New Lube-Sizers

[jem102]

All,

If you were going out to buy a new Lube-Sizer what brand/model would it be. Will be used for pistol and rifle with 65% towards pistol, most gas checked and .35-.475 caliber. Cost is not a limiting factor.

Thanks in advance for any and all input!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

The Star.

[AnthonyB]

Seconded on the Star. But an old Lyman with the gas check seater does a better job seating gas checks than the Star for me. Others may find the Star does everything well.
Tony

[rcslotcar]

I have three RCBS lube sizers that have different lubes in them. I got them used at a great prices. I haven't had any problems with gas checks and would recommend them.

[OS OK]

I have two RCBS's...one for lubing/sizing and the other, without lube for setting gas checks before I PC them...but I've always lusted for the 'Star'....heheee

[Beagle333]

Star. It's the best.

[Pee Wee]

The star is the best for pistols. And I have two. However I have not had good luck with the star for rifle bullets with pointed nose. When pushing thru the star the nose of the bullet warps the gas check on the bullet it’s pushing thru. So I have a Lyman 45 for rifle bullets. Just my 2 cents.

[RED BEAR]

I have never used a star for me they are very cost prohibitive. Sizer is more dies are more. But if you can afford it it might be the way to go. I use an rcbs and it works great. And a lot less money.

[super6]

I use a star and have had great success with pistol and rifle, both with gas checks. The key is setting the checks crimped in before sizing. Less .0005 Than the bullet size. A separate operation. I make my star dies and crimp tools. A lath, mill. surface grinder are all you need! Lol

[georgerkahn]

jem102 -- I may be the odd duck here, owning and having three Star's and four Lyman 450's (and, a Lyman 45 I have, but is in "storage") -- where -- for me -- it is too time-consuming (imho) and too much effort to change dies in the Star's for SHORT RUNS of bullets. When I get a new mould, and cast a coffee-can's worth of bullets, it just seems "smarter" for *ME* to put a correct diameter dieset and top punch in a 450, and lub/size away. Then again -- for, say, my .38 S&W Special 148gn wadcutters -- one Star is set up and never changed, so I can cast, then "ready" as many bullets as I may need -- for next year's shooting, too ;).
I also am a firm GC user, and LOVE the inexpensive gas check seater which Lyman purveys -- guaranteeing ON gas checks which are as square as possible.
If it were me, starting out, as you indicate -- I'd pick up a Lyman 450 with the gas check tool, for these reasons.
geo

[MT Chambers]

I have 2 Lymans, 2 Rcbs, and 3 Stars, and use the Star whenever I can, I just don't have all the sizes of dies for them, If I did, I would sell the others right away.

[sigep1764]

Get the Star. Get LatheSmith dies and punches. If doing rifle boolits, size base first with a top punch for Spitzer boolits. I started on a 4500 Lyman, and in my experience, the Star is hands down 5 times faster and easier to use. If you want a Lyman, PM me.

[RED BEAR]

I use a star and have had great success with pistol and rifle, both with gas checks. The key is setting the checks crimped in before sizing. Less .0005 Than the bullet size. A separate operation. I make my star dies and crimp tools. A lath, mill. surface grinder are all you need! Lol

Lathe mill and surface grinder is all you need well heck i will just run down and pick em up.

[StuBach]

One more vote for the star. Started on a 45, had issues with it not being strong enough for sizing my 380 bullets so jumped to a 4500 which worked better but than got into the star and now am trying to get all sizes covered in the star so I can ditch the 4500. I also PC a lot and the Lyman dies tend to scrape the pc off some bullets where the Star doesn’t.

Admittedly, I do 90% handgun so can’t really speak to the spritzer tip flattening issue since my one rifle bullet that’s tipped I still have to size in the 4500.

Lathesmith is the way to go for dies and punches though. They are works of art.

[winelover]

You can size all bullets on a Star, nose first, including spitzers. Just use an undersize flat point bullet as a pusher, to push the lubed bullet through, to make way for the next one.

I guess, I'm in the minority..............I size mostly pistol bullets on the RCBS. The Star is used for rifle and carbine bullets where I demand long range accuracy. In and out sizers leave the door open for non concentric bullets. Base first sizers have to have perfect fit of the nose to the top punch, so as not to cant the bullet. Just too much room for error.

Winelover

[jem102]

I appreciate everyone's comments! I currently use a 450 but am looking for better. Sounds like a Star is in order. As to the pointed rifle boolits and dimpled gas checks couldn't you just cut some undersized rods from brass or aluminum, set in place, push through, retrieve and keep cycling?

Thanks, John

[Beagle333]

Yes you can.

[Springfield]

Star. Not sure why it takes George so long to change dies in the Star. Pull the punch, pull the die with the tool, put in the die and re-install the punch. If you have done the bullet before it is pretty easy to set depth. Unless you are switching to a bullet with more or less lube groves it is simple. Now I have a bullet feeder on mine so I use a removable punch so I don't have to mess with the lock nut,
but otherwise it is a normal Star. Works fine with gas checks that are the right size for the bullet. If you usea progressive press than you really need a Star. If not, then maybe not, it all depends on volume and how much time you have.

[MT Chambers]

It takes me about the same amount of time to change dies on a Star as it does on the Lyman and I always worry about stripping those fine threads on the Lyman.

[Burnt Fingers]

I traded for a Star to size my coated boolits. It's one of the best trades I've ever made. I got top punches from Lathesmith and went with the NOE adaptor and bushings.

[jem102]

All the input is greatly appreciated. I will need to sit down and decide now.

Thanks everyone!

[megasupermagnum]

It took me a long time, about 5-6 months to get my Star to put out good bullets. It is a very touchy machine. Once running, it does work like butter. Paying for a Star to size painted bullets is ludicrous. A Lee sizing die that screws into a reloading press is every bit as fast as a Star. If you just have to have it size down, you can buy a lee press, mount it upside down, and still be WAY cheaper than a Star sizer, and it will be easier to set up too.

[Burnt Fingers]

It took me a long time, about 5-6 months to get my Star to put out good bullets. It is a very touchy machine. Once running, it does work like butter. Paying for a Star to size painted bullets is ludicrous. A Lee sizing die that screws into a reloading press is every bit as fast as a Star. If you just have to have it size down, you can buy a lee press, mount it upside down, and still be WAY cheaper than a Star sizer, and it will be easier to set up too.

I traded for my Star, I used the NOE bushing on a press, the Star is much easier and quicker to use.

[smithnframe]

I have a Lyman 450, an RCBS lubimatic II and a Saeco/Redding. The Saeco/Redding is the best in my opinion but nothing is interchangeable with the other two in my lineup, so it's more expensive to use!

[jem102]

I never considered the Saeco. Is it as good as or better than the rest?

[HP9MM]

In a phone conversation with Veral Smith of LBT, he suggested that I buy an RCBS Lubeamatic as it is built better than the Lyman and has a lifetime warranty. Now I have sized about 7,000 bullets and I am glad of his suggestion.

[bobthenailer]

In the past ive owned RCBS , lyman , Saeco all sold! . for the past 30 years I use only Star/ magnma eng L/S I have two of them and about 10% of the bullets I cast are gas ck pistol & rifle bullets . accuracy is excellent with plane base & gas ck bullets. I usually make between 5 to 10+K bullets a year

[hermans]

I started off many years back with a Lyman, but sold it to get the RCBS which is very sturdy built, and loved it from day one!
However, after some reading here.........I bought a Star, and have almost never used my RCBS since the day I got the Star dialed in. The Star is just fantastic, made to size high volumes of boolits with minimal effort, worth every penny!

[georgerkahn]

Star. Not sure why it takes George so long to change dies in the Star. Pull the punch, pull the die with the tool, put in the die and re-install the punch.

I coged on this question for a few days, and even did some hands-on with both a Lyman -- set up for .35 GC bullets -- and, a Star set up for .38 S&W Sp. wadcutters. I yield to Springfield and others, suspecting my slow-ness is due to my not have yet climbed too high on the learning curve of using a Star. An added variable for me is the (built in) electric heater, and I oft needed fuss with that's setting to not have liquid lub running out ("dun-that a few times") while filling all groves with lub. Hence, I'm kind of "editing" my comments (Post #10) that perhaps my favoring Lyman for short runs is based upon my not using the Star enough on different bullets. Truthfully, when I first got my first Star, I had a lonnng nightmare in spades getting it to lub and size perfectly. When accomplished, I agree there's probably not a machine which will do as well and as quickly. However -- here's MY big "but" -- from my ineptness at setting it up, perhaps, comes both my apprehension to change bullets, and -- having the three 450s -- each with a different lub in each -- my relative ease using these on short bullet runs.
Hope this sort of makes some sense?
geo

[wdr2]

I have a Lyman, RCBS, Saeco, and a Star. Only the Star gets used these days. I have Lathesmith dies for lubed bullets and NOE bushings for PC bullets. I may never use the other sizers again. Just get a Star.

[dansedgli]

I like my star but it seems fragile to me.

I've had it for 6 months. Maybe 10,000 bullets sized and its broken the bullet feeder actuating bracket once and the other day I noticed the steel link between the ram and the handle had worn oval shapes in the holes for the circlip pin. The pin snapped and fell out.

I did buy it with the intention of putting an air cylinder on it but won't now.

[oger]

I have 3 Stars an RCBS and a Saeco. The Stars are used for 99% of my bullets. I only use the RCBS and Saeco for odd sized short runs that I don't have Star dies for.

[KenT7021]

I have nine Lyman lube sizers of various models.All set up with different lubes and dies.They work well for me.I can probably manage without a Star.

[Rod B]

I have an old Lyman 45 & an RCBS. They both work well but I tend to favor the RCBS.

[labradigger1]

I’ve had many Lyman’s, stars and rcbs. I kept the star and one Lyman 45.

[lightman]

Like everyone says, the Star is faster, and more expensive. Both the Lyman and RCBS work well enough and are cheaper. I like the way my Lyman handles gas checks better than the Star. You can find a used Lyman or RCBS for a reasonable price. Stars hold their value better and used ones sell for much more.

Think ahead and consider how much shooting and loading that you plan to do. The Star is anywhere from twice to 5 times faster than the others. If you shoot in large volume the Star is what you will want.

[jem102]

I greatly appreciate everyone's input. I can afford the star but after considering all the replies felt it was more than I needed and touchy to setup. I found a Saeco for sale here on the forum as almost new so I purchased it and it looks almost new. Going forward it and my Lyman 450 will be my tools. Maybe when I retire in a few years I will get a Star as I will have plenty of time to learn how to use it but for now seems to be more than I want to deal with.

Thanks again to everyone for all the help!