Loading Wadcutters

Bluesteel · 08-29-2009, 07:30 AM

I just got my first batch of wadcutters, 148gr hbwc, to load 38's. I am loading them on a Dillon 550B. Do I need a different seating stem, or can I use the semi-wadcutter side? I am currently at work and can not remember if it came with a seating stem for wadcutters or not.

Thanks for any help.

Iowegan · 08-29-2009, 08:41 AM

Bluesteel, If you are using Dillon dies, the seater stem is reversible ... one end for round nose, the other for WC & SWC.

Bluesteel · 08-29-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowegan

Bluesteel, If you are using Dillon dies, the seater stem is reversible ... one end for round nose, the other for WC & SWC.

Thanks Iowegan. That was what I thought, but was not sure.

chaneyd · 02-27-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesteel

I just got my first batch of wadcutters, 148gr hbwc, to load 38's. I am loading them on a Dillon 550B. Do I need a different seating stem, or can I use the semi-wadcutter side? I am currently at work and can not remember if it came with a seating stem for wadcutters or not.

Thanks for any help.

Your die set, if it is a Dillon set, comes with an extra seating stem for wad cutters. It comes from the factory with the reversible stem already in. Take it out and replace with the wadcutter stem. Both ends are the same so it doesn't matter which way you put it in.

Iowegan · 02-27-2010, 12:44 PM

chaneyd, Perhaps your seater die is different than mine. My Dillon seater has just one seater but it is reversible with a round nose on one end and a flat nose on the other. Did yours come with two seater stems?

chaneyd · 03-12-2010, 08:30 PM

I have both the .357 and .38special die sets and they both came with two (2) seating stems, one for wad cutters and the other for round nose/flat point bullets. If yours came from a new box of dies you should have two stems in them. The wadcutter stem will be solid so either end can be inserted.

Iowegan · 03-13-2010, 08:48 AM

chaneyd, I bought my dies directly from Dillon while I was living in Arizona but that was more than 15 years ago. Mine only came with one reversible bullet seater. Guess they have changed a bit.

chaneyd · 03-13-2010, 08:57 AM

Yes, I guess. They now come with both which I shoot, carry and load a ton of wadcutters. Love that insert. I bet if you called Dillon they'd send you one out for free.

Jazzman · 03-13-2010, 10:37 AM

Anyone know about Lee dies, are they reversable also

Jim

forty5 · 03-13-2010, 05:10 PM

Lee bullet seating stems are not reversable. The one that came with my Lee 38 dies is for a SWC, but it also works fine for WC.

cyrille · 04-17-2010, 03:40 PM

I recently began shooting a Ruger GP100 in .38 special & .357 mag. I have only reloaded one box of bullets thus far but have yet to test them they are round nose 158 gr lead loaded with the Lee die set. I had no trouble at all in seating the rn pills. I guess my next reload of .38s will be with SWCs to see if they seat better or smoother or whatever.
forty5 says thar the Lee die works for WCs and SWCs but says nothing about round nose bullets is there another Lee seating die that I must purchase for round nose?

08-29-2009, 07:30 AM	#1
Bluesteel Joined: Dec 2008 From: SC Posts: 172	Loading Wadcutters I just got my first batch of wadcutters, 148gr hbwc, to load 38's. I am loading them on a Dillon 550B. Do I need a different seating stem, or can I use the semi-wadcutter side? I am currently at work and can not remember if it came with a seating stem for wadcutters or not. Thanks for any help.

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08-29-2009, 08:41 AM	#2
Iowegan Retired Gunsmith Joined: Aug 2006 From: Blair, NE Posts: 4,501	Bluesteel, If you are using Dillon dies, the seater stem is reversible ... one end for round nose, the other for WC & SWC.

02-27-2010, 12:44 PM	#5
Iowegan Retired Gunsmith Joined: Aug 2006 From: Blair, NE Posts: 4,501	chaneyd, Perhaps your seater die is different than mine. My Dillon seater has just one seater but it is reversible with a round nose on one end and a flat nose on the other. Did yours come with two seater stems?

03-12-2010, 08:30 PM	#6
chaneyd Joined: Feb 2010 From: Galesburg, MI Posts: 124	I have both the .357 and .38special die sets and they both came with two (2) seating stems, one for wad cutters and the other for round nose/flat point bullets. If yours came from a new box of dies you should have two stems in them. The wadcutter stem will be solid so either end can be inserted.

03-13-2010, 08:48 AM	#7
Iowegan Retired Gunsmith Joined: Aug 2006 From: Blair, NE Posts: 4,501	chaneyd, I bought my dies directly from Dillon while I was living in Arizona but that was more than 15 years ago. Mine only came with one reversible bullet seater. Guess they have changed a bit.

03-13-2010, 08:57 AM	#8
chaneyd Joined: Feb 2010 From: Galesburg, MI Posts: 124	Yes, I guess. They now come with both which I shoot, carry and load a ton of wadcutters. Love that insert. I bet if you called Dillon they'd send you one out for free.

03-13-2010, 10:37 AM	#9
Jazzman Joined: Nov 2009 From: Southern Ohio Posts: 65	Anyone know about Lee dies, are they reversable also Jim

03-13-2010, 05:10 PM	#10
forty5 Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 255	Lee bullet seating stems are not reversable. The one that came with my Lee 38 dies is for a SWC, but it also works fine for WC.

04-17-2010, 03:40 PM	#11
cyrille Joined: Sep 2007 From: Westwego, Louisiana, USA. Posts: 550	I recently began shooting a Ruger GP100 in .38 special & .357 mag. I have only reloaded one box of bullets thus far but have yet to test them they are round nose 158 gr lead loaded with the Lee die set. I had no trouble at all in seating the rn pills. I guess my next reload of .38s will be with SWCs to see if they seat better or smoother or whatever. forty5 says thar the Lee die works for WCs and SWCs but says nothing about round nose bullets is there another Lee seating die that I must purchase for round nose?