Modifying Lyman 40 cal taper crimp die

[barkerwc4362]

I load 40-65 and 40-70 Sharps Straight. Lyman at one time made a taper crimp die listed for both 40-65 and 40-70 Sharps. I have two dies, one I use successfully for my Pedersoli 40-65, and the other I use for my Shiloh in 40-70 Sharps Straight 2 1/2". The die I use for 40-70 works fine with grease groove bullets up to 420 grains. When I try to use the Lyman taper crimp die with bore diameter paper patch bullets seated out the bullet gets stuck in the top of the die. I can roll crimp the bullets using my Redding seating die with the seating stem removed, but a taper crimp will give me a more even crimp. I know the Lyman die is hardened. What will it take to open up the top of the Lyman die. It is open, but is not large enough diameter to allow the paper patch bullet to be crimped without sticking in the die. What are my possible methods of enlarging the opening in the top of the die? I don't have a lathe or milling machine.

[Don McDowell]

For best accuracy with patched you really don't want to do any crimp. Best to use case size/ bullet size for good neck tension

[country gent]

The big thing will be finding a carbide drill big enough to cut it or a boring bar to reach up inside, a boring bar that long and skinny isnt going to be real solid. It dosnt sound like you have to remove a lot. This is a job best done in a lathe with a 4 jaw chuck. The dies hard surface isnt very thick but its going to be hard to get thru it with regular late tools and drills

[barkerwc4362]

Country Gent, That's what I was afraid of. Now I need to find someone who is willing to tackle it. I need to measure the diameter of the opening on the Lyman die versus the opening on the Redding seating die. The goal is to be able to apply just enough of a taper crimp to get good neck tension.

[country gent]

The biggest problem of this conversion is once you get what you want then putting the hardened surface back in place