MidSouth Shooters SupplyRotoMetals2Lee PrecisionLoad Data
Inline FabricationWidenersRepackboxReloading Everything
Titan Reloading
Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Lyman M die for 22 & 22K Hornet, 218 Bee, and 22 Jet

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    128

    Question Lyman M die for 22 & 22K Hornet, 218 Bee, and 22 Jet

    Will the Lyman 22 Hornet M die work for 22K Hornet, 218 Bee and 22 Jet? I have those calibers in converted Martini Cadets and would like to find a good die (one) to expand and flare case necks. Other mandrels would be okay such as from BACO. I am trying to cut expense of having different dies for each caliber. Are the inside dimensions of the die body the limiting factor on M dies?

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    120
    Yes. M dies just come in short and long die bodies with the appropriate caliber specific mandrel. So a M die that came in a 223 set would be the same die for a 22 Hornet.

    Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    128
    blpenn66502, You may be correct, but a little checking shows that: Lyman lists 2 die bodies for "short" and "long" .22 caliber cases. The 22 "short" body is listed for 22-250, .222 and .223 as stock number 7342097. They also list a 22 Hornet M die as stock number 7349058. Makes me wonder if you have to get the 7349058?

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Butler, MO
    Posts
    9,020
    There is a lot of length adjustment in the M die, between the 7/8-14 and whatever size the insert is threaded for. As long as you are loading the same diameter boolits, I would put good money on the same M die working for all three of your listed cases.

    Robert

  5. #5
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624
    Quote Originally Posted by Mk42gunner View Post
    There is a lot of length adjustment in the M die, between the 7/8-14 and whatever size the insert is threaded for. As long as you are loading the same diameter boolits, I would put good money on the same M die working for all three of your listed cases.

    Robert
    What he said!

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    120
    After double checking several of my M-dies, it can be done but you are at the far limit of the die's capability

    I suspect for the 22 Hornet version they use a longer expander "holder" for lack of a better term. The die body M1 (short) and the 22R (22 rifle expander) would be the same but the threaded holder will have to be longer to better reach the shorter cases.

    For the standard M-die for the 223, threaded portion of the holder ends where the expanded screws in, however a M-die for a 45 ACP has about an additional 0.850" of unthreaded shaft beyond the threaded portion to where the expander screws in. The threaded portion of the holder is about 1.3" for each.

    On my 22R M-Die, if I back the locking nut all the way to the end of the threads and screw the holder all the way down, it is 1.140" from the bottom of the die to the end of the second step so for a .125 thick or so shell holder it will work for the 22 Jet.

    On another note, Lyman customer service was hit or miss for me trying to order M-die components. I not sure if anyone on Cast Boolits is still making customer expanders for M-dies but that may be an option for you if you have any other M-dies.

  7. #7
    Boolit Bub

    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    39
    G'day from Downunder

    G'day All , if you need a specialist M die contact Lathesmith on this site , Chris has made me several and I can recommend him highly just tell him exactly what you need and in no time a masterpiece is doing the job for you no matter how strange your request , he made me one for my .270 Ren for cast boolits and you dont get much stranger than that.

    Regards Paul .

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    farmerjim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    St. Francisville, Louisiana
    Posts
    1,925
    Get one of the NOE 22 cal expander plugs that goes in the Lee universal expander die.
    It does exactly what the M die does for half the price.
    There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism—by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide. Ayn Rand

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    Posts
    9,251
    Quote Originally Posted by farmerjim View Post
    Get one of the NOE 22 cal expander plugs that goes in the Lee universal expander die.
    It does exactly what the M die does for half the price.
    I second this proposal ... Cheaper and works just as well if not better
    www.noebulletmoulds.com

    Gary
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check