Lyman M die size?

[oldfart1956]

Fellers I need a favor here from those with the Lyman M dies. What is the dia. of the expanding part of the die for the .44 mag. and the 45/70? Can't seem to find out either thru Lyman or Midway. Many thanks. Audie...the Oldfart..

[darkroommike]

When I went looking for the same info I found this chart via Google (I love Google):

http://www.lasc.us/Brennan_LymanMDies.htm

According tto the chart the 44M plug first step is .427 (bullet rests on this step), and the second step is .431.

For the 45R plug those dimensions are .455 and .459.

The chart has the size of all the M die plugs. And which expander body and which plug are appropriate for a lot of different calibers. I have also read posts in the past about custom plugs. There are only two sizes of expander bodies: long and short. It's possible to get along with just two expander bodies and buy only the plugs you need. Note I am currently researching this and have no first hand knowledge, I bought an M die on ebay for .30 rifle and actually got one for .358 pistol (not the sellers fault, someone had written on the die with a sharpie, I didn't send the M die back, I figured that as my reloading addiction progresses I'll get the .38 Special sooner or later!) but I think the guy that made the chart has the M1 and M2 die designations mixed up. Just go with long and short.

[462]

M1 = short die body

M2 = long die body

[geargnasher]

There's a sticky here with M-die specs as well.

Gear

[gray wolf]

I think the standard M-die for the 44 mag. is for jacketed bullets or very hard cast bullets. My custom M-dies are .4285 .4295 and .4305
My rcbs expander is about .4275 and the cowboy expander was .430

[oldfart1956]

Thanks fellers! Audie....the Oldfart..