I am going to get a bit more into shooting cast and making my own bullets. I have a chance to pick up an old Lyman 45 Sizer and Luber at a reasonable price and was wondering how good they are as there are two newer Lyman models available out there. In the research I have done, one source said that they will not seat and crimp gas checks. Is this true? If so, it may not be the machine for me. Any info and opinions are appreciated. Thanks.
Casting and Sizing Bullets
- Thread starter Mike K.
- Start date
If the price is right I would get it. You can always use more then one sizer. They take the same dies/sizers the newer ones do so yes the will seat gas checks. I do believe the tool used to stop the ram might be different as compared to the new ones but I can't remember. The other thing is make sure the threads on the die/sizer isn't cross threaded or stripped. They are very fine threads and it can strip or cross thread very easily.
Switching lubes can be a real pain in the arse that's why I say more then one works wonders. Swapping dies is easy enough though.
Are you going to make your own lube?
Switching lubes can be a real pain in the arse that's why I say more then one works wonders. Swapping dies is easy enough though.
Are you going to make your own lube?
Are you going to cast rifle or handgun bullets? If you're just doing handgun bullets the Lee bullet sizing dies are the way to go. They are only about $25/diameter size, fit in any standard single stage press and even come with a bottle of Lee liquid bullet lube. Additional lube is available from Dragon Bullet Lube (site sponsor) at very reasonable prices and should be sufficient for pistol velocity bullets.. I undersatnd that these dies will also install gas checks.
I have the Lyman 450 sizer and even though it works quite well it is far more expensive. The dies and top punches will cost as much or more than the Lee dies and you still have to buy the sizing machine. The Lee system is also much faster as it is a straight through (up) system whereas the Lyman system is down and up for each bullet.
If you're going to do higher velocity rifle bullets you may need to go to the Lyman so you can apply harder, higher temp bullet lubes.
I have the Lyman 450 sizer and even though it works quite well it is far more expensive. The dies and top punches will cost as much or more than the Lee dies and you still have to buy the sizing machine. The Lee system is also much faster as it is a straight through (up) system whereas the Lyman system is down and up for each bullet.
If you're going to do higher velocity rifle bullets you may need to go to the Lyman so you can apply harder, higher temp bullet lubes.
Lots of recipes and info over on the cast boolit forums. I tried to make my own lube for pan lubing some 500gr 45-70 bullets and it did not work well. I had a leaded bore and wax covered dies. I don't remember the exact proportions but it was lots of Vaseline, paraffin wax, and a tablespoon of STP oil treatment (for the Teflon it contains). I didn't try too many different ratios but since it was only for pan lubing and I can tumble lube the same bullets I just stuck with that.
Using WW cast bullets, aluminum gas checks from eBay, tumble lubed with Lee liquid alox, and sized in a Lee sizer I can push rifle bullets to around 1700-1800fps without any problems. Much past 1900fps and I can start to get leading in some rifles.
Using WW cast bullets, aluminum gas checks from eBay, tumble lubed with Lee liquid alox, and sized in a Lee sizer I can push rifle bullets to around 1700-1800fps without any problems. Much past 1900fps and I can start to get leading in some rifles.
Go to cast boolits for more info on bullet lubes. I just recently made ben's red bullet lube. Which seems to be a solid all purpose lube.
Uses Lucas red'n'tacky, stp oil treatment, dextron 2 or 3 tranny fluid, beeswax, and Johnson's paste wax (minwax will work).
Uses Lucas red'n'tacky, stp oil treatment, dextron 2 or 3 tranny fluid, beeswax, and Johnson's paste wax (minwax will work).
I have used both the 45 and the 450, You can use gas checks on both models.
The advantage of the 450 is you have 50% more mechanical advantage in leverage over the 45, hence I don't use the 45 to do my 500gr .458 bullets.
Both will do the job, the 450 doesn't tire you out as fast.
The advantage of the 450 is you have 50% more mechanical advantage in leverage over the 45, hence I don't use the 45 to do my 500gr .458 bullets.
Both will do the job, the 450 doesn't tire you out as fast.
