Wondering if anyone makes an expander similar to the M die that is also a powder thru expander.
Wondering if anyone makes an expander similar to the M die that is also a powder thru expander.
How about the Lyman "Multi-Expand Powder Charge Die'
Hornady PTX dies for the LNL are like Lyman in that they have a two step expander and powder passes through the middle.
R J Talley
Teacher/James Madison Fellow
My Hornady PTX pieces must be defective. They are straight shank, same size all the way through.
Semper Fi!
Currently casting for .223, .308, .30-06, .30-40 Krag, 9mm, .38/.357, 10mm, 44 Mag and 45 ACP.
I like strange looking boolits!
NRA Patriot Life Endowment member.
Take a careful look and see if there isn't a slight sloped step at the top of the neck
R J Talley
Teacher/James Madison Fellow
If you're looking for a through powder expander that is like a Lyman M-die...you're in luck. Double Alpha has one that they require you to use if you have a Mr. Bullet Feeder. It's a true M-die style through powder expander. They have them in 9mm/38. 40/10mm and 45. They're not cheap. I believe they run like $40.00 but brother do they work. They have them for both Dillon and Hornady...if this is not what you meant...sorry.
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I'm not 100% certain, but I think there may be two styles of Hornady PTX expanders. The old style, with no step, and the newer style (that started shipping with the bullet feeder dies) which has a step.
RCBS has a 2 step powder thru expander. Works on the Pro 2000 or Hornady LNL AP, since they share the case operated powder system.
The MBF expander/funnel is very, very highly polished. Weirdly enough, you can send your Hornady PTX expander /funnels to the folks at Starline brass and they will poish them up to a mirror finish...no charge.
Apparently having a high polish, low drag finish is important with these things.
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Semper Fi!
Currently casting for .223, .308, .30-06, .30-40 Krag, 9mm, .38/.357, 10mm, 44 Mag and 45 ACP.
I like strange looking boolits!
NRA Patriot Life Endowment member.
One thing I don't like about my HTC is, it doesn't like to take closeups!
But, here's the PTX that came with my Hornady 38/357 bullet feed die. The first step is .355, and the second step is .360
I also had some of the earlier PTX inserts, and they were like yours.
My guess is that when Hornady was designing the bullet feeders they realized they needed a much steadier platform for the bullet to get set in, and redesigned it.
I'm guessing they might exchange your earlier ones for the newer ones.
None of mine have those steps and they don't really work well with cast boolits.
Semper Fi!
Currently casting for .223, .308, .30-06, .30-40 Krag, 9mm, .38/.357, 10mm, 44 Mag and 45 ACP.
I like strange looking boolits!
NRA Patriot Life Endowment member.
I measured mine and is the same as 308Jeff.
Thanks! Mine are all close to 10 years old from when they first came out.
Semper Fi!
Currently casting for .223, .308, .30-06, .30-40 Krag, 9mm, .38/.357, 10mm, 44 Mag and 45 ACP.
I like strange looking boolits!
NRA Patriot Life Endowment member.
They work better than any other expander that I have or tried. Loading powder coated cast bullets or Hornady Frontier bullets in a case there is no shaving of coating or lead at all. I loaded a couple dummy rounds and removed the bullets and no coating or lead in or out of case like other expanders have done.
I wish Hornady would make a expander die the same as the PTX.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |