So then, the shell adapter is not removable on those caliber specific handles?
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Correct, the caliber specific handles don't have a screw in adapter, the handles have the casing diameter machined in the handles.
I have found it satisfactory to use a slightly smaller diameter case body with the 310 tool... it works because the case body is aligned by the die. Just a FYI!
Froggie
Hi guys
keen on swopping a 30.06 die set for one in 222 / 223
PM me, thanks.
Attachment 181187
Attachment 181490
This is a photo of one page of a spreadsheet of 310 tools.
If you PM me your email address and a request for the 310 spreadsheet in the subject line, I will email it to you.
Now some quick explanations.
From the newer style of handles there are five kinds.
Small Alloy
Large Alloy
Small Steel
Large Steel
Caliber Specific Steel
Large and Small, whether alloy or steel use the screw-in adapters. Caliber Specific handles are drilled to fit the case. A Caliber Specific handle will fit that caliber, but not always others that should be the same adapter number.
Example 1: 30-06, 270, 7MM, 8MM will fit any rifle cartridge which uses the same shell holder as a 30-06.
Example 2: 222 or 38 handles are not necessarily interchangeable. 38/357 cases are not identical dimensions to the 222/223 case dimensions. A #1 Adapter will fit both, but I have caliber specific handles which will not!
So my spreadsheet allows me to mark it as any of the five types with the two columns available.
Normally, cases are expanded larger for cast boolits than for jacketed bullets. Different seating punches are listed for cast or jacketed. Normal sets only come with one expander and one seater. Lyman was not consistent with which seating punch was used. The seating punch number is the same as the seating punch for a Lyman Sizer/Lubricator. They did not make them all, but they did make many more than they listed on their chart!
There were more die sets made than were listed on the Lyman chart. I validated the data I entered from the chart was correct per the chart and then I corrected gross errors. Then I added data from sets I have which are not on my chart.
Column 2 is TruLine Jr/Lyman All American Type J shell holder numbers which are the same as Lyman numbers.
Blank spaces are data not available.
Some questions have been asked about the column titles
Here are answers:
AD = Adapter
Handle type:
S = Steel
A = Alloy
SL = Steel Large
SS = Steel Small
See posts 68, 70, and 72.
Im not positive, but I suspect a large part of the problem with the steel handle wearing at the bump may be carbon from decapping, not just the brass rubbing and wearing. After breaking several decapping pins, I gave up on them and use the Lee decapping punch set for my 310 use, so am not experiencing the carbon on the bump. The steel (iron?) handles probably aren't as hard as the removable spring steel plate that the alloy handles have though. I haven't had dies stick out and rub.
So wait, are there any steel handles that use removable shell adapters? I thought they were all caliber specific (or within a general shell size range as was discussed). If there are steel handles with removable shell adapters, do they have adjustable shell hooks like the alloy handles?
Ive often wondered if it were possible to alter iron handles for the shell adapters. A tap is probably required, inside turning of the treads on something that small may be tricky. If anyone did that work, Id send a couple handles to be machined.
The guy that had the 310 shop before the current guy (was in WA state I think, then Tombstone Az I believe) said he had scads of iron 30-06 handles, I think he said nearly a 55 gal drum of them, (not sure if he was totally serious, but he said he was). I think he said he'd trade them in multiples to get odd sizes that he could make complete sets from. Not sure if current guy trades them that way. I didn't buy anything from him after prices doubled when be bought the business.
So wait, are there any steel handles that use removable shell adapters? I thought they were all caliber specific (or within a general shell size range as was discussed). If there are steel handles with removable shell adapters, do they have adjustable shell hooks like the alloy handles?
The Large and Small Steel handles do. They are identical to the alloy handles except they are made from steel. I can post photos, if needed.
Attachment 181529
Large, Steel and Alloy
Attachment 181530
Large Steel color and Marking "L"
Attachment 181531
Small, Steel and Alloy
Attachment 181532
Small Steel color and Marking "S"
Attachment 181533
Caliber Specific Steel
Attachment 181534
Caliber Specific Steel color and Markings "222 REM" &="218 BEE"
Attachment 181535
Insides of all six handles shown above
Attachment 181536
Insides of two Large handles shown above
Attachment 181537
Insides of two Small handles shown above
Attachment 181538
Insides of two Caliber Specific handles shown above, 222 REM & 218 Bee
Excellent pictures, thank you!
Now this part is merely hearsay!
I don't know, but I have been told the steel "L" and "S" handles were only made for a year before they went to alloy handles.
Now this part I do know. I break pruning shears. I broke my first alloy handle the first day I used it. Rather quickly, too!
When I learned about the steel handles I started searching for them. When I heard about the "L" and "S" handles I really got serious about searching for them.
"L" handles are expensive, but come up on FleaBay fairly often. If they are listed as Large Steel they get expensive. If they are in a set with dies, they cost less. If you can only identify them by the color and spring steel bump piece, then they become rather affordable.
I used to believe the "S" handles were merely a myth, then a friend sent me a link to a set on FleaBay. Then he sent me a link to another set. I now have both sets.
Brass Magnet, oddly enough, when I decided I "needed" a set of steel handles, I was so pleased to find the first set I didn't even notice that they were "S" handles until I got home... it was the better part of a year before I got the "L" set which I am really more likely to use. Fortunately I have been able to accumulate the caliber specific handles for most of the calibers (rifle and pistol) I load the most frequently (sometimes using "families" of cartridges based on base or case body diameter.) When I load an oddball cartridge, however, the large and small interchangeable set are right there to be used. :D
Froggie
Some questions have been asked about the column titles in the spreadsheet.
Here are answers:
AD = Adapter
Handle type:
S = Steel
A = Alloy
SL = Steel Large
SS = Steel Small
See posts 68, 70, and 72.
A good spreadsheet generously shared.
BrassMagnet, Thanks for the spreadsheet.
Public thanks go out to Brass Magnet for generously sharing his work on this spreadsheet. It will be a most useful addition to my references.
BTW, Brass Magnet, I got an e-mail that you had tried to PM me bot my inbox was full. I fixed that now.
Froggie
PS The staff at Cast Pix, at my request, has fixed the incomplete posting I had submitted years ago to their predecessor. It shows the die codes arranged numerically so you can find out readily what that unknown die is used for. Kudos to the Cast Pix administrator who did this for us... not too many folks have access to the old issue of The Single Shot Rifle Journal, so it's nice to make it more widely available.
Updated Swap List - POST #30
I'd like to have a #4 PC, for the 22 Hornet.
Also on my ISO list: a #2 adapter to complete a mint 243 Win 310 die set I'd like to sell.
Up for trade are the following:
- 310 dies for 220 Swift; #169 DA c/w 367 seating stem, #169 DA c/w 367 seating stem, KF-20 EC c/w 223 expanding button.
- 310 dies for 257 Roberts; #166 MR, EC c/w 257 expanding plug.
- 310 dies for 44 Spl; DA c/w 421 seating stem, EC c/w 429 expanding button.
- DA (#150) 44 Russian/Special c/w 421 bullet seating screw.
I bought a pail of dies at a gunshow, if you need anything ask. I have some real odd ducks, like a 7.62x54R PC.
I'm from Canada, USPS works, just costs a bit more.