too, ESPECIALLY when I am loading on a single stage press. When I put dies in a turret, the Lee rings are perfect because they never have to be moved unless you have a specific reason to change the adjustment (like caliber changes), but when I need to spin the die out to change to the next step on a single stage, I hate having to take extra care to not move that ring, and even then I still have to double check the adjustment before continuing to reload. With dies that have a fixed lock ring, it is just spin the danged thing in and start cranking with no worries.
The solution, of course, is simple. If you have Lee dies that you are regularly having to switch in a single stage, you simply buy an inexpensive set of Lyman lock rings or the Hornady LNL bushing conversion setup. Either way you still have better dies at a lower total price than other brands.