Lyman M-Die anyone?

I need to buy a couple case expander dies (long sordid tale).
The Lyman M-Die seems like a 'good thing'. Do any of y'all have an opinion:lol: about this die?

Sincerely,
Tommy :runaway:

I've used them for years with cast bullets. They work just fine, but even better with the Lee "O" ring dies, correctly adjusted, they center the mouth very well. HTH, Ric

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Originally Posted by RicinYakima

I've used them for years with cast bullets. They work just fine, but even better with the Lee "O" ring dies, correctly adjusted, they center the mouth very well. HTH, Ric

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OK, thanks.
Yes, My main use would be w/ cast bullets ("boolits"?:rolleyes:).

Question: Why "with Lee O-ring dies"? Do you use a Lee die body and the Lyman M-die innards or what?
I have Dillon dies.

Tommy

M dies are great I own two. I see that Lee came out with one die that does it all but have never seen one.

Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Lee Lube and Size Kit

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Originally Posted by M1Tommy

I need to buy a couple case expander dies (long sordid tale).
The Lyman M-Die seems like a 'good thing'. Do any of y'all have an opinion:lol: about this die?

Sincerely,
Tommy :runaway:

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Hey Tommy,

I just bought one a couple weeks ago for a cast load experiment for my 03's, and so far i like it. I'm using a standard RCBS die to resize/deprime, then hit it with a properly adjusted M die. I made sure all my brass was trimmed to the same length before running it thru the "M". It make seating easier, and no shavings from the lead are present (which caused me to look at the M die in the 1st place).

HtH
-Andy/CA

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Originally Posted by burgie

M dies are great I own two. I see that Lee came out with one die that does it all but have never seen one.

Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Lee Lube and Size Kit

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As I understand what I've read, the Lee die flares only the upper bit of the case mouth, whereas the Lyman die works the case body a bit and also flares teh case mouth as desired.

Thanks,
Tommy

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Originally Posted by AndyCA

Hey Tommy,

I just bought one a couple weeks ago for a cast load experiment for my 03's, and so far i like it. I'm using a standard RCBS die to resize/deprime, then hit it with a properly adjusted M die. I made sure all my brass was trimmed to the same length before running it thru the "M". It make seating easier, and no shavings from the lead are present (which caused me to look at the M die in the 1st place).

HtH
-Andy/CA

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OK, thanks. I trim every firing with a Giraud trimmer, so case length is 'on'.
I'm thinking t buy 3 M-dies now, .45, .38 and for 30-06 too.
Thanks for the reply.
Tommy

M1Tommy,

Sorry, I didn't proof read that well enough. I meant to say "Lee "O" ring die lock nut". It is designed like a regular die lock nut except that the surface that mates with the press has an "O" ring. Lee made them so you could tighten with your fingers and the die not move in use. But they also allow the die to center in the threaded press hole. There is a lot of tolerances between press threads and dies threads. The Lee nut works very well with everything except the Bonasza press.

The Lee Universal expanding die does indeed only flare the very top of the neck.

Ric

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Originally Posted by RicinYakima

M1Tommy,

Sorry, I didn't proof read that well enough. I meant to say "Lee "O" ring die lock nut". It is designed like a regular die lock nut except that the surface that mates with the press has an "O" ring. Lee made them so you could tighten with your fingers and the die not move in use. But they also allow the die to center in the threaded press hole. There is a lot of tolerances between press threads and dies threads. The Lee nut works very well with everything except the Bonasza press.

The Lee Universal expanding die does indeed only flare the very top of the neck.

Ric

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OK, that makes sense.... as far as I understand the O-ring lock nuts. IO've seen them, but have never used one before.
Thanks for that reply.

Tommy

I like "M" neck expanding dies well enough to have made the concept work in the Dillon 550 powder feed tube / expander sleeve. Scads easier to start bullets straight!

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Originally Posted by jmoore

I like "M" neck expanding dies well enough to have made the concept work in the Dillon 550 powder feed tube / expander sleeve. Scads easier to start bullets straight!

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Thanks for the reply.
I just ordered 3 of them from Graf & Sons, the only company beside Lyman with them in stock.

Tommy

I have been using Lyman "M" dies for 40 plus years. They are the best as they go deeper in the case also the put a set for the bullet to seat in and bevel the mouth of the case for seating the bullet. In fact I use one in my Dillon 1050 set up for .223. I took the rifle decapping pin out of the sizing die and put in a straight pistol decapping rod. The Old style short Lyman "M" die goes in the third station after the power drop and since it is shorter it doesn't go down into the powder. I can seat the bullet in the slight step left by the "M" die. The seating die smooths out the expanded step. There is no lost of accuracy as my varimet rifles all shot less than 1/2" AT 100 YDS. Plus there is the added plus since the expanded is not pulling out of the sized case and the cases don't stretch as much and a lot less trimming is needed. I do this as I can do 1000 plus rounds an hour on the Dillon 1050 and I don't get my bad left hand fingers in the way when seating the bullet.

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Originally Posted by MK111

I have been using Lyman "M" dies for 40 plus years. They are the best as they go deeper in the case also the put a set for the bullet to seat in and bevel the mouth of the case for seating the bullet. In fact I use one in my Dillon 1050 set up for .223. I took the rifle decapping pin out of the sizing die and put in a straight pistol decapping rod. The Old style short Lyman "M" die goes in the third station after the power drop and since it is shorter it doesn't go down into the powder. I can seat the bullet in the slight step left by the "M" die. The seating die smooths out the expanded step. There is no lost of accuracy as my varimet rifles all shot less than 1/2" AT 100 YDS. Plus there is the added plus since the expanded is not pulling out of the sized case and the cases don't stretch as much and a lot less trimming is needed. I do this as I can do 1000 plus rounds an hour on the Dillon 1050 and I don't get my bad left hand fingers in the way when seating the bullet.

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Do you lube the inside of your case neck for using the M-die?
Tommy

There are only two sizes Lyman M dies Long and short body The expander plugs are the only difference The Short body dies work for 7.62x39Mm 308 30-30 Win You can order expander plugs directly from Lyman for a small price Beats buying seperate M-die for each caliber

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Originally Posted by MIKE33

There are only two sizes Lyman M dies Long and short body The expander plugs are the only difference The Short body dies work for 7.62x39Mm 308 30-30 Win You can order expander plugs directly from Lyman for a small price Beats buying seperate M-die for each caliber

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I use the old style "M" for the 310 hand die. You have to use a Lyman thread adapter. The old style expander plugs are much shorter.

M1Tommy-no I do not lube inside the case neck before sizing as I have powder in the case and ready for seating the bullets.

The Lee version/tool is very economical and works well for expanding or flaring the mouth of the case. It does not go very far down into the neck of a bottlenecked case or a straight case. Some handloaders have achieved the same effect by using a set of closed needlenose pliers or a tapered punch or a tapered nailset. The Lyman "M" die is a somewhat different arrangement. It is a straight cylinder plug with a slight bevel at the bottom to aid entry into the case mouth. At the upper end of the shank/plug there is a slightly larger in diameter-step. The cylinder/plug expands the entire length of the neck of a bottleneck case unless you adjust it to do less. It will also expand the upper part of a straight case the same way. If you have it adjusted to go to its maximum length then the little step enters the case mouth and flares it a bit larger to prevent lead shaving and to ease bullet entry into the case mouth. It is a very effective aid to proper loading of cast bullets. The "plug" or short section/cylinder with the step is unscrewable or detachable from the main cylinder that is within the die itself. So the parts are interchangeable. As already pointed out most of the dies vary in the length of the body being either long or short. In a couple of early editions of "The ABC's of Reloading", Dean Grennell, gun writer extraordinaire, devoted a chapter complete with photos and clear instructions to making plugs with steps of different diameters to fit various calibers,,,that fitted the bottom end of the center portions of the Lyman M dies. Its not rocket science and having a lathe, a drill press or a machinist friend really helps. Grennell also made many of his plugs come to a conical point in order to eliminate entirely the possibility of the mouth of the case catching on the bottom of the plug. Its worth checking out if you are a user of M dies. Good shooting. JC

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Originally Posted by Jerome Cooper

............... In a couple of early editions of "The ABC's of Reloading", Dean Grennell, gun writer extraordinaire, devoted a chapter complete with photos and clear instructions to making plugs with steps of different diameters to fit various calibers,,,that fitted the bottom end of the center portions of the Lyman M dies. Its not rocket science and having a lathe, a drill press or a machinist friend really helps. Grennell also made many of his plugs come to a conical point in order to eliminate entirely the possibility of the mouth of the case catching on the bottom of the plug. Its worth checking out if you are a user of M dies. Good shooting. JC

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Oh great now I have to buy a lathe! :dancingbanana:

I have 3 M-dies on order from Graf & Sons, one each for .45 ACP, .38Spl/.357 Mag. and for 30-06.

Thanks! :thup:
Tommy