What has happened to Lyman?

[Cosmic_Charlie]

They seem to be the king of out of stock these days. That is unfortunate because they are one of the big names in boolit casting items.

[zarrinvz24]

Lyman has become a shadow of its former self. Is there something specific you are looking for?

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Lyman has become a shadow of its former self. Is there something specific you are looking for?

Most recently a 45-70 taper crimp die.

[salpal48]

As with most Companies, Lyman probably subs all there items out. With todays situation all Companies are out Of everything . Weather It is Loading Or anything else " OUT OF STOCK". Everything Is made someplace else and not Here. But Most of all, No companies wants employee any Longer.

[zarrinvz24]

Most recently a 45-70 taper crimp die.

I'd recommend taking a look at the Redding taper crimp & the Lee FCD. I bought a few sets of Lyman dies about 18 months ago. The finish was so rough I felt like the QA department must've been looking the other way when they were packaged. I promptly returned them and spent the extra coin on 2 sets of Redding Dies. It was worth it. The competition dies and smoothness of the carbide inserts are a step well over and above the ones the Lyman Die contained. Buy once, cry once.

[Rapier]

That is sad to hear. Money has become the main motivator these days…..

[Smoke4320]

Its unfortunate but I have to agree that Redding is far superior to lymans current machining finishing

[Walks]

Lyman has no Tech dept. Just Cust Serv people who know only the numbers on a computer screen.
Awhile ago I sent back 2 undersized molds. They sent Me 2 new molds, inspected on the same date and same people as the first 2 molds.
Customer Service could not understand the problem.
If it's not in the current catalog, they know nothing.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Redding only makes a "profile" crimp die for 45-70. They do not show a taper crimp.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Lyman has no Tech dept. Just Cust Serv people who know only the numbers on a computer screen.
Awhile ago I sent back 2 undersized molds. They sent Me 2 new molds, inspected on the same date and same people as the first 2 molds.
Customer Service could not understand the problem.
If it's not in the current catalog, they know nothing.

That is a result of corporate raiding. Acquire a company, sell off the valuable stuff and fire the people who know what their doing.

[Coopaloop86]

No tech department hit the nail on the head! Contacted them about a defective auto dispenser that drifted several grains at a time and would not calibrate. Explained to them that I had googled the problem and seen where it was a recurring issue and had performed the fixes that are given to no avail. The lady literally repeats the list that I had given her that I had already performed to try. That did it for me.

[sharps4590]

CH-4D makes an excellent taper crimp die. Whether they have it in stock is another question but, they do make their own products.

[zarrinvz24]

Redding only makes a "profile" crimp die for 45-70. They do not show a taper crimp.

You are correct. You may be able to call them and see if they have one on the shelf. While custom production is about a 12 month turnaround at redding right now, they do still have quite a few 'one-off' type items on the shelf. CH-4D is much the same, except their turnaround on new orders is around 2 years.

CH-4D makes an excellent taper crimp die. Whether they have it in stock is another question but, they do make their own products.

x2. Agree 100%! Redding is my preferred manufacturer, but when I find holes in their catalog, CH-4d is my next stop. Quality of machining and tolerances is as good as Redding, with a much broader catalog. While very minor, the only complaints I have about CH-4D is their use of aluminum for lock rings - I would prefer steel. Regardless, the captive nylon lock-ball in the CH-4D lockrings are a very effective design.

[ioon44]

I stopped buying anything Lyman after my first and last experience Lyman Customer Service, there are many other better companies to buy from that have good customer service.

[Murphy]

I really haven't had the need for anything new in my reloading equipment in a good while now. I did order a few of NOE's expander plugs last year. I looked at Lyman M dies, but NOE's seemed the easiest route.

In regards to dies, I've always used RCBS and a few sets of Redding. Some years back I picked up a used set of Lyman 380 ACP dies, they seemed fair at the time as we were in a shortage.

I've had a Lyman 4500 lube/sizer for probably 15 years now. It does what I ask of it, no complaints from me.

Sadly, Lyman molds finally got to the point I felt it was a crap shoot buying a new one. All were undersized and when I called their customer service, the blame game would begin. They had zero interest my sending a mold back to them even for inspection.

I remember in my early years and the writers who influenced me over 40 years ago. It seemed everything they cast and loaded with was Lyman. All of my older Lyman molds are good, drop decent size bullets, etc. I'm not sure if it's the bean counters at Lyman, or a lack of knowledgeable people working for them.


Murphy

[TNsailorman]

I split the blanket with Lyman some years ago over their lack of customer service. I just had the same thing happen to me with DeWalt. I bought a skill saw and it came without the nut to hold the blade on the shaft. I called them and spent nearly 20 minutes trying to get the lady to understand what I was talking about. She kept saying "I can't find a part like that on my screen" and she finally asked me for an address and I gave it to her. She sent me a blade instead of a nut. It seems like more and more companies are getting rid of knowledgeable staff and hiring people off the street that only know what is on their computer screen. Sad but its the world we are living in right now. james

[Smoke4320]

TNsailorman ... hope this helps . shipping will probably be more that the bolt

https://www.fix.com/parts/circular-s...%20Saw%20Parts

[TNsailorman]

Thanks for the link Smoke. I just might call them. james

[John Boy]

Lyman quality went South IMO in early 1980’s …. Both a set of gunsmith screw drivers from them that stated they were tempered steel. 2nd use with one and tip broke off. All went in the recycling when asked for replace r and was denied… never to buy from Lyman again for any of their products ….

[megasupermagnum]

As far as I'm concerned, the only thing Lyman makes anymore is rear sights. Their flip up sights are good, and so are their aperature sights. Besides that, their reloading dies aren't good, their bullet molds aren't good, their reloading presses aren't bad, but they are nothing special, and 3x the cost they should be. Some people like their mag 25 casting pot, but for all the problems they have, it's not much more money to get a much better pot. Everything else of their name is imported junk. Actually there is one more thing, their casting ladle is actually really nice.

So with that said, pre-1980 they were a big name in casting. Today they are nothing. You will never hear anyone recommend a Lyman mold over a Accurate, NOE, Arsenal, and even Lee. I really don't care what they do now, they chose to go the way of Sears, and they will probably end up the same.