Lee Loader

Poppop wrote: Measurements:
Case length should be-1.155 measures 1.147 no need to trim
Case O.D. .373 should be .379
Case I.D. .350 should be < .358
Bullet O.D. .355 should be .358
.

The O.D. of .373 and bullet .355 match 380 Auto.
The 38 SPL bullet should be .358 before going in - if your bullet is .355 the is it really a 38 spl setup? Or is there a mixup between 38 spl and 380 auto?

Even ignoring that, let's do the math here:
With I.D. of .350 and the bullet .355 so you are "asking" your die to squeeze the bullet to a hole that is .005 smaller. I'd buckle too...
Don't have experience in many calibers, but for 38 SPL you should be pushing in about .001.

The bullets are boxed as .38 special semi wad cutters .358
The physical dimensions I got from my micrometer.
It looks like something doesn't make sense but I did measure the lead at .355 at the base of the bullet.
I will re-measure the case I.D. again or measure another case.