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Thread: 31 Long M die for 30-30 ?

  1. #1
    Boolit Man
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    31 Long M die for 30-30 ?

    Can I use my 31 Long Lyman M die to flare 30-30 cartridges for cast boolits?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

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    Try it and see.
    Spell check doesn't work in Chrome, so if something is spelled wrong, it's just a typo that I missed.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Hick's Avatar
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    Might work fine. I do something similar with 30-06, flaring the cases with my 30-30 M die. I don't even re-adjust the die-- just raise the 30-06 cases until I feel the little 'step' when the case mouth hits the expander. In the same way I do 7.62 x 39 using a 32 WS M die.
    Hick: Iron sights!

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    metricmonkeywrench's Avatar
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    The short answer is yes, I have a box sitting on the shelf at the moment for the next range trip with the chrono.

    The 31L is intended for the 303 Brit with their 311-314ish bullets, however as recommended I am using it to expand the 30-30 necks after sizing the cases to fit a .311 sized cast bullet for use in a Marlin Microgroove barrel which by all accounts wants a "fat" .311 cast bullet and the 31L potentially will keep me from swaging the bullet in the case. As this is for use in a lever gun I am less concerned with precision neck tension as the case will receive a decent neck crimp anyway.

    For my 30-06 I use the standard 30 cal .309ish expander and bullets are sized to .309

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
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    I use the 31L M-die with 30-30 cases. Works fine but the expander is screwed down almost all the way.

    BTW; I use that 31L M-die for all my 30/31 cal cartridges from 308W length up through 300WM. Once adjusted for a particular cartridge I measure the OAL of the die body and expander stem. That way it is easy and quick to reset for that cartridge length.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    I have two 31L Lyman 'M', both measure .3095 on the straight section with the step measuring .3135. I have gone as short as .300 Savage with the long body. I use it for .310, .31 bullets in .300 Savage, .308 Win, 303 Savage and 30-30.
    Last edited by MostlyLeverGuns; 03-15-2023 at 01:14 PM. Reason: correction .03135 - .3135

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    metricmonkeywrench's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gibson View Post
    I use the 31L M-die with 30-30 cases. Works fine but the expander is screwed down almost all the way.

    BTW; I use that 31L M-die for all my 30/31 cal cartridges from 308W length up through 300WM. Once adjusted for a particular cartridge I measure the OAL of the die body and expander stem. That way it is easy and quick to reset for that cartridge length.
    I sort of do the same thing, though I'm only loading for 30-30 and 30-06. Both dies 30L and 31L M dies are set up with an old school clamping type ring set to the shorter 30-30 length. Then I have a second "transient" ring that is installed for the the longer 30-06 case with the recorded measured distance between the two rings for repeatability.

  8. #8
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
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    I just finished building 100 rds of .30/30 with 100 grain powder coated cast lead bullets and I used my Lyman (Item # 7349003) 30 short neck-expand (M) die. It works successfully also.

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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