Expander Dies for a 30-40

[MLR]

Hello

I'm thinking of getting my old 1898 springfield out and doing a little shooting. Back when I used to shoot it I used my Lyman tong tool for reloading.
Where can I find a correct sized expander for using oversized cast bullets? I want it in a regular sized die for a press. Is calling buffalo arms and having a custom expander stem made my only option?
What are you krag shooters using?

Michael

[Bob S]

... still using my Ideal tong tool! If you feel the need to FL resize (like you have more than one rifle in 30-40), you can get an adaptor to use the 310-type expanders in a bench press. Or, you can get a Lyman M die in "31 Long" ... accomplishes the same thing as the 310 tool .311 neck expander.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

[MLR]

Bob S.

Thanks alot fella....i think that 31 long M die is exactly what i'm look for.

Michael

[tom barthel]

I have been loading with the Lee universal type expander die. I don't expand much. Just enough to keep from damaging the cast bullet.

[MLR]

If I am lucky all I will need is the expanding portion of the stem and wont need to bell the case. I'm using a Meacham seating for some of my other rifles but i'm not sure it will work with the oversize bullet i want to use in the krag.
If this bullet works with the meacham die it will be great. You don't need to bell the case using it, just a light chamfer work for cast bullets.

Michael

[NVcurmudgeon]

I use the RCBS expanders. If I am sizing .309 or .310 the .310 expander is used, for larger size boolits I use the .311 expander. Strangely, RCBS makes only two expander diameters in .30/.31 cal. In all other sizes they make only one! Seems to work well in all sizes, however. My .358 expander allows damage-free seating with .360" boolits, etc.

[Char-Gar]

I have the neatest custom expander plug for an M die. It tapers from .307 to .317 in .001 steps. It is not a cone, but actual steps. In use, you run the plug far enough into the case to allow the gas check to be seated in the case mouth.