Lee Precision Breech Lock Pro Shell Plate #1 .38 Special/.357 Mag

Description

The Lee Precision Breech Lock Pro Shell Plate #1 is the part that holds and indexes your cases as they move through the stations on a Lee progressive press. This is the plate sized for .38 Special and .357 Magnum, so if you load a lot of revolver rounds, this is the one that keeps the whole cycle moving. It's machined from steel and made in the USA at Lee's Hartford, Wisconsin shop.

One thing worth knowing up front: these plates are specific to the Breech Lock Pro family. The Auto Breech Lock Pro and Pro 4000 presses use shell plates that only fit those presses, and they won't accept plates from other Lee presses or other brands. The flip side is that the Breech Lock Pro shell plates carry the same numbering as Lee Universal Shellholders, so a #1 plate covers the same cartridge family you'd expect from a #1 holder.

Where the #1 Shell Plate Fits In

The .38 Special and .357 Magnum share a case head, which is why a single plate handles both. If you shoot a revolver chambered for one, you can usually run the other on the same plate without swapping. That makes the #1 a natural starting point for folks setting up a progressive press for wheelgun loads, and a lot of reloaders keep a dedicated plate for each caliber they load so caliber changes go quicker.

Swapping the Breech Lock Pro Shell Plate #1

Changing plates on these presses is straightforward. The center bolt loosens and tightens the shell plate, and once you pull the ejector bar you can lift the old plate and drop the new one in. Pair it with the matching dies and a correctly sized primer rocker for your caliber and you're set. Reloaders consistently point to Lee's solid build quality and clean machining on these plates, and they tend to run smoothly right out of the package.