Lyman "Nutcracker"

Welcome to the Leverguns.Com Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here ... politely.

Moderators: AmBraCol, Hobie

Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.

Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Post Reply
daisygordoninc
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 393
Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:06 am
Location: Junction City Oregon

Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by daisygordoninc »

Have any of you used the old Lyman Nutcracker to reload with. Saw it in the Rifle Magazine
reprint of the first issue. It looks very interesting to me. I bet some of you have one.
What say you.
jhrosier
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 906
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:47 pm
Location: New England

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by jhrosier »

I have two handles and five die sets for the Lyman 310 tool.
I'm not sure how or why I got some of them as two, 22/250 & .243 Win., are in calibers that I've never owned.
I think that I loaded a box of .308 Win. once and decided that it was more messing around than I was willing to endure.
I have since loaded a couple hundred rounds of 30-06 using the Lee Classic Loader and was pleased with the results.

Maybe I'm getting more patience in my old age.

Jack
Pete44ru
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 11242
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:26 am

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by Pete44ru »

.

I like mine for de-capping, but not for reloading, due to the inability to full-length resize empties.


.
jhrosier
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 906
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:47 pm
Location: New England

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by jhrosier »

BTW, Lyman offered full length sizing dies for many calibers.
They were used by pressing the case in with a bench vise and then pushing the case out of the die with a punch.
I have one in the box, like new, for 30 Govt. (30-40 Krag).

Jack
jnyork
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 4443
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:33 pm
Location: Wyoming and Arizona

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by jnyork »

Got started reloading in 1954 using a 310 tool. Still have a set of .30-06 dies, handles are long gone.
J35
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 527
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:11 pm

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by J35 »

I was gifted a large set in 30-30 by the the late Ken Mollohan. It came with 4 different seating stems and 3 different expander's and a Universal de-capping die.

Then I bought a couple set's in .358 Win and .357 Mag.

I also bought shell adapters for everything i reload for and use the de-capping die at the range to pace my self.

J----------
Keep The Peace, Love and Harmony, These are the Gold Nuggets, All Else Is Sand !!
User avatar
JimT
Shootist
Posts: 5920
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:04 pm

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by JimT »

Yep. Have 4 sets of handles and dies in 44 Special, 45 Colt, 38/357 .... some 30 30 dies .... also have the full length drive in sizing die for 45 Colt .. I use the 310 for depriming and priming when I am doing just a few cartridges .. My dad started me loading on the 310 Tool probably about 1958 ...
User avatar
marlinman93
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 6639
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:40 pm
Location: Oregon

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by marlinman93 »

I always found that not full length sizing cases was better for my single shot rifles, so the old Ideal, Lyman and 310 tools always worked just great. But once I got my Huntington tool (pre RCBS) I never used any of the old nutcracker tools again. The Huntington does everything the others did, and uses full sized 7/8-14 dies, so much better.
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
Chuck 100 yd
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 6972
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:52 pm
Location: Ridgefield WA. USA

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by Chuck 100 yd »

I learned reloading by watching/helping my dad load .224 Remington's with a Lyman tong tool in 1955. Some very accurate ammo can be loaded on those simple tools.
Rusty
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 9528
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:37 pm
Location: Central Fla

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by Rusty »

I had one years ago for .38 Special. I didn't care much for the neck size only. I DID like the priming die. It gave a better sense of feel than anything else I've ever used.
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9

It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
TWHBC
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 199
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:45 am

Re: Lyman "Nutcracker"

Post by TWHBC »

Yes, 2 handles, and a bunch of dies for rifle and pistol. Got the first set for. 243 win. back in the early 60's, and added dies over time.
Started loading. 41 Mag. for a ruger blackhawk after reading a Skeeter Skeleton article that showed a picture of him sitting on the ground in the west Texas wilds, reloading .357 magnum.
Article explained how he could vary .357 loads from. 38 special level target loads to .357 hunting level.as needs dictated.
As others have noted the 310 tool not full length resizing has some limitations. The primary one I encountered was having two. 243 win. rifles that were different enough that neck resizing only the loads did not work between the Remington chamber and the Ruger chamber.
Still use the 310 tool.
Post Reply