Lyman Grand American

I picked this up last year, it was in pretty rough shape.

I did a partial restoration (powder coated red, re-blued the steel), I have to fabricate the top plate for the shot and powder jars.

Scott, did you ever get much history of the Grand American? They weren’t made long or in very large numbers, I know. Are you actually loading enough on it yet to really evaluate it compared to newer “more modern” units? It looks like it has the potential to really crank out some serious volume of quality ammo as a shooter at the Grand would need.

BTW, am I correct that production was limited to 12 ga only? I wonder if there were any experimental or prototype examples in 20 ga or smaller or whether they held the line at 12.

Congrats on a quality restoration project!

Froggie

That looks fantastic! Nice job.

I don’t recall ever seeing one complete, only partials in rough shape.

Please post pics of the completed project.

Thanks Charlie,

The history of this press is short, I believe it 1st appeared in the #42 handbook (1960) and was dropped after 1964, I don't believe it made it into the #43 handbook. This press was only made in 12 gauge according to the 42 manual. I read somewhere that about 1000 presses were produced, not sure where that info came from. Based on what I've seen show up at guns shows and on ebay over the last 30 years that number seem reasonable.

I believe the advertised production rate on the Grand American was over 200 per hour once you found your rhythm. I know I could never do that with this machine with modern plastic hulls.

Scott

I recently acquired one of these Lyman Grand American reloaders, complete, except for the crimping plug. Does any one have a picture of one of these and the dimensions so that I could make one?

Nice job Scott. I wish we lived closer. I've got a bunch of old shotgun components I would give you just to see someone use them up.

Ever reload shotgun primers?

Steve

Very nice job on a rare press.

Looks good!