choice of RCBS Lube-A-Matic2 or Lyman 450 Bullet Sizer

I don't have experience with Lyman 45, so I can't diagnose your problems as to the lube leakage. I will let you know that the SAECO unit uses dies and top punches that are unique to that unit. I like the SAECO better than the other two, but that is my preference only. If you are looking into buying a new sizer, and the budget allows, I would take a hard look at the Star sizer. It is superior in every way to any of the other three in all ways with the exception of economy.

Hi, Swifty:
I can't really suggest anything about the old 45, unless you can seal it up with some o-rings. Any farm or industrial equipment shop or automotive specialty store should have an o-ring kit with dozens of sizes to pick from.

Generally the RCBS is preferred to the Lyman 450, as it's stronger and has a better bottom lube chamber seal, although I don't see anything on my 450's linkage that isn't fixable with some grade 8 bolts. The new Lyman 4500 may be your best bet. It has a better bottom seal, stronger linkage, optional built-in heater and retains the lube piston screw ratchet that RCBS no longer uses, much to the annoyance of Big Green fans. I haven't used any RCBS dies, but the Lymans are said to be smoother. The Saeco dies are threaded on the bottom and won't fit a Lyman or RCBS.

There's a report that the Lyman 4500 die chamber is reamed undersized and some older dies that are over maximum outside diameter won't fit. Developing.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/index.htm

Bye
Jack

It's possible that the follower in the die is missing or it is an undersized stem mistakenly installed in the sizer die.

Don't crank the reservoir plunger down too hard, just enough to get the lube to flow into the bullet grooves when the bullet gets down into the die. The die stem follower should prevent the lube from flowing between bullets as it is up in front of the lube holes when a bullet is ejected and the ram handle is raised.

It's not in front of me so I'm surmising here.

If it is an older Lyman (45), it should be pretty good quality. The RCBS and the Lyman are essentially the same machine and the dies and top punches are interchangable.

Regards

I would highly recomend that if your buying new that you switch to a star. But one option you have is to pack it up and send it to lyman they will either fix it or give you a new one free. Just dont call ahead as when I do that with then there is usually a charge. If you just send it they usually do it for free.

Agreed, the Star is a great way to go if you can swing it. I've 2 of them bought from Gil Hebard about 6 and 10 years ago.

Ditto on Lyman service.


Regards

Choice of RCBS Lube-a-matic2 or Lyman450

Hi folks:
Thanks for all the help.
Where do I buy a Star Lube Sizer?
Can I use my RCBS and Lyman dies and top punches in a Star Lube Sizer

Swifty,
You can click here to access the makers of the sizer. As far as I know the only place you can get one is from them, unless you luck into a used one. You cannot use your Lyman dies or punches in this machine, but they are typically easy to sell. This machine sizes the bullets nose first and pushes them through a die from top to bottom. You don't need any top punches, and you only touch the bullet once. If you're not using gas checks, one punch will work for all bullets 9mm-45. If you use gas checks you need a properly sized punch for the caliber you are using. You will still need sizing dies for each caliber you intend to use.

Hi, Swifty:
Looks like kciH's link didn't take. Check this out.
http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5418&highlight=star+AND+sizer

Bye
Jack

Swifty,
my link works for me. I'll save you some time emailing them for the cost also. The sizer is $175, the sizing dies are $32, and the standard flat punch is $12. I would get the heated base made by Lyman if you want to use harder lubes. That base fits the RCBS,SAECO, and STAR sizers. If you use gas checks you will need to order a punch that fits each caliber you intend to use gas checks with.

Hi, kciH:
Your link works for me, once I found it. The problem is that it appears as plain text in every browser I've got. I was able to put a box around it in Opera 7.01, but the rest, Opera 6.06, Netscape 4.7 & 7.02 and Internet Explorer 6.0.2800 don't highlight it in any way. I see in the page source that your link isn't doubled like mine are. Could you post what browser you're using and I'll ask Alex if he can sort this out.

Bye
Jack

Jack,
I didn't realize that different browsers wouldn't show it. In mine the word that is the link is shown in blue instead of the normal text color for the post. I'm using MSIE 6.0.2800.1106IC. I should probably just use the actual link from here on if people can't see what I'm trying to direct them to.

I'm also getting two emails every time this post is responded to. This post only, none of the others that I've participated in.

Thanks,

Steven

Hi, Stephen:
I see that your link is blue, if I turn brightness and contrast on my monitor all the way up to blinding. Perhaps you monitor brightens blue more than mine does. I don't really understand HTML, but it looks like Beartooth sets the colour of the link, and I can't change it in Preferences. Maybe Alex can do something. Thanks.

Bye
Jack

What colour did you say it was? I've haven't seen that since I was in Australia, I recognise you Canadien types spell a little differently. I'll be making my annual pilgrimage to Minaki, Ontario next month for a little fishing. My favourite colour is Blue when I'm in Canada, as in LeBatts.

Good luck on Lyman customer service. I've never found them to be very helpful. I had an old moldmaster furnace that needed a new thermostat. They told me that the part was obslete and I needed to Buy a new furnace. I broke one of the wooden handles for a Lyman 4 cavity mold. There answer was that I needed to buy a complete new handle as they didn't carry that part any longer. They did still have the small steel pins that hold on the wood. They offered to sell them to me for $1.00 @ and minium additional $5 shipping.
I'm buying RCBS from now on.

Swifty,
I am new here and just noticed your post. Have found a lube sizer yet? I have a Lyman 450 that is used but as best I can tell in great shape. If you are interested let me know.
Chris

kciH said:

Swifty,
You can click here to access the makers of the sizer. As far as I know the only place you can get one is from them, unless you luck into a used one. You cannot use your Lyman dies or punches in this machine, but they are typically easy to sell. This machine sizes the bullets nose first and pushes them through a die from top to bottom. You don't need any top punches, and you only touch the bullet once. If you're not using gas checks, one punch will work for all bullets 9mm-45. If you use gas checks you need a properly sized punch for the caliber you are using. You will still need sizing dies for each caliber you intend to use.

Click to expand...

Be careful here. If you are casting soft bullets such as are used in BPCR, the star lubrizer will tend to flatten the nose of the bullets. That is because the buttets push each other through the star. I do not fancy my Paul Jones bullets with an altered nose and you might not either. Folks, please understand the complete ramifications of answers to any question.

I have had very good luck with customer service at Lyman.
From your description of the problem it sounds like the o-rings on the H&I die are missing or damaged. You didn't say exactly where on the bottom the lube is squirting out, but if it is at the bottom of the lube reservoir it could also be a damaged or missing o-ring.
I had a bit of the same problem with my Lyman, and a telephone call to Lyman purchased a packet of o-rings at a reasonable price. Once I re-installed the large o-ring at the bottom of the reservoir I realized that I had allowed the mounting bolts for the lube-sizer to get a bit loose. That allowed a bit of movement at the bottom and lube squirted out. I put in the new o-ring, tightened the lube sizer tight onto the smooth board that is mounted on and I haven't had a problem since.
The o-ring on the H&I die has to be treated gently when changing dies. Otherwise it can be damaged or not seat properly.