Lyman M die

[PWC]

Does it require a die for each cal or can you buy sepatate expanders by cal for the die body?

I'm having trouble with lead shaving with my 38 Spl 357 lead bullet set up. Seat and crimp in 2 steps

[Parashooter]

Seems an odd question since normal .38 Spec/.357 Magnum 3-die sets contain an expander capable of flaring the case mouth sufficiently to allow seating cast bullets without shaving (and most decent cast revolver bullet designs have a crimping groove shaped to allow crimp and seat in a single pass). Might it be that you're not adjusting the expander adequately?

[PWC]

I only have an unknown make 2 die set that I was given 30 yrs ago when I bought my Pacific single stage. Size and deprime, and seat and crimp. Flare has always been tricky set up. I haven't reloaded for the 38 for a couple of years and have just "rediscovered" the problem.

[JimF]

Does it require a die for each cal or can you buy sepatate expanders by cal for the die body?

The M die bodies come in two lengths . . . .long and short. (I believe they are marked “M1” and “M2”.)

The expander stems are caliber-specific (as you suspected), and can be switched from long to short die bodies.

Actually though, because I load for so many calibers, I’ve made my own expanders, and switched them around among MANY long and short M-die bodies!

[PWC]

Must be nice to have the tools to roll yer' own.

[Parashooter]

LEE UNIVERSAL CASE EXPAND DIE for CAST BULLETS
$13.99
In Stock
(Grafs) Item #: LEE90798


LEE 38/357 POWDER THRU EXPANDING DIE
$11.49
In Stock
Item #: LEE90581

Either costs about half of a new Lyman M and will do the job.


LYMAN 38/357 MAG/MAX NECK EXPAND (M) DIE
$22.79
Less than 5 in stock
Item #: LY7341801

[PWC]

The lee universal has a continuous taper, good for flare, but no 'step' for bullet start....don't know anythong about the pwdr thru dir

[Parashooter]

Adjusted properly, a good flare from a tapered expander is all that's needed for seating cast bullets. M-die's step is nice but mostly unnecessary for good seating.

Lee powder-through expander has a straight section slightly under bullet diameter with a short taper at the top for effective flare.