Interchangeability of Die Parts??

[RonAKA]

Have a Lyman sizing die. The threaded spindle in the middle that holds the depriming pin and sizing ball has seen better days. Not much hope of getting parts for a Lyman locally. The thread is 10-32. Any idea if RCBS, Lee, or another mfg parts would fit?

 

[gunrac]

Why don't ya just order one from Lyman?

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/dies/lyman-die-parts.php

 

[RonAKA]

Why don't ya just order one from Lyman?

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/dies/lyman-die-parts.php

Yes, that was my plan as a last resort. I was hoping to get something locally, as I am from Canada and getting things from the US is always a pain (time and cost).

So far I've determined that the RCBS parts will not fit, but don't know about Lee. It is looking like at least the spindle part (D-10) from Forster may fit. Those I will not be able to get locally either. But, the advantage (in my mind) of the Forster is that Forster locates the expanding ball up as close as possible to the neck, apparently to minimize any concentricity issues caused by the expander. RCBS and Lyman locate it much lower down, as it is part of the holder for the decapping pin.

 

[Elkbane]

Ron,
Be advised that the Forster die body has a small hole in the side that's used to visually index the location of the expander ball. Having the ball set high in the die is a great idea IMO, but if you get it too high, it will lodge in the case. The neck needs to clear the constriction in the top of the die before the ball picks up the shoulder/neck or you'll have a lodged case that will be a b**** to remove.... Another feature that makes their (Forster) spindle work well is a rubber o-ring built into the part that holds the spindle (sits above the die body)- it allows the spindle to float a little. Don't know whether you can duplicate that on a Lyman die body but is probably worth a try if the threads match.
Elkbane

 

[RonAKA]

Yes, I have a 6BR Forster Bump/Bushing die, and that is where I got the idea of refurbishing the Lyman. In the 6BR I have set the bushing up about 0.110" so it only partially resizes the neck. My thoughts on the next load was to move the sizer ball (which I have been using) up 0.110". I hope I am not playing with fire. I kind of think on it I would be able to detect a problem, as the case is being sized so little that it is a two finger operation with the press. I probably do need to think this through again as the complication is going to be that the neck bushing will slide down with the case the 0.110", so perhaps I do not need to move the ball up.

With the 264 and a full length die, it is much more force to resize, so yes I would have to be careful with where I located the ball. The Lyman actually seems to have a small hole in the die too. I haven't checked exactly where it is, but it seems to be right at the shoulder. My method to date is to put the case in a holder, and hold it against the outside of the die, along with the decapping assembly beside it and visually compare where the ball is located. That is how I set up the Forster as it did not come with a ball.

 

[Joe O]

Ron,if your using a Forster neck bushing die,why use the expander ball at all.I just use the provided decap nut, provided with the die.

 

[RonAKA]

Joe, I bought the expander ball so I could open up the unprimed new Lapua brass. Forster sell "over sized" balls to give a benchrest type fit to the neck. The Lapua cases were on the tight side, and the ball opened them up about 0.001". I then experimented with the ball on the once fired and sized cases (.267 bushing). I found it only opened the necks up 0.0003". My thoughts are that the uniformity of the ID is more important than the OD. I asked about the practice in another thread (link below), and understand my thinking on this is not generally accepted, due to it causing concentricity issues. On the other hand, with the ball located so close to the neck, and only opening up the neck 0.0003", I am not so sure the concentricity impact could be that significant.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3750419.0.html