Lyman 450

[Divedigger]

How many different top punches are there for the 450 luber sizer

[georgerkahn]

Tough question to answer, with the word "lots!" coming to mind. In my own wee collection I possess 78 of them, albeit a few are doubles. A URL for a site listing some is http://www.castpics.net/subsite/TopPunches/Lyman.html , and if you were to check out loading manuals from Ideal and Lyman, you'd no doubt find more. Additionally, a lot of mould makers make top punches which also fit Lyman/Ideal mould designs, AND, some persons "make their own" using epoxy resin over the bullet -- after lots of release agent (e.g., wax) is used to keep things not getting glued where one doesn't. Finally, like moulds, some top punch designs have in fact been "retired", but pop up ever so often on sites like this, eBay, and other auctions.
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[Hamish]

How many different top punches are there for the 450 luber sizer

There are 3. Small, Medium, and Large.

Why?

[stubert]

However many nose profiles there are, is how many top punches there are.

[gwpercle]

At the moment you can purchase about 42 or 43 currently listed top punches from Lyman.

The discontinued top punches for moulds no longer made would probably be easily twice that number and probably more . There are a number of moulds and top punches no longer made .
Considering every different rifle and handgun mould Lyman ever made...at least 150 would probably be in the ball park

George has 78 top punches himself .

Thinking about starting a top punch collection ?

Gary

[georgerkahn]

For your reference -- my curiosity re the top punches in my collection, I copied/pasted that segment from my reloading component inventory and attached it -- so you may view the top punches in my wee collection. I might add that each is to complement a mould I have -- some top punches mate, too, with several moulds -- and, I have none not dedicated to moulds in my collection use.
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[Divedigger]

Wow , I had no idea that there could be that many different bullet nose shapes , lyman must be the most sold and used luber sizer of them all. Was the first a 45 then 450 and now 4500? Does anyone know how many different size and lube dies they make?

[georgerkahn]

Divedigger -- my guess re different H&I (size and lube) die sizes would be quite the huge number -- pretty much all sizes, in one-thousandth inch steps, from the smallest, to the largest bore-diameter bullet they make! Additionally, custom after-market folks (Lathesmith comes to mind, as one) either modify or "from scratch" make these to as little as one-ten-thousandth of an inch sizes!
In my wee collection -- note that I cast/shoot but very few calibers -- I have thirty-eight H&I sets. I pasted what I have here.
You are correct with the manufacturing progression from the 45 to the 450, and then the 4500. I have one Model 45 -- my "first" -- and then through the years acquired a few 450s. Major reason for me was not so much the effort to change die sizes when changing from one bullet size to another, but to expedite the changing of lubes. I had initially thought it would take but a few bullets after I "ran out of", say, "Lub A", inserted a hollow stick of "Lub B", and have that pumped out. BUT, 'twas not the case -- I mean, I would not be loose with the truth stating more than one hundred "hybrids" would be produced. I "boiled out" a lub to execute a change -- and for me, this was more than enough effort! Hence, for me, it was a most astute move to pick up separate lub sizers for the different lubs required.
Another query might be as to how many different commercial plus home-made bullet lub's are out there, too! (I use four -- but again, note that do not cast that many different bullet types)
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[sharps4590]

George is on top of it. I expect a lot of us use more than sizer/luber because of different lube requirements. I know I do.

Top punches....I make whatever I need although I do have several "store bought " punches.

[gwpercle]

Down load a copy of " Lyman and Ideal Bullet Moulds " it's a chart showing 9 pages of moulds ,
many use the same punch.....but a whole lot more don't...the number of different designs ergo the number of different punches needed...is staggering .

www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

Gary

[mattw]

I have about 30 in my box at the moment. Most are for 30, 38 and 41 caliber moulds. I was luck years ago to get a hold of a set that were either made by Lyman or by someone else for the 38 and 30 hollow point moulds. These actually support the outside of the SWC and the inside with a pin that enters the HP. Allows for very soft alloys to be used without deforming the nose of the bullet. They are for the old Ideal 358439, Ideal 311329 and Lyman 358156 moulds. And yes, I find it therapeutic to cast with the old single pin hollow points. Once they are warm, they will cast piles of good bullets. Working the bottom pin is half of the fun! My 16yo daughter made a few the other day and found the process to be "interesting".

[Divedigger]

I have been asked WHY do you want to do that much work just for plinking, you can buy 100 boolits for JUST $10 or $12. I hate that word JUST as you add several hundred JUST together it begins to amount up but besides casting and loading for accurcey its as satisfying part of the hobby as pulling the trigger.

[georgerkahn]

Divedigger -- I have ever so many answers to query you mention, the first very clearly is -- for me -- it's NOT the money. At the club I belong to a friend classifies most of the guys as "shooters" OR "collectors". Similarly, I extend that to "cartridge-makers" -- fellows who reloads and even cast just for the pennies saved -- generally but one or two pistol calibers -- and those who cherish their time, effort, and ability to make our own bullets; size and lub them; spend a humongous amount of time and effort on brass not excluding pin tumbling, annealing, trimming, primer pocket burr removal, and the like -- not to forget separate crimping. Some (not me ) even make their own lub; some weigh each piece of brass, as well as each bullet, too.
I highly respect and laud you if you choose to simply (simply???) reload your ammo as YOUR hobby. No -- I haven't gotten into making bullet lub, or powder coating -- but the rest? I'd call that AS MY HOBBY! When I get to the range, line up my sights, and pull the trigger -- that's what I call "gratification" .
Why *I* do it!
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