Are the dies for the Lyman 450 sizer/lubricator and the RCBS sizer lubricator dies interchangeable? Midway wants $2 more for the Lyman die in the same size--but $2 isn't worth a potential problem. TIA
Are the dies for the Lyman 450 sizer/lubricator and the RCBS sizer lubricator dies interchangeable? Midway wants $2 more for the Lyman die in the same size--but $2 isn't worth a potential problem. TIA
They say that they are interchangeable, but I have found that the Lyman sizer dies don't work too well in my RCBS Lam II. I don't know how well it works the other way around. You might have better luck than I did.
I've got two Lyman 450s and a couple dozen sizer dies, mixed about 2-to-1 Lyman to RCBS; never had a problem with interchange. Call me 'frugal' but, when buying 'new', I always go with the one that carries the lowest price tag; also have bought a few 'used' at gunshows to lap/polish for oversize throats/bores without worrying about the name on the die.
Bill
"I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."
Jimmy Buffett
"Scarlet Begonias"
I am not a fan of RCBS dies, due to their internal groove that can catch a GC.
But the few I have had, all fit and worked in my Lyman 45.
I've never owned a RCBS LAM.
Also, check prices at Optics planet for Lyman dies.
some of the sizes are clearance price markdowns.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/lyman-sizing-dies-h-i.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001
I've never had a problem with my Lachmiller with either dies. But after getting a Star, the machine doesn't get much use.
Both brands will work in the LAMII but my experience is that in some calibers with the Lyman you don't need to push the boolit as deep into the die as you do with RCBS dies. In order to get them to work i had to remove the locking nut from the depth stop screw so i could wind it in a little further to prevent the boolit going too far into the lyman die.
The Lymans have 2 lube holes and the RCBS have 1. I have had better results using RCBS dies with boolits that have single lube grooves.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |