GunShow: Latest "Pig in a Poke" purchase. 310 tool.

[nitro-express]

I usually leave a GunShow when I start to buy silly stuff, today was no exception.

Just had to have an old Husky 610 SXS, not sure why, but it's mine now. After that things went down hill quickly.

I spied an old Lyman 310 box, it said 30-40 Krag, my interest was peaked. I opened the box, inside was a "steel" handled tong tool, stamped 30 US. Also inside were 5 dies, an MR, an EC, a DA, a PC and a large DC. Looked complete, I really should have checked each die.

I realized I was starting to buy stuff I didn't want or need, so I left without buying anything more.

The tong tool is my "pig in a poke" buy of the year. The tong tool was the only thing 30-40 Krag. The DC and the EC are correct, not stamped with a 15, but correct for the application. The caliber specific dies are way off. The MR (Muzzle Resizer) is a #131, for the 32 Remington. The DA (Double Adjusting die, Bullet Seater and Crimper) is a #123, for the 30-06. And the PC (Priming Chamber) is a #16, for the 7.62 x 54 Russian. I feel like such a loser. On the plus side, I sized a cast bullet in the tools sizing chamber, came out @ 309, perfect.

 

[bearhunter]

Why do you feel like a loser??? All of the pieces in the box will work with the 30-40 and may even be used for the other cartridges. Sounds like someone did their homework and improvised and adapted to get one tool to do an acceptable job for several purposes.

As an example, I use a 308Win FL resizing die to NECK SIZE only 30-06 cases for my Brno ZKK. I have the proper die set but this works well for this particular rifle

The 30-40 Krag case has some similarities to all of the cases you mentioned.

 

[nitro-express]

I was definitely thinking too much inside the box. A quick check and a trial run with a 303 Br case, the closest caliber to 30-40 I have, revealed that these dies do work, in fact the 32 Rem MR probably is a better fir for cast, and I do suspect that the user shot cast from the amount lof lube I had to remove from the sizing hole in the handle. Thanks for the insight.

I collect 310 dies, this was my first foray into buying steel handles. I have the new type, a small and a large.

This 30 US handle will also work for 44 Rem Mag, and I have a set of those dies.

 

[nitro-express]

Another Show: More 310 stuff.

My 30US 310 tool set just became a bit more complete. At a gunshow yesterday I bought a grab bag of 310 stuff. 6 310 tool sets in various stages of completeness. Among the dies was a #15 DA

With the tool I now have a #15 EC c/w a 308 expanding plug and a #15 DA.

Only missing a #15 MR to make it complete. Still functional with the #131 MR and any DC

BTW, after sorting and completing the sets with pieces on hand I have the grab bag yielded:

270 Winchester: Complete 310 tool set
• Steel 270 Tong tool
• DC c/w Small rod
• #153 MR
• EC c/w 277 expanding plug
• #153 DA c/w 411 bullet seating screw
• #2 PC

8mm Mauser: Complete 310 tool set
• Steel 270 Tong tool
• DC c/w Small rod
• #118 MR
• EC c/w 323 expanding plug
• #118 DA c/w 366 & 470 bullet seating screws
• #2 PC

30-06 Springfield: Complete 310 tool set
• Steel 270 Tong tool
• DC c/w Small rod
• 30-06 MR
• EC c/w 308 expanding plug
• 30-06 DA c/w 366 & 329 bullet seating screws
• #2 PC

30-06 Springfield: Complete 310 tool set
• Large Tong tool (Aluminum) c/w # 2 Adapter
• DC c/w Small rod
• 30-06 MR
• EC c/w 308 expanding plug
• 30-06 DA c/w 366 & 241 bullet seating screws
• #2 PC

> 310 Tong Handle, Large, c/w #2 adapter (used)
> 310 Tong Handle, Large, no adapter (used)

and a misc box with:

- 7-61 CMR (Also for 7mm RM)
- 7-61 MR (Also for 7mm RM)
- EC (R-M) c/w 308 plug
- DC (Large)
- DC (Small)
- PC #2
- PC #13 (Mag)
- #8 adapter (7-61 & Mag)
- EC (R-M) c/w 283 plug
- MR #123
- #450 bullet seating screw

That more than triples my 310 tools.