Lubri-Sizer: What is it and why do I need it?

H Wally

H Wally

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I have seen them used, have read about them, and yet, know little about them.

So, enlighten me, why would I need it?

I am on the cusp of starting to shoot cast lead bullets, and own numerous guns of odd bore diameters, how would this device help me, or am I better off doing something else?
 
The lubrisizer will allow you to uniformly size all your bullets to the same diameter, lubricate, and set gas checks all at the same time. If you do not want to fork out the money (mine was given to me), a sizing set from Lee for ~$15 and pan lubing will do the same thing.
 
It allows you to size and lube your bullets at the same time, in the case of Lyman/RCBS, dies are avail. in the widest selection for about $20 US. The LEE "system" does not lube the bullets and avail. only in limited sizes unless custom ordered for more$. The Star lube/sizer is the Cadillac of them all and is about 4X faster to use, dies are $40ea. The RCBS/Lyman and the Star are used for convenience and will up your production without making a mess(for the most part). I can't imagine not having a lube/sizer if you shoot very much cast at all...IMHO....Remember, when trying new cast bullet loads in your gun, one of the first things you're going to want to try is different diameters of your cast bullet, a lube/sizer will allow you to do this.
 
Ok then - specifically focussing on the sizing die.

Basically shooting cast you need to work out what diameter is best for your gun, so you bump them up or slim them down until you've found the diameter that works? I've only ever used jacketed and patched round ball, so haven't come across this area of knowledge.
 
Bullets(cast) won't "bump up" much without proper knowledge of how to make/adapt a die to do this without deforming parts of the bullet. For the .30 caliber rifle bullets for instance, i carry the following sizers .308,.309,.310,.311,.312,.313,.314,.316, I also carry smaller sizes .299",.300",.and .301" to size the forward"bore riding portion". You learn very quickly if you are heading in the right direction, it's not just an accuracy thing but also a way of preventing leading problems. A lubesizer can be set so that the bullet stops at a predetermined point and doesn't enter die any further, which is vital if "nose sizing" only. I guess it depends on how serious you are about accuracy with your cast bullets,
 
The heat in no way effects the bullet then? I somehow thought that it somehow assisted the sizing of the bullet or pardon me the projectile.
 
Lyman sells a heating plate that is tapped for the different lubesizers to sit on, this is a good option if you don't like the Lyman and for instance prefer the RCBS. I have 2 Stars, 2 Lyman, 2 RCBS and I would take the RCBS over the Lyman, more robust machine and better warranty. The heat just makes the lube flow better, there are times when you have to turn the heat off or the lube will run too well!! You could damage a lubesizer if you try to force sizing with a cold, hard lube!!
 
Thanks Ben for explaining that. I kinda been looking in to this as my next big venture might be casting bullets. I have never seen the RCBS unit and wouldn't know where to get one. WSS carries the Lyman in stock so that is why I was looking at that unit.

Lyman has been good to deal with in the past for me. I have only had minor issues with their products anyway.
 
The weak point in the Lyman is the handle linkage, I have broken a few, and keep a couple of spares, but Lyman doesn't replace them free. The RCBS doesn't have this weakness and if there was a problem they would prolly replace free.
 
ben hunchak said:
Lyman sells a heating plate that is tapped for the different lubesizers to sit on. The heat just makes the lube flow better, there are times when you have to turn the heat off or the lube will run too well!! You could damage a lubesizer if you try to force sizing with a cold, hard lube!!
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Being cheap, I made my own heater for $10 by cannibalizing a Walmart mini slow cooker for the heating element and formed that around the base of my Lyman 450. If I ever get the time I might make a thermostat for it later.
 
If you are starting from scratch to buy a luber/sizer just buy a Star. The dies are a bit more $ but is is many times faster than any of the other machines. I have a collection of different makes.
 
I'm with the Lee guys. Lee will make you any diameter die you want, and you can buy more bullet molds. Also, you can hand lube fast enough, and put the lube where you want it.
Grouch
 
Ian Robertson said:
If you are starting from scratch to buy a luber/sizer just buy a Star. The dies are a bit more $ but is is many times faster than any of the other machines. I have a collection of different makes.
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I have to agree with Ian, once I bought my Star I couldn't imagine going back to anything else, the sizers and sizing dies come up on eBay fairly regularly if you want to pick up a used one possibly a bit cheaper.
 
The new Lyman models have a heating element insert, they don't use the "pad" approach anymore. So far so good, mine works well. As mentioned, I too wouldn't want to try harder lubes without heat, even the Moly Lube would be a bugger and it's considered "soft".
 
My main consideration is the sizing of the bullets themselves. I guess I'm just curious how cast bullets where made and shot for so long without these sizing setups being common in every shooter's household? Are these sizers just to get the maximum accuracy out of a gun, or have they replaced something else (like custom molds for each gun or really bad shooting bullets)?
 
H Wally said:
My main consideration is the sizing of the bullets themselves. I guess I'm just curious how cast bullets where made and shot for so long without these sizing setups being common in every shooter's household? Are these sizers just to get the maximum accuracy out of a gun, or have they replaced something else (like custom molds for each gun or really bad shooting bullets)?
Click to expand...

Very interesting thought. The first great era of super accuracy, rifles and bullets, was about the 1880s. Maybe Ben knows how the bullets were made then. Oops, sorry Ben, I didn't mean you REMEMBERED how they did it, just that you are probably better read on the subject than we are!
My first cast bullets were with a 30-06. I soon discovered that accuracy actually improved when I quit sizing them. I had a mold that cast a bullet of about .211, and as long as I could get it in the case and get the case in the chamber, it shot just fine.
 
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