Calling all pards with Lyman 310 tools

Bottom Dealin Mike · June 10, 2011, 01:07:31 PM

I just bought a vintage Lyman 310 tong style reloading tool. It was new in the box, still wrapped in wax paper. the box has a $12.95 price tag on it...wish I'd paid that!

Here is my problem, I don't know if I have the small handles or the large handles, and I need to know for ordering dies. My tool is 7 3/8th inches long. If any of you have 310s , do you know which size this is?

Thanks in advance.

Bottom Dealin Mike · June 10, 2011, 05:36:07 PM

I'm getting smarter about these 310 tools...it looks like Large or Small doesn't relate to the handle length, but to the height of the collar the dies screw into.

Mine is less than half an inch higher than the handle base...0.416 inches in fact. I think the large handles have a higher collar to accommodate rifle dies...

Can anybody check for me?

Bottom Dealin Mike · June 10, 2011, 06:29:58 PM

Got the answer I needed

http://ps-2.kev009.com:8081/ohlandl/310/Lyman_310_Tool.html

Bryan Austin · June 10, 2011, 08:51:07 PM

Thats usually the way my questions get answered...lol

Ya gotta love the little 310

fourfingersofdeath · June 12, 2011, 01:59:27 AM

I have three sets of handles and it seems mine are all large sized ones. The smaller one on your link looks very different to mine (I am not home, but can't check). I have only loaded 30/30s and 45/70s on mine. I have 357 dies, but have never used them, I will dig them out and have a play when I get home!

There is something fascinating about these loaders.

Bryan Austin · June 12, 2011, 10:49:11 AM

I made this video a while back.

Hondo44 · June 15, 2011, 03:14:40 AM

Bottom Dealin Mike,

Glad you found your answer. You sure got a bargain on that set although I don't recall that you said what caliber/cartridge the dies were.You probably found out that whether you have a large or small handle is not really that critical since you can adjust most dies to work. The large calibers need the extra support of the long snout in the alloy handles although they were also made with large and small snout in the steel versions from 1947 to c.1957.

I've been collecting these tools for 40 years now and they really do get under one's skin! I can't pull up the website you linked to but our Antique Reloading Tool Collector's Association ARTCA is another good source of info. While we cover all reloading tools of all vintages, the 310 tools are my specialty.

By the way, as you can see I just joined this forum. I was Googling info on the Palmetto 1855 Colt Root rifle I just bought and found your post from 2001 (I think it was) with powder charge and bullet size recommendations extremely helpful, thank you! My 1st thread today on this forum is about my desire for conversion of the rifle to black powder cartridge. I've asked Raven thru the Kirst website if they'd make me a cylinder. It would be such a simple conversion.

Bottom Dealin Mike · June 15, 2011, 07:13:15 AM

Savy Jack. I loved that video!

Bottom Dealin Mike · June 15, 2011, 07:14:37 AM

Hi Hondo44,

Wow, that is an ancient text. I wrote a Guns of the Old West article on that rifle, but it was so long ago I'd forgotten about it.

fourfingersofdeath · June 15, 2011, 11:17:33 PM

Good video Jack! making these videos is kinda fun. I made a few when I was selling a few motorcycles. A guy wanted an idea how they ran before he drove the 300miles to my place. I have since deleted them, but been thinking of doing some more as well as some gun related ones.

I was about to spend $500+ on a case feeder, but saw some cheap home made types on YouTube, great stuff.

When i get organised with my trapdoor, loads for it will be made exclusively on the Lyman 310 tool.

Hondo44 · June 17, 2011, 05:12:18 PM

Quote from: fourfingersofdeath on June 15, 2011, 11:17:33 PM
Good video Jack! making these videos is kinda fun. I made a few when I was selling a few motorcycles. A guy wanted an idea how they ran before he drove the 300miles to my place. I have since deleted them, but been thinking of doing some more as well as some gun related ones.

I was about to spend $500+ on a case feeder, but saw some cheap home made types on YouTube, great stuff.

When i get organised with my trapdoor, loads for it will be made exclusively on the Lyman 310 tool.

Very cool. You may want to look into an older #3 tool (predecessor to the #3 and #10 being combined to make the 310 tool in 1947). The 45-70 version has 9" handles instead of 7 1/2" which gives greater leverage for the larger cartridges. The 9" handled tools were supplied for all the larger calibers that were no longer made in the 310 handles. So if you can't find a 45-70 set, you may find another like 40-65, ect. and ream out the holes. You can even recap and bullet size with a #3 tool.