Using Lyman H&I dies in standard press!

[andym79]

Just though I share this, I am sure someone has discovered and maybe posted this already.

If you want to use Lyman H&I sizing dies in a standard 7/8 14 press this is the cheapest way to do it!

Buy yourself a Lee Collet body part of the die, not the whole thing just the body, the cost about $8.115576

Turn you Collet body upside down. Grab your sizing die and push it in to the Collet body, its a snug fit, but can easily be tapped out from above.
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Screw the Collet body with the die inside, upside down from the normal orientation.

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Happy sizing!

I am just using my next size down Lee push rod for now, it seems to work fine!

[rking22]

Interesting workaround, thanks for sharing!

[dromia]

That is elegantly simple.

[bedbugbilly]

I'm a writing this down! Great information - many thanks!

[ohland]

If you want to use Lyman H&I sizing dies in a standard 7/8 14 press this is the cheapest way to do it! Buy yourself a Lee Collet body part of the die, not the whole thing just the body, the cost about $8.
115576

There looks to be two sizes, the Short and regular [my name for it!]

NS BODY 2.383 SHORT SKU NS2577
NS BODY 3.073 SKU NS2578

Which length did you get?

Here are the commonly stocked Sizer Punches from Lee. Some of them cover three or so different diameters. For instance, the .353 SP covers .355 - .358 diameter boolits.

SIZER PUNCH .224/.225 SKU: BS3371
SIZER PUNCH .243 SKU: BS3372
SIZER PUNCH .284/.285 SKU: BS3373
SIZER PUNCH .308 SKU: BS1338
SIZER PUNCH .323 SKU: BS1980
SIZER PUNCH .336 SKU: BS3068
SIZER PUNCH .353 SKU: BS1342
SIZER PUNCH .401 SKU: BS2919
SIZER PUNCH .410 SKU: BS1344
SIZER PUNCH .427-430 SKU: BS1345
SIZER PUNCH .450 SKU: BS1346
SIZER PUNCH .457 SKU: BS1347
SIZER PUNCH .501 SKU: BS3533
SIZER PUNCH .510 SKU: BS3537

[nicholst55]

I nominate this for 'sticky' status.

[skeettx]

YUP, sticky qualified :)

[andym79]

There looks to be two sizes, the Short and regular [my name for it!]

NS BODY 2.383 SHORT SKU NS2577
NS BODY 3.073 SKU NS2578

Which length did you get?



I don't know if it would matter but I used the NS2578!

[LeadBrain]

Great Find! Gonna give it try.

[ohland]

I don't know if it would matter but I used the NS2578!

Imagine using the red plastic sizer box, SKU BS2800, on top of a press where the threaded part of the body sticks out. In your case, a progressive press may not have enough room to run more than the sizer box, and no other dies. OR you might be able to cobble a loose fitting bushing inside to extend the riser so that it goes high enough for the lubed boolits to reach the raised sizer box.... Dunno how you could lube and size on a progressive and fit it into a loading process, but you might feel inspired.

I have no idea on how far the threads stick out the top, nor what is the diameter of a Lee sizing die is. Perhaps the diameters are close enough so the sizer box will fit over the threads.. Maybe not, but some thin wall aluminum tubing could be used to take up the difference between the external threads of the 7/8-14 collet body and the internal OD of the sizer box.

If you are inquisitive, www.speedymetals.com (and others) have a good selection of aluminum tubing, various ODs and IDs (wall thicknesses may be .035 to .125, for example).

Odd thought... I wonder if one could extend the threads with a die to increase the height of the end of the collet body above the top of the press?

[ohland]

There looks to be two sizes, the Short and regular

NS BODY 2.383 SHORT SKU NS2577
NS BODY 3.073 SKU NS2578

How far does the thread extend up the short collet body (NS2577) and the regular collet body (NS2578)? If one was to play with attaching the sizer box on top, this might be of assistance in deciding which collet body to get....

:veryconfu

[andym79]

Perhaps you could thread the existing collet body along its entire length in 7/8 14; so that it sticks up higher than some dies. The ram can go all the way up and you can see from the photo at the moment the die comes a long way down.

That set up was just for trial. I will just put the die into its own 4 hole turret disk.




How far does the thread extend up the short collet body (NS2577) and the regular collet body (NS2578)? If one was to play with attaching the sizer box on top, this might be of assistance in deciding which collet body to get....



I am not sure but will measure!

[Oldtimer45]

Will not work with a short die body. Mine is for the 30-30. Hole is to small.....

[andym79]

Will not work with a short die body. Mine is for the 30-30. Hole is to small.....

Interesting, I used my 30-06 collet body so I guess it only works with NS2578!

[ohland]

If one was to play with attaching the sizer box on top, this might be of assistance in deciding which collet body to get.... :veryconfu

I whipped out my calipers, there is no holy joy at this time for a quick n' easy hack.

Lee sizer die head is @.818 OD by @ 1.037 long. Lee sizer box "well" for the sizer die head is @.830, BUT... 7/8-14 major thread diameter on the Lee sizer die is @.861, leaving a few options for adapting a Lee sizer box to fit on a collet body. Ream or bore out the well. It is plastic, so this may require very sharp tools. Use a lathe to take the thread above the top of the press down to @.825, using an expanding mandrel to mount the collet body on the lathe would be one option.

:dung_hits_fan:

[Elkins45]

I did something similar 25 years ago, but I just made a friction bushing and used a big washer to make a lip so the die body had something to resist the push. I used the internal sizing die rod and a shell holder to make my own pusher. I assembled everything in position and tack welded the rod to the shell holder so it would all be aligned.

This was 20 years before I owned a lubrisizer and I needed a 270 sizer. Lee didn't make a push thru in 270 (still don't) so I made my own. Your solution is much better than mine because you can still use the dies in a lubrisizer. My 270 die is always and forever just a push thru sizer now.

[ohland]

Interesting, I used my 30-06 collet body so I guess it only works with NS2578!

Wait up... Does the H&I die only fit in the unthreaded end? If it was possible to insert it into the threaded end, maybe the unthreaded end above the top of the press could be turned down to @.825 OD and now the turned collet body might fit in the sizer box well. Enabling one to have sized boolits be collected in a normal Lee sizer box might be nice...

[Elkins45]

I whipped out my calipers, there is no holy joy at this time for a quick n' easy hack.

Lee sizer die head is @.818 OD by @ 1.037 long. Lee sizer box "well" for the sizer die head is @.830, BUT... 7/8-14 major thread diameter on the Lee sizer die is @.861, leaving a few options for adapting a Lee sizer box to fit on a collet body. Ream or bore out the well. It is plastic, so this may require very sharp tools. Use a lathe to take the thread above the top of the press down to @.825, using an expanding mandrel to mount the collet body on the lathe would be one option.

:dung_hits_fan:

Use a wide mouth plastic jug like a Gatoraid bottle and a little duct tape.

[ohland]

little duct tape.

The Handyman's Secret Weapon!

"I'm a man, but I can change, If I have to, I guess."

"Quando omni flunkus moritati"

[LeadBrain]

Took a quick look. Die only fits unthreaded end and must be installed in press as shown above.

[texassako]

Will not work with a short die body. Mine is for the 30-30. Hole is to small.....

30-30 on up to the 30-06 sizes use the same body. Magnums get a taller one and then there is the short one. It should work unless tolerances make it where some do not. I tried it in 4 standard length bodies an it worked.

[ohland]

Use a wide mouth plastic jug like a Gatoraid bottle and a little duct tape.

Not mechanically satisfying, but it should work... :sad:

[adanymous]

The Handyman's Secret Weapon!

"I'm a man, but I can change, If I have to, I guess."

"Quando omni flunkus moritati"


Ahhh Red Green. It never gets old!

[andym79]

Duct tape and a bottle would work!

Has anyone used my method for sizing?

[A pause for the COZ]

Does this damage the Collet die body? I have one for my 243 win and could just use it and return to a 243 die when done?

[andym79]

Does this damage the Collet die body? I have one for my 243 win and could just use it and return to a 243 die when done?

It pushes in pretty easily and taps out easy, I have sized about 300 bullets through it so far.

The existing female thread seems fine on my collet body, I guess it could be damaged in theory but it seems unlikely. The fit seems like it was made to take the H&I die!

[LeadBrain]

The bodies run about 8 dollars and some change. I ordered one just in case there is any damage and so I don't have to disassemble my collet die every time I want to use it.

[Pinsnscrews]

Redding makes an adapter for their push through sizing die for .40sw/10mm brass, to get rid of the Glock Bulge, that screws onto the standard die threads and then threads in a Shot bottle to collect the brass.

[bedbugbilly]

Geeze . . . . now I have to worry about getting "hooked" on buying Lyman sizing dies? :-)

Excellent information and I look forward to trying it!

[MT Chambers]

How do you insert the lube into those tiny grooves?????
Okay someone has to ask........If you have Lyman dies, you must have either a Lyman or a RCBS sizer, why not just use the sizer? Either with or without lubing? What am I missing here??
Very accurate nose first sizing can be done on those machines.

[Elkins45]

How do you insert the lube into those tiny grooves?????
Okay someone has to ask........If you have Lyman dies, you must have either a Lyman or a RCBS sizer, why not just use the sizer? Either with or without lubing? What am I missing here??
Very accurate nose first sizing can be done on those machines.

Not necessarily: you could be a Lee push-thru only user who wants to size a diameter that Lee doesn't make. In this case you can buy the appropriate Lyman die and make it work.

I tend to associate push-thru sizing with tumble lubing, or now powder coating as well. It is also used with pan lubing, but not by me if I can avoid it.

[Remiel]

does the pin in the middle of the lube die come out on all of them or just certain ones and can RCBS dies be used as well?