Lyman Ideal No.5M Powder Measure

This one just recently came to occupy a space near my loading bench, a Lyman No.5M. Basically nothing more than the old No.5, introduced in the early years of the 20th Century by John Barlow's Ideal Mfg. Co. and continued by Lyman until the late 1940s when the No.55 was introduced and the No.5 disappeared into the mists of time. The change, which came about in 1929, was the modification of the old 3-slide arrangement of the No.5 into a single adjustable slide with a micrometer screw arrangement. These were intended for metering the larger charges of rifle powders, and it was not recommended for use in charging pistol and revolver cartridges.

This one came with an original box, the brown waxed paper wrapping, and a 1942 dated pamphlet describing the various Lyman/Ideal reloading tools of the day.

Attachment 214511 Attachment 214512

Jim

how long was that the standard? very nice by the way

Very nice. 1942 is my birth year. It would be interesting to see what Lyman had to sell reloaders that year--a war year. james

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Originally Posted by ascast

how long was that the standard?

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The No.5M was cataloged along side of the standard No.5 from 1929 until they were both discontinued and replaced by the Lyman No.55 in 1948.

Jim

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Originally Posted by TNsailorman

It would be interesting to see what Lyman had to sell reloaders that year--a war year.

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I will do my best to run the pamphlet across the scanner this weekend, and post the results.

Jim

That would be great. Thanks, james

I like it . Might have to start looking for one of those .

Eddie

The 5M got a poor reputation for throwing heavy charges, especially when used with pistol powder.
It was recommended for rifle only.
In operation it most resembles the Culver conversion with it's single large slide. Only it has 4 clicks per revolution of the slide knob.
It's a good design that could have been refined. Well, actually it was in 1948/1953.

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Originally Posted by TNsailorman

Very nice. 1942 is my birth year. It would be interesting to see what Lyman had to sell reloaders that year--a war year. james

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1942 was a very good year. For me also.

It would appear that the Culver conversion was a way to make a #55M. Of course it was even more precise and repeatable. I have often wondered why Lyman didn’t make that style... lack of demand,I would imagine.

I have used a #5M for years in Schuetzen where I load the same case over and over at the bench. It was one of the few measures that would drop fairly consistent loads of the old IMR 4759.

Froggie