OK Wise Ones...What is this?
Being a Lyman 310 fanatic and needing a set of 38 S&W dies, I bought these. It is a new in box set of Lyman dies for the Tru-Line Jr. Press. The boxes are marked 38 S&W-L. The only die marked is the seating die and it is marked 38 SW DA.
These are indeed 38 S&W dies, but..now get this. The expanding die is marked .386 and indeed measures .386. What the hey!
This is not a blow to my plan as I have an extra 38 Special expander I have shortened in the lathe so the .358 expander will work on it.
With a thread adapter the FL size die works well on the bench press sizes 38 S&W cases to perfection. I have an old nickel plated Lyman No 3 for 38 S&W so all is go.
What the heck kind of 38 S&W is marked 38 S&W-L and needs a .386 bullet? Somebody have any idea? Anybody?![[image]](images/uploaded/20140531195218538a32f2d4d93.jpg)
![[image]](images/uploaded/20140531195257538a331904897.jpg)
OK Wise Ones...What is this?
It's for a left handed Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver. 
It is for heeLed bullet version of the .38 S&W
.......rare, of course, but known to the more learned cognoscenti.
Otony
This was intended in jest....
.....which you realize, I hope.
Otony
Shirly you jest!
nm
Don't call me Shirley!
Otony
OK Wise Ones...What is this?
by JLF 
, Saturday, May 31, 2014, 20:16 (3771 days ago) @ Charles
It's 38S&W long, the same cartridge as 38colt. S&W refused to rollmark Colt anywhere on their guns, so they renamed the cartridge.
JLF
Try again wise ones.
The 38 Long Colt has a bullet diameter of .361 and a case neck of .381
The 38 S&W has a bullet diameter of .361 and a case neck of .3855
A the diameter of the heel of a heeled bullet is SMALLER than the diameter of the bullet, not bigger. So a smaller expander is needed not larger.
The expander in his die set is .385 (marked 386) which is larger than the 38 LC case and as large as the 38 S&W case. A round loaded with a .385 bullet most likely would not chamber in either the 38 LC or 38 S&W.
This is weird!![[image]](images/uploaded/20140601025031538a94f7d5997.jpg)
The person who marked the boxes that day
by Andrew , Bloomington, IN, Sunday, June 01, 2014, 14:59 (3770 days ago) @ Charles
had the wrong stamp. They used the 38, but then was still using the S&W-L from the run of 32 S&W Long dies that he had just finished.