recomendation of dies

i want a recommendation about dies to reload 38 wadcutters. i want a recommendation between dillon carbide dies and the setup of dillon decapping size die,dillon powder die,redding competition seating die and lee factory crimp die. what  configuration is the best???

STANDARD DILLON DIES. BUT THE REDDING PROFILE CRIMP DIE . JP

Are you loading on a progressive Dillon press?

BE Mike wrote:Are you loading on a progressive Dillon press?

i will buy a dillon 550

If you are loading for a S&W Model 52 use the Lee Factory Crimp Die for the final crimp.  Otherwise the ammo may not fit the 52's chamber.

on my 550 I simply use the RCBS seater and use it's roll crimp then use a Lee Taper crimp die in the final station.


this is also for a 52

I like Dillon dies on Dillon presses, but that being said, I load my 148 gr. HBWC for my model 52-1 on a Dillon 550 with a RCBS tungsten carbide set and I use a Lyman taper crimper die. The crimping operation is the last and separate function. My loads function just as well a factory match ammo. It really doesn't seem difficult for me. Some folks prefer a slight roll crimp, but for my 52-1 the sharp shoulder (which Winchester used for many years) works well. The only advantage I see to the slight roll crimp is for ease of loading ammo into the cylinder holes of revolvers.

On page 104 of Gil Hebard's book, "The Pistol Shooter's Treasury" he has a lot to say about the S&W model 52 and how to load for it. He did some interesting machine rest tests.

thanks to all. my motive to reload in a future, is my 52-2 pistol,because here in Puerto Rico,the wadcutter ammo is very difficult to find. the armories near of my house only,sell fiocchi or reloads for $15.00, Plus brass. i check the dillon carbide dies in 38 special with crimp die,but all reviews recommended lee fcd or redding crimp profile. i preffered buy single dies of  the best high rated companies(2 reddings,1 dillon,etc.)