Bullet Casting Equipment ID question

Tbolt

Tbolt

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
260   0   0
Location
Montreal, QC
Hi All

I am cleaning up my reloading equipment and ran across something that was tossed in on a deal a long way back.

I am looking to sell off the excess stuff at the gunshow in Lachute next weekend

The problem is that I have never cast bullets before so I don't know what this piece is.
It has something to do with Bullet Casting/Loading
I am assuming Lyman due to the orange colour, but there are no markings that I can find.

Any help IDing it would be greatly appreciated

wVXOsnf.jpg


The other piece is a Lyman 450 lube Sizer
 
Yeah - a Lyman lube sizer would be my guess as well - that threaded stem on top - open it up - that tube is likely to be filled with lube that is forced into grooves on bullet in the die when handle is lowered. Some parts / dies were interchangeable with the RCBS system. Can not help with the specific model, though... Looks like is the type that needs the nose piece for specific bullet and then the die for the specific bullet - bullet looks to go in base first into the die.

P.S. - looks like "Snider shooter" has nailed it...
 
The 45 works ok still. It uses the same dies as RCBS and Lyman. The newer Lyman models 450 and 4500 are basically a beefed up or "improved" model 45.
 
I bought a Lyman 450 with .459" die set in 2014 for 111.00 shipped to me. Traded a few years later for a Star lubesizer because I wanted push through sizing - nose first - did not know about the Lee sizers at that time. Sold the Star here on CGN with several sizer dies for $300 in 2020. Just found a listing for on-line Canadian seller store for Lyman 4500 lube-sizer with 120 volt heater for $309 (plus taxes and shipping), but out of stock... Amazon.ca lists Lyman 4500 dies $41 through to $125 - depends on size/caliber, and also need the nose die, besides the body die. If sizing three or so calibers and a couple nose styles, will spend as much on the dies as the lube sizer tool costs to buy. Are you selling with a lube supply? Have you cleaned out all of the old stuff that will be in there?

Lube sizer not the only way to get from here to there - currently I am using Dragonlube and Lee push-through sizers to set gas checks and round out the cast bullets. Works just fine for my needs. So, there is competition out there for buyer looking to size cast bullets. Back in the day was a $15 (?) accessory needed for the Lyman 450 to seat gas checks - maybe has been simplified with the 4500 - I do not know. Also a whole process called Powder Coating (PC) that does away with lube sizer functions almost completely, I think - have never yet tried it.
 
Last edited:
Potashminer said:
I bought a Lyman 450 with .459" die set in 2014 for 111.00 shipped to me. Traded a few years later for a Star lubesizer because I wanted push through sizing - nose first - did not know about the Lee sizers at that time. Sold the Star here on CGN with several sizer dies for $300 in 2020. Just found a listing for on-line Canadian seller store for Lyman 4500 lube-sizer with 120 volt heater for $309 (plus taxes and shipping), but out of stock... Amazon.ca lists Lyman 4500 dies $41 through to $125 - depends on size/caliber, and also need the nose die, besides the body die. If sizing three or so calibers and a couple nose styles, will spend as much on the dies as the lube sizer tool costs to buy. Are you selling with a lube supply? Have you cleaned out all of the old stuff that will be in there?

Lube sizer not the only way to get from here to there - currently I am using Dragonlube and Lee push-through sizers to set gas checks and round out the cast bullets. Works just fine for my needs. So, there is competition out there for buyer looking to size cast bullets. Back in the day was a $15 (?) accessory needed for the Lyman 450 to seat gas checks - maybe has been simplified with the 4500 - I do not know. Also a whole process called Powder Coating (PC) that does away with lube sizer functions almost completely, I think - have never yet tried it.
Click to expand...

Powder coat does away with lubing but bullets might still need sizing. Lee push-through is perfect for that.
 
jethunter said:
Powder coat does away with lubing but bullets might still need sizing. Lee push-through is perfect for that.
Click to expand...

So what one does not know can cost money in this game!!! I have one mould left - from Accurate Molds - a "knock-off", I think, of the Lyman 314299 - catalogue number 31-200L - so it casts a bit over 200 grains of wheel weight alloy - nominally .314/.315"" - I have one Lee sizer left - it is .314" - so seat 30 cal Hornady gas checks, lube with Dragonlube and push through the sizer - makes holes in target from my 303 Britishes and my 7.65 Argentines - good enough for me. I intend to buy more 285 grain 9.3 for 9.3x57 and the 485 grain for 458 Win Mag from the Jet Bullets place - I simply do not use enough of those to keep the necessary moulds and sizers to make my own.
 
As others said, yours is a Lyman 45. I use the same, works great.

Your has the Wrench missing but I se a Die in it. All told I would value yours as shown with nothing broken for $ 65.**

One more thing. Sizing Dies from Lyman and RCBS are the same size but the Lyman Sizing Die is called H&S and has the Screw securement Grove on top whereas RCBS Dies have the securement Grove near the center, therefore they don't work in the Lyman.

Cheers
 
Brassman66 said:
As others said, yours is a Lyman 45. I use the same, works great.

Your has the Wrench missing but I se a Die in it. All told I would value yours as shown with nothing broken for $ 65.**

One more thing. Sizing Dies from Lyman and RCBS are the same size but the Lyman Sizing Die is called H&S and has the Screw securement Grove on top whereas RCBS Dies have the securement Grove near the center, therefore they don't work in the Lyman..
Click to expand...

Lyman dies are H&I. RCBS dies worked in my 45. The die retention screw was done away with in the 450, it was a weak point on the 45.
 
Last edited:
I have one of each 450 and 4500, both were gunshow purchases at $45 and both included a couple or three sizer dies & nose punches.

I powder coat every cast rifle slug I make & consider a sizer machine "required tooling" to the operation to establish continuity in roundness & consistent diameters...Bullet weight consistency is a factor but I think sizing consistency gives more dividends in the long run.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom