u/GunFunZS · 2025-06-30 17:15:20 UTC · score 5

They would really need to be metal and with decent surface finish. I've used .380 seating dies for a conical crimp.

I think your easiest choice would be to buy a lee seating die and 2 bolts with the same thread pitch as the adjuster. In the first one file a crimp starter. In the 2nd one pilot drill to .125 then use a deburring tool to cut a cone.

So you get pre crimp and final.

Alt method is to buy 2 7/8-13 bolts and do the same. You absolutely will need to anneal from my experience.

u/bdevo13 · 2025-06-30 17:25:43 UTC · score 2

I tried a .38 one and it didn’t work too well.

u/Docrobert8425 · 2025-06-30 19:16:13 UTC · score 1

Stalk every place that carries the Hornady star crimp dies, the July 4th sales are starting and with a little bit of luck you should be able to snag them cheap or at least cheaper than the normal outrageous price. I got lucky and got my set for less than half price.

u/Alyosha3DPFreedom · 2025-06-30 20:38:24 UTC · score 2

The MILC megapack has some DIY crimping dies for .38spc rounds, I believe. They work kind of okay, but definitely not as well as a commercial one. To be honest I don't even crimp my MILC rounds anymore, but if I was going to, I'd use a commercial die.

u/ClemensXIV · 2025-06-30 17:49:24 UTC · score 1

Would it be possible to load them like a brass shotgun shell? Just load your powder, add an overshot card and then use elmers glue or hot-glue to secure the overshot card into place.