Introduced in 1955 as a companion press for the Lyman 310 “Nutcracker” tool, the Model 27 is a neat little press with some innovative features. I say little press because it is literally a 1/3 scale model of the famous Model 3. Shipping weight is only 6 pounds while the Model 3 shipped at 23 pounds.
The size and strength of the Model 27 is near perfect when used with Lyman 310 dies or Herter’s Universal Neck Sizing Die. According to Herter’s literature it makes the “Nutcracker” completely obsolete. There is also a caution in the Herter’s catalog about not using the Model 27 for full length resizing. The press is all aluminum with the handle being the weakest point. It will break before the leg does. Of course owners of the Model 27 payed no attention to Herter's instructions and used the press for everyday reloading resulting in a lot of broken handles and the bottom leg. After all the press is threaded for 7/8-14 dies. It also uses the threaded shellholder and ram prime system of the Model 3A and the Model 9A.
I really like this smaller press for neck sizing and seating; it just seems the press is a lot easier to use, plus it provides better feel than the larger, full size presses. I wish someone still made a press like this one, it is nearly ideal for loading at the range.
The press is tapped for 7/8-14 dies and requires an adapter, available from Herter’s, to use 310 dies. It uses a unique shellholder that threads both onto the ram and into the die station. When inserted into the die station a primer post is threaded into the end of the ram for priming cases. This is the first ram prime system that I an aware of and it is a good one. The ram is smaller in diameter than the Pacific-type and therefore not interchangeable.
There are two versions of the Model 27, the original model with a green anodized finish and all aluminum construction was made until 1959 when it was replaced with the Model 27A, a stronger version of cast iron wearing the traditional Herter's brown paint. Notice the longer and strongly reinforced handle. This one is cast iron and is in new condition. Finding an aluminum 27 that has not suffered a broken frame or has a cast iron replacement handle is difficult today.
Price new in 1955 was $8.75. It was dropped from the catalog after 1961.
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