Need an explaination on Lyman M dies

[okksu]

Loading for milsurp rifles using boolits sized .266, .310, .312, (for now) and .314 soon. Lyman M dies apparently come .26 cal, 30 cal, short & long, as well as 31 cal.....
For those size bullets: Am I right that the 26 cal would be the correct die for the
.266 and the 31 cal for the others? Or is the 30 cal. M the right one for the others?

What is the difference between the "short" and "long" M dies?

[AZ-Stew]

The difference between short and long M dies is the length of the cartridge they were designed for. I don't know whether Lyman produces a chart telling which dies for which cartridges (it would be helpful if they did), but you can call their tech support and they'll tell you.

And I believe you're correct on the sizer issue. Lyman doesn't make M sizer stems in individual bullet diameter sizes. They're only by category of two decimal place sizes, .22, .24, .25, 26, .27, .28, .30, .33, .35, etc.

Regards,

Stew

[okksu]

Thanks, AZ.

[Calamity Jake]

The 30 short will work for anything 30-06 and shorter.
You may want the long for anything over 30-06 length.

[462]

Here's an excellent article: http://www.lasc.us/Brennan_LymanMDies.htm

I bought one long die and the plugs for varioius cartridges, and change the plug as needed.

A lock washer of the appropriate size prevents the plug from backing out, and allows the long die to work for .30-30 WCF.

[glicerin]

M1 and M2 die bodies are short(ie 7.62x39) and long(ie 30-06). Actual size of first step is for friction fit to bullet(minus .002?); .25 expander for rifle is for .257 bullets. 26 is for .266? bullets, 30 for .308, 31 for .311. A 25 pistol is .251(.25acp), 32 pistol expander might be .309?(32 acp) up to .314(32 s&w long). If you don't have size needed, chuck the next larger size into drill chuck and file, polish with emery to size(for instance .32 win spl(.321) down to .319. good luck