P08 wrote on Aug 19^th, 2022 at 8:21pm:


Just because the Lee dies didn't work doesn't mean they are crap. It always easy to blame the tool used rather than how it was used. You should have done your homework. 

Just because the Lee dies didn't work doesn't mean they are crap. It always easy to blame the tool used rather than how it was used. You should have done your homework. 

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I tend to agree with PO8 , in regards to their quality, and their customer service outside the USA is appalling 
Gumpy

No wonder to me. I am quite sure Lee sells considerably more dies for cartridges with barrels that measure .375 groove diameter, as opposed to the number sold for highwalls with .379-.382 groove diameter barrels. His .379 mould would work for most situations by sizing down for smaller groove diameter, and using as is for the occasional highwall. I don't know if he offers his collet dies for the 38-55, but if so, they would go a long way toward solving at least part of the problem. I believe he makes custom sizing mandrels for them also. I think we see things through a much narrower glass. We make up an infinitesimal portion of his business, yet he has come up some very innovative designs that are beneficial for our needs. In my limited experience with their products, the biggest complaint would be the quality of the end product. Although I know a number of short range benchrest shooters that use collet dies in various ways, and other Lee products, and they, as a rule, are a pretty fussy bunch. Come to think of it, so are we all at times. I know I can be.

I did not call Lee dies crap without reason, the .38-55 die set has an issue that they themselves openly tell you. It is however very difficult to find. They use a sizing die for the .375 Winchester which sizes the case to .377. Thus when you try to seat a .378 bullet you get a bulge. They claim to do it to save money. Well I wish I knew that before I bought them! I am going to now buy a set of RCBS dies and sell the Lee's.

"Our 38-55 dies are manufactured to load to SAAMI specs for the cartridge. This includes the use of bullets not larger than .377 however, our seating die will accommodate bullets to .379.

We utilize a 375 Winchester seating die in the 38-55 die set because it allows us to keep production costs lower and in turn, our die prices more reasonable. The use of this seater is acceptable just as using a 38 Special seating die works for the .357 Magnum. The difference is cases between the 375 Winchester and the 38-55 is approximately .060.

Our sizing die for the 38-55 is meant to size the case inward enough for customers who want to use .375 bullets which is common in some rifles. If larger bullets than .377 are used, it is probable that you will see a significant case bulge that represents the bottom of the bullet near the top of the case. While the use of larger bullets than .377 is common for the 38-55, we have decided not to open the sizing die up because it would then fail to hold a .375 bullet.

Normally, using a softer lead alloy allows a .376 or .377 bullet to fully obturate in a larger bore reducing leading and providing increased accuracy. Another option is to purchase an extra long decapper at a very reasonable cost to replace the one in the sizing die. The result is a decapping pin that protrudes below the bottom of the die. This allows the user to deprime without having to size the entire case to accomplish it. To use the modified die, turn it into the press until the pin goes down to the priming hole in the shell holder when the ram is at the top. "

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That may be construed as a simple solution for a complex problem, but not a solution. It works fairly well on a bottle necked case, but the 38-55 is not necked, it is a straight taper, hence the usefulness of a bushing neck die, as you are only sizing the length of case that holds the bullet.

True enough. If using a collet die one must use or make an expander. I have used many collet dies, but not for straight cases and with lead bullets, but have used many dies made for neck bushings for both lead and jacketed bullets. I can't praise them enough. If you have not tried them, one really should at least give them a try before passing judgement.