Lyman 310 Tong Tools

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Using Lyman 310 Tong Tools for Reloading

I purchased my first Lyman Tong Tools in 1964 so I could do load development work at the range. They worked so well I expanded the selection of dies to include all of my most popular cartridges, and the handles, dies, loading blocks, primer flipper and Lee Dipper Set all fit into a single 50 caliber ammo box. Yes, they neck size only and some people like to denigrate 310 tools for that supposed deficiency, but in many cases neck sizing is all that is needed for bottle neck cases. Lyman 310 Tong Tools do full length resize straight sided cases for pistols and revolvers.

If pressures are kept to SAAMI standards, neck sizing is sufficient for bottle necked cartridges which have been previously fired in that chamber. The very unique Lyman "M" die, also called the neck expanding die, is a fabulous design which is fantastic when reloading using cast bullets. Loads for cast lead bullets are almost by definition mild pressure loads: Brass lasts virtually forever and so do rifle barrels. And cast bullets cost only a fraction of the per-cost shot compared to using jacketed bullets.

This section of photos was scanned from an old Lyman brochure for using the Lyman 310 Tools. It was a small brochure and old, so the wording was difficult to scan to make it easy to read. I have typed in the exact wording in this column to make it easier to read.

These instructions are far from complete. I have added NOTES below the relevant sections for additional tools that make reloading vastly easier and much more organized.

Lyman-Ohaus D-5 Scale

A reloading scale is extremely nice to have. I prefer the Ohaus scale that fits neatly into the base and has a protective cover. My scale was purchased in 1964 and is still in perfect condition, thanks, I am sure, to the easy storage system.

Basic Parts and Dies

The 310 Tool consists of four reloading dies, plus a set of tool handles. Screwed into the handles is a small Adapter Die which is inserted before the handles leave the factory. This Adapter Die remains in the handles at all times and need not be removed unless the same handles are to be used for loading a cartridge of a different body diameter. Each set of handles are also equipped with an adjustable extractor hook. The following illustration pictures the various parts of your 310 Tool. Studying the illustration will help you identify each part and will show you the order in which the dies are used.

Pre-Loading Instructions

Carefully inspect each fired case before reloading. Reject all cases which show signs of cracks or splits about the necks or bodies. The fired cases which pass inspection should then be tried into the chamber of your rifle or handgun to insure that they fit. Cases which do not fit into the gun chamber will require FULL LENGTH RESIZING and for these cases you will need an additional Full Length (hand type) Resizing Die (see Lyman Catalog). The remaining cases may be reloaded with your 310 tool.
The cases which are to be loaded should be lubricated. This is done by wiping the outside of each case neck with an oily cloth, or a cloth sparingly greased with Lyman Size-Ezy Lubricant. After reloading and before firing, always wipe your cases to remove the sizing lubricant.

NOTE: It is far better to use a large stamp pad for lubricating the case necks. A cloth-covered felt pad in a stamp pad can be carefully scraped clean with a knife to remove debris. After a decade of use the stamp pad cover will become worn. The cover can be removed and replaced with a section of finely-woven handkerchief material. I use Neatsfoot Oil as a lubricant. Each lubricated case is then set in a loading block (see below).

Step 1 Neck Resizing and Decapping

     Select the Neck Resizing and Decapping Die which is pictured as number one is illustration A. Make certain that the Decapping Pin is screwed tightly to the end of the Decapping Rod. Now, turn the Decapping Rod so that the Decapping Pin is a short ways up inside the die. Screw the die body into the threaded portion of the tool handles.
     The neck of the case need only be resized to the depth that the bullet will be seated. To do this, screw the die body into the tool handle just enough that the neck of the case will be forced into the die the desired distance. By checking the sizing marks on the case neck and making slight adjustment to the die body, you can quickly bring it into the proper adjustment. When the adjustment is correct, turn up the lock nut and tighten the set-screw.
     Now you must adjust the Decapping Rod. Turn in on the threaded stem until the pin protrudes slightly above the opening in the handles (about 1/8"). Be certain that the Decapping Pin does not contact the handles when closing. Lock the Decapping Rod tightly in this position.

NOTE: For this procedure you should have two Loading Blocks, moving each lubricated case as it is necksized into the other block.

STEP 2 INSIDE NECK EXPANDING

     After the neck diameter of the case is reduced by resizing, it will be found too small for the bullet to enter. It must now be opened up to a uniform diameter that will receive and hold the bullet securely. This operation is accomplished with the Neck Expanding Die.
     Select the Neck Expanding Die which is pictured as number two in Illustration A. Screw the die body into the threaded portion of the tool handles. This die is equipped with a 2-step Expanding Plug. The first step on the plug expands the neck of the case to slightly under bullet diameter. The second step expands the first 1/32" of the neck to slightly over bullet diameter, allowing the bullet to enter the case freely.
     By adjusting both the die body and the plug stem, you can position the expanding plug exactly so that the second step on the plug is barely (about 1/32") entering the case. Once your adjustments are made, tighten up on the lock nuts and set screw.

NOTE: Before the lock ring is set, try a bullet base in the case mouth to ensure it fits into the short expanded section. This is extremely important, especially when loading cast bullets. When finished with all the cases, carefully wipe each case with a dry cloth to remove all lubricant.
This die can often be used for any cartridge of the same diameter, ie, a .308 size expander die will expand the neck of virtually all .30 caliber cases.

STEP 3 PRIMING

To seat the primers, screw the Priming Chamber into the tool handles until the Priming Punch protrudes slightly beyond the flat surface of the Shell Holder when the tool handles are closed.
Then place an unprimed cartridge case in the Shell Holder part of the Priming Chamber. Place a primer in the opening, close the tool handles and the primer will be seated. The primer should be seated to the bottom of the pocket and flush with the case head. The depth can be regulated by screwing the Priming Chamber in or out of the threaded portion of the tool handles. Once your adjustment is correct, tighten up on the lock nut and set screw.

NOTE: It is far easier to hold the Tong Tool so the die body is off to one side, not straight down as illustrated at right. Set a primer in the groove, then a case in the shell holder, and close the handles to seat the primer.
Primers are not fungible: use the proper primer for the case being reloaded - small primer for pistol or revolver cases using a .175" primer, a large pistol primer for cases like .44 Special using a .210" diameter primer, and rifle primers by size in the appropriate cases. Pistol primers are softer and cannot handle the pressures developed in rifle cases, and often a harder rifle primer cannot be ignited by the firing pin of a pistol or revolver.

CHARGING A CASE WITH POWDER

This step is completely missing from the factory instructions for 310 Tools. Smokeless powder can be measured or weighed, or a combination of the two can be used.
     For easy, portable reloading, a Lee Powder Measure set can work well. A loading manual for the cartridge you are reloading is mandatory to give you the powder charge weights by cartridge and bullet weight you are using, AND a listing of the powder weight for each Lee Dipper is imperative. I have those tables listed for three different smokeless powders in my Survival Reloading booklet.
     A Powder Scale weighs each powder charge in grains and is the most accurate method of loading powder, but is slow.   When using either a dipper or scale, the powder is poured into a cartridge case using a Powder Funnel.
     A Powder Measure is adjustable and "throws" a measure of powder by volume. The volume of powder then must be weighed on a powder scale and the drum on the powder measure adjusted until it "throws" the same volume (and therefore weight) of powder each time the handle is turned to fill up the drum from the powder hopper. When properly adjusted, cases can be charged with powder directly from a Powder Measure, BUT the throw weight should be checked on a Powder Scale every 10th or 20th charge.

Lee Powder Dippers

Ohaus Powder Scale

RCBS Powder Measure

Powder Funnel

STEP 4 BULLET SEATING

     Select the Bullet Seating Die which is pictured as number four in illustration A. Back off the bullet seating screw and screw the die body into the threaded portion of the tool handles.
     To adjust this die it is best to make up a dummy round (less primer and powder). Slip a neck resized and neck expanded cartridge case into the tool handles and close the handles. Holding the handles in this closed position, screw in the die body until you feel it bear lightly on the mouth of the case. When you feel it touch the case tighten up on the lock nut to hold the die body in this position, but do not tighten the set screw.
     Now you must adjust the seating screw to the proper depth. Place a bullet into the mouth of your dummy case and insert it back into the tool handles. Gradually urn in on the seating screw and check your seating depth a little at a time, until the bullet reaches the proper depth. Lock your seating screw in this position.
    If you wish to crimp-in the bullet, one last adjustment is necessary. Back off slightly on the body lock nut and turn in the die body 1/4 turn. Tighten the lock nut and set screw and the die is adjusted.
     When using the Bullet Seating Die, it is necessary to hold the tool handles so that the die is on top of the handles as shown in the illustration. Holding the handles in this manner prevents powder from spilling into the die and insures accurate alignment of the bullet.

NOTE: Crimping the bullet is not needed when loading for bolt action rifles.

Ideal #310 Tool Quick Reference - Rifle

CTG	Handle	Adapter	Priming	MR - DA	Exp Chamb	Exp - Cast	Exp - Jack	Seat - Cast	Seat - Jack
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
218 Bee	S	3	10	172	R-S	0.225	0.224	438	450
219 Wasp	L	6	6	171	R-S	0.225	0.224	438	450
219 Zipper	L	6	6	171	R-M	0.225	0.224	438	450
22 Hornet	S	4	4	165	R-S	0.224	0.224	438	450
22 K Hornet	S	4	4	165	M-S	0.224	0.224	438	450
22/250 Var.	L	2	2	22/250	R-M	0.225	0.224	438	450
22 Lovell	S	12	19	173	M-S	0.225	0.224	438	450
22 Sav H.	L	6	6	141	R-M	0.228	0.225	367	367
220 Swift	L	5	5	169	R-M	0.224	0.224	438	450
222 Rem.	S	1	26	222	R-M	0.225	0.224	438	450
25/20 Rept.	S	3	10	10	R-S	0.257	0.257	420	420
25/35	L	6	6	11	R-M	0.257	0.257	325	325
25 Rem.	L	6	15	133	R-M	0.257	0.257	325	325
250/3000	L	2	2	143	R-M	0.257	0.257	388	418
257 Robt.	L	2	8	166	R-M	0.257	0.257	388	418
6.5 Jap	L	2	2	137	R-M	0.266	0.263	469	418
6.5 Mann.	L	5	5	137	R-M	0.266	0.263	469	418
270 Win.	L	2	2	153	R-L	0.280	0.277	468	411
7 m/m	L	2	2	116	R-M	0.287	0.285	448	377
30 Carbine	S	15	23	29	R-S	0.309	0.308	8	359
30/30	L	6	6	13	R-M	0.311	0.308	241	241
308 Win.	L	2	2	146	R-M	0.311	0.308	413	329
300 Sav.	L	2	2	146	R-M	0.311	0.308	466	414
30/40	L	5	7	15	R-M	0.311	0.308	467	329
30/06	L	2	2	123	R-L	0.311	0.308	413	329
300 H. & H.	L	8	13	168	R-L	0.311	0.308	467	329
7.62 Russ.	L	10	16	163	R-L	0.311	0.308	413	329
303 Sav.	L	5	5	16	R-M	0.311	0.308	241	329
303 Brit.	L	5	7	17	R-M	0.313	0.311	299	299
7.7 Jap	L	2	2	146	R-M	0.311	0.308	413	329
32/20	S	3	10	29	R-S	0.311	0.308	8	8
32/40	L	6	6	28	R-M	0.321	0.319	232	232
32 Spec.	L	6	6	97	R-M	0.321	0.319	297	317
8 m/m	L	2	2	118	R-M	0.323	0.323	470	366
33 Win.	L	10	17	98	SPC	0.338	0.338	320	320
348 Win.	SPC	11	18	170	SPC	0.350	0.350	447	447
35 Rem.	L	5	20	128	SPC	0.358	0.356	315	315
35 Win.	L	5	7	124	SPC	0.358	0.356	318	318
9 m/m rifle	L	11	2	126	SPC	0.358	0.356	238	238
375 H. & H.	L	8	13	162	SPC	0.375	0.375	449	449
38/40	S	9	14	42	R-S	0.401	0.401	43	43
38/55	L	6	6	44	SPC	0.379	xxx	296	xxx
401 Win.	S	16	2	147	R-M	0.412	xxx	426	xxx
405 Win.	L	2	7	121	R-L	0.412	xxx	263	xxx
44/40	S	9	14	78	R-S	0.427	xxx	98	xxx
45/70	L	10	17	89	R-L	0.457	xxx	124	xxx
45/90	L	10	17	89	R-L	0.457	xxx	191	xxx

Ideal #310 Tool Quick Reference - Pistol

CTG	Handle	Adapter	Priming	MR - DA	Exp Chamb	Exp - Cast	Exp - Jack	Seat - Cast	Seat Jack
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
30 Luger	S	17	12	120	P-S	0.311	xxx	244	xxx
32 S. & W. L.	S	3	9	122	P-S	0.313	xxx	226	xxx
32 Auto.	S	3	9	SPC	P-S	0.312	xxx	252	xxx
32 S. & W.	S	3	9	22	P-S	0.313	xxx	249	xxx
32/20	S	3	10	29	P-S	0.311	xxx	8	xxx
357 Mag.	S	1	3	95	SPC	0.357	xxx	446	xxx
9 m/m Luger	S	17	12	134	SPC	0.356	xxx	402	xxx
38 Auto.	S	17	12	119	SPC	0.358	xxx	242	xxx
38 Spc.	S	1	1	95	SPC	0.358	xxx	311	xxx
380 Auto.	S	17	12	144	SPC	0.358	xxx	242	xxx
38/40	S	9	14	42	SPC	0.401	xxx	43	xxx
41 Long	S	14	25	72	P-S	0.386	xxx	178	xxx
44 Russ.	S	9	7	150	P-S	0.429	xxx	251	xxx
44 Spec.	S	9	7	150	P-S	0.429	xxx	421	xxx
44/40	S	9	14	78	P-S	0.427	xxx	98	xxx
45 Auto. Rim	S	7	17	127	P-S	0.452	xxx	423	xxx
45 Auto.	S	7	2	127	P-S	0.452	xxx	374	xxx
45 Colt	S	7	11	86	P-S	0.454	xxx	190	xxx