Lyman 3 die pistol dies

[Headsspace]

I recently purchased a small lot of obsolete reloading equipment from an older gentleman. Sold some, kept some.
In it was a set of Lyman 9mm dies, part number 7462315. It has 3 separate neck expander tips that thread in the ram..
Anyone have any idea why? They all 3 have different profiles.

[Mk42gunner]

Sounds to me like you have three separate M-die plugs. Measure them they may be for totally different diameters.

Or he may have been like me and stuffed a few extra in the die box.

Robert

[gwpercle]

Diameters for 9mm Luger can vary greatly ,355" . .356" .357" and some around here even use .358" diameter boolits .
I have two ... one is .356 and used for J-Word (jacketed) bullets and the other is for .357" cast lead boolits .
The older gentleman probably had his bases covered with 3 different sized ones ...for different diameter boolits
measure them and see what's what .

Welcome to the forum and Merry Christmas
Gary

[farmbif]

is it in a black box? ive got some older sets like that. the powder though expanders thread into them. they came out about the same time Lyman offered a universal powder through expander set. they used to make a deluxe set sold in a black box that came with extra stuff. I dont have one in front of me right now to look at but I think some of the handgun caliber sets had 4 dies in them also
sounds like a good find.
obsolete reloading equipment? I for one love to use old ugly unwanted stuff

[jlb300]

Love the so called obsolete stuff

[Headsspace]

No sir. Orange box.

[Headsspace]

Ok, so the 3 different neck expanders are as follows
1. Shaped like a RNFP, flat is .240, shaft is .350, expander is .380.
2. Looks like truncated cone solid. Flat is .167, shaft is .352, expander is .375.
3. Same shape as 1, flat point is.223, body is .350, expander is .380.
I really am stumped why these 3 shapes would be needed for 9mm cases. Any ideas?

[Mk42gunner]

I'll try to measure one of mine meant for the .38 Special/.357 magnum family of cartridges tonight.

But I think you are missing a slight change in diameter between the ,350 and .380 portions. It will be only a few thousandths of an inch.

Robert

The new puppy kept me to busy last night. Will try again tonight.

R

[richhodg66]

Ok, so the 3 different neck expanders are as follows
1. Shaped like a RNFP, flat is .240, shaft is .350, expander is .380.
2. Looks like truncated cone solid. Flat is .167, shaft is .352, expander is .375.
3. Same shape as 1, flat point is.223, body is .350, expander is .380.
I really am stumped why these 3 shapes would be needed for 9mm cases. Any ideas?

Are you talking expanders or seating stems?

[lightload]

Sounds like seating stems.

[richhodg66]

I've never had a set of pistol dies come with multiple expanders, I have, however, had several sets that came with multiple seating stems for different nose profiles.

[Headsspace]

These are definitely neck expanders.

[richhodg66]

Could you post some pictures of what you're describing?

[Rapier]

Sounds like expanders for streight wall 9x19 brass to use in straight wall reamed supported chambers. The kind used with Truncated cone bullets and the 160 grain 9mm major loads. I have a set of expanders around here somewhere, have not used them since I gave my straight wall chambered 9mm comp gun to my son when the IPSC outlawed the 9 Major.

[Mk42gunner]

I finally got to measure my M-die plugs for .38/.357 Mag/Max. the lower portion on both (yes I have two) is 0.355", followed by a section about 1/16" long that measures 0.359" that butts up to the major diameter of 0.385".

If they are seating stems as Richhodg66 suggests, they should have numbers corresponding to bullet profiles stamped in the visible end.

Robert

[Headsspace]

20230101_172044.jpg

[Mk42gunner]

Well those are definitely expander plugs. They may be homemade. Nothing really wrong with that as long as they do the job.

The diameters seem a bit small to me, but I haven't loaded 9mm this century.

Robert

[Winger Ed.]

Might just be things that sort of accumulate after you've been doing this awhile.

I'd check the sizer die. If it's real old, it won't have a carbide ring and you have lube cases like for a rifle.

[richhodg66]

Most definitely expanders. I'm sure those are not Lyman parts, makes me wonder what the original owner was doing with them? Seems strange someone would get that elaborate for loading 9mm.

[trapper9260]

It could be like stated that someone just put them in the box to get them out of the way. If I have a 9mm that needs a large cast , I would use my 38/357 expander and seating die to take care of it .