Lyman "M" die

[Taylor]

I have one in .30 cal.Can the expander portion of this be interchanged or do you have to buy individual dies?

[oneokie]

The expander plug can be switched. Depending on which length die body you have, you may need another die body for short cartridge cases. IIRC, you will have to call Lyman about the expander plugs as I haven't seen them listed anywhere except for the Lyman site in several years.

[Taylor]

Lyman does't list them on their website,after a little research though,I found that you can purchase them from Lyman.Also that Buckshot can make them.

[376Steyr]

Helpful hint, use some thread locker compound on the plug portion so it doesn't unscrew and start putting larger and larger and larger flares on your case mouths.

[uscra112]

As far as I know the die bodies for "short" and "long" are the same. The difference is the length of the threaded aluminum plug that the expander screws into. I've been buying any old die to get the bodies, and I make my own plugs from 9/16-18 threaded rod from McMaster-Carr - Item# 98957A407. Helps to have a lathe handy - even a little one like my 4 inch Prazi.

[Ed_Shot]

The Long or M2 Lyman M Die body is 3.350" for 30-06 length cases. The Short or M1 Lyman M Die body is 2.70" for .308or 30-30 or pistol cases. If you email Lyman they'll sell you what ever expander plugs w/screw that you need. Sure meats spending money on a die body for every different case.

[uscra112]

Well, I guess I'm wrong. I've got numerous bodies marked M1 that are two lengths, 2.69" and 2.89", and sure enough there is one lonely one that is 3.360", marked M2. Never noticed the difference. I use M1 bodies for 7.5 Swiss, .30-40 Krag, .303 Savage, .30-30, AND .30-06, as well as the .357 and .38 Special. The M2 body was set aside with dies for .300 Win Mag dies, for which I don't load boolits. All of those .30 calibers need slightly different expanders, due to bore/groove dimension variances, which is why I have so many.

But what started me making my own expanders was trying to buy some from Lyman. They acknowledged my online order, and that was the last I ever heard from them. After a couple of months and repeated inquires, none of which received a reply, I finally wrote and told them to cancel the order. I STILL have not gotten a reply, so as far as I know they may still have the bloody things on backorder someplace. I'm done with ordering direct from Lyman.

[462]

Helpful hint, use some thread locker compound on the plug portion so it doesn't unscrew and start putting larger and larger and larger flares on your case mouths.

I have one die body that is used for three different plugs, and use itty-bitty lock washers to keep the plugs from backing out.

[leadman]

There are two lengths of adjusting screws also. IIRC I paid about $8.00 for the last expander plug, plus shipping I think.

[Taylor]

Helpful hint, use some thread locker compound on the plug portion so it doesn't unscrew and start putting larger and larger and larger flares on your case mouths. Help me understand why I would want to do that.

I have an M2 die body seems to work fine for my .308 and my other 2 30's.
.

[462]

376Steyr and I have experienced the expander plugs backing out of their stems. He uses thread locker as a preventative. I used it in the past, but switched to itty bitty lock washers, for the reason explained above.

[Taylor]

I misread his post,NOW I understand,sorry styer,thought you were making a funny.