Boolit sizing in Lyman 4500

[ghh3rd]

I am considering purchasing a Lyman 4500 Lube Sizer, and wonder what the general opinion is of this unit.

Also, I'm currently using Lee sizing dies, and lapped out a .430 die to .432 for my Ruger SBH .44 cal. What Lyman Lube and Sizer die would I order for .44 cal boolits -- and is it possible/necessary to lap them to achieve .432 diameter?

Randy

[462]

ghh3rd,
I use a 4500 without complaints or problems. Check the price of Lyman's Master Casting Kit versus that of just the lube-sizer.

I lapped a Lyman .431" sizer (the largest diameter available, unfortunately) to .433", for my S&W .44 Special's .432" cylinder throats. I used well oiled 400 grit wet-dry paper, followed by 600 grit, and finished up with either 1200 or 1500 grit. Have plenty or unsized boolits handy, go slow and measure often.

[ghh3rd]

462 - sounds like same method as for the Lee. Thanks for the reply.

[Gunslinger]

I have both the Lyman and the RCBS! By all means get the RCBS... it's a better piece of equipment, and here's why:

The Lyman uses a weird system to ad the lube, mine is currently taken apart and I have no idea how to put it back together again... it took me an hour to get it dissembled! The Lyman dies have horizontal holes, which (at least my the boolits I size) means that no matter how high I set it, I get lube outside the lube groove. The action itself is strange and takes a "lot" of strengt to operate which is a PITA when you're sizing 500 boolits!!

All of the above mentioned issues are non-existent with the RCBS!!

[462]

Remove the reservoir cap (lifts right off), back out the pressure nut, add lube.

Lyman dies have four rows of "vertical" holes (two to four holes per row) which make it easier to lube long boolits. RCBS dies have only four holes, positioned horizontally. Either company's dies will work in the other's press.

[Rockchucker]

Never owned the RCBS luber but, I'm very happy with the lyman 4500. It's very well built and the finish is surperb. Also, never had a problem after aprox 10,000 boolits run thru it too! Lots of folks here say get the RCBS unit, don't get me wrong I have plenty of their equipment but the Lyman is a quaility unit also, just saying.