I’m looking for some information in regards to the Lyman 310 “bullet sizing dies”. I have done a number of searches to try and find a reference chart for them as far as the sizes they produced with no luck. Does such a chart exist? My question applies specifically for the bullet sizing die or dies that they made for the 6.5 X 50 Japanese cartridge.
I have two very early, 1st year production (1905) Japanese Type 38 Arisaka rifles that I “inherited” – one with a 2 digit and one with a 3 digit serial number – very good condition and both with pristine bores. I’m in the process of getting ready to load 6.5 X 50 cartridges to use in them. I have three molds I’m going to be using to try out in them (Lyman/Ideal) – a 266-324 which is a 119 gr. plain base, a 266-455 which is a 127 gr. gas check and the 266-469 which is a 140 gr. gas check. I can get 6.5 gas checks from Sage and I want to gas check the 127 gr. and 140 gr. even though I’m not planning on pushing them hard or to the limit. Looking at Lee push through sizing dies in order to crimp the gas check on, it appears that the 6.5 is a “red headed step-child” as they don’t make them. I don’t have a lubersizer – don’t have the room and can’t justify the cash layout for one for just setting gas checks on this particular boolit.
A good member here helped me out with 6.5 X 50 Lyman 310 dies and steel tong so I have everything I need to load the cartridge, but I am either going to have to have a .266 push thru die made to use on my singles stage press, or find a 310 push through die for the 6.5. I am assuming that the 310 push through boolit sizing dies would work just fine and the same way that a Lee push through die works, for crimping/setting a gas check.
Not being able to find a reference chart on the 310 pullet sizing dies, I’m hoping that someone can advise me as to what size or sizes they made for the 6.5 X 50 Japanese cartridge or other 6.5 cartridges. Did they make just one size – which I would think would be a .266, or did they make other sizes for the 6.5 such as .267 and/or .268? Before I post a WTB posting to see if I can scare one up, I need to know just what size or sizes they made for the 6.5.
If anyone knows, or anyone has one with their dies, could you check the size and let me know?
If I’m not able to locate one, I’ll have to go the other route and have one custom made. What I kind of find odd, and/or interesting, is that with all of the Type 38 Arisaka rifles that got carted back home by GIs, and with the other 6.5 cartridges out there, Lee doesn’t make a .266 or .288 push through sizer, nor do they seem to make molds for them. I realize that many rifles got converted, but there are still a lot of there that shoot them – unless they just prefer to use jacketed and not cast? I’m not aware if Lee made a bullet sizing die in .266, .267 or .268 in their old style “whack a bullet sizer” – I’m guessing one of those would work for setting gas checks but I’ve never run across one in the size I need.
Many thanks!
Jim