Lyman M dies good idea for strait wall pistol reloading?

[JWFilips]

Hi all Just trying to get an opinion of the use of Lyman M dies for expanding 38 Spec , 38 S&W , 357 mag and 40 S&W brass for using cast bullets....is it a good idea or not worth the add'l costs
Thanks

[462]

I use them exclusively for all my handgun and rifle cartridges. However, other than their 31R plug which I use for .30 caliber, all the others are custom made.

[arkypete]

All of my pistol presses have case mouth expanders as part of the powder charging. All of my rifle cases, excepting the 7.62-51, use Lyman 'M' dies.
I customise all of them to suit my sense of what's proper.

Jim

[Ziptar]

I use one for every .45 Colt I load. Best expander for cast bullets I've ever used.

[Char-Gar]

The Lyman two step "M" design is excellent for cast bullets in the sixgun rounds in your original question. What size should the diameter of the plug be is not as simple to answer. It depends on the size of your bullet and the hardness of your alloy. Lyman "M" dies for 38 Special and 357 magnum come with a .356 expander. These are fine for jacketed bullets or very hard cast bullets. Soften cast bullet .358 and larger can be deformed by shoving them into a case expanded with a .356 expander.

I shoot my sixgun bullets softer than many folks use today, so I expand my cases .358 for 38 Spl and Mag,.430 for 44 Spl and Mag, .452 for 45 ACP, and either .452 or .454 in the 45 Colt depending on the size of bullets I use. All of these are Lyman two step "M" style expanders, but are of sizes not currently manufactured.

I use older Lyman 310 tool expander dies for these purposes.

[wallenba]

I use them on all my cast boolits. They solve a lot of old problems with seating them. Most notably, the tendency for them to seat non- concentric with the case. Also help with shaving lead.

[1hole]

The M expanders work so well I use them for all bullets, rifle and handgun.