I have a set of RCBS 38 special dies probably 30-40 years old that still look good I am wanting to load 38s and 357 what do I need to do to load both or should I just buy new dies?
If you have an old set of RCBS 38 special dies with a carbide die the primer punch will be on the expander die. Just before that RCBS made a 357 Magnum set; WhY? I do not know because we were sizing 357 and 38 Special cases with one die. the 38 Special die. The only problem with the old original, first 38 Special die set was the crimp on the seating/crimp die. Back then there were a few of us that adjusted dies when sizing and seating, we did not secure the lock ring to the die, we secured the die to the press with the lock ring. I know, most or you are so confused but the second die set for the 357 Magnum was not necessary because the old original first set would load both the 38 Special and the 357 Magnum. Then came the other problem when progressive presses came available. The expander die came with an integral primer punch. That did not work because the expander die is located in position #2. Some of the old sizing dies are not threaded for the primer punch, for those that are keeping up that presented another problem and required another die body when RCBS started putting the primer punch in position one of the progressive press. I believe RCBS made 5 different sets of reloading dies for the 38 special and 357 Magnum. Reloaders that adjusted their dies only required one set, the first one. And then came the spacer, the spacer was necessary for reloaders that were afraid to move the lock ring out of fear they would loose there place.
If in my possession I have a die with the lock ring secured to the die it is not my die.
F. Guffey