Lyman 450 issues

[waco]

You guys have seen it in my pics before. The bullet gets sized more on one side than the other. Any ideas on a fix for this?

Not really a lot of moving parts. Disassemble and put back together?

I would appreciate your thoughts.
Walter.

 

[waco]

 

[Rick]

A poor fitting top punch will do that and is the reason I only size nose first with a flat punch against a flat bullet base guided straight into the die and pushed through. I used to get the same sized off center (non-concentric) with any of the in & out sizers - Lyman, SAECO and RCBS.

 

[Ben]

WACO,

Have you pushed the same identical bullet through a Lee Push thru sizer and compared the results with the photos above ?

Is so, was there a difference ?

Ben

 

[Brad]

Notice that both Rick and Ben mentioned a push thru sizer? One that lets the bullet go nose first and self center?

Did I mention I own a Star sizer?

 

[waco]

Yes. The Lee sizer works much better. It just does not lube the bullets. That's my only complaint.

 

[waco]

Could I run them through the Lee first and then the Lyman, or would I still get the same result?
And I only use flat top punches by the way.

 

[waco]

Ben. How fast have people run your BLL as a stand alone lube without leading???

 

[Brad]

Do,you have a Lyman size die .001 larger than the one used? If so, size with the Lee then run thru the Lyman to apply lube. This should reduce the tendency to size off kilter.

 

[Brad]

http://www.magmaengineering.com/magma-star-lube-sizer/

Start saving your pennies. You will also love how fast it is.

 

[waco]

$52.50 per size die! WOW!!!!! They like their product huh?

 

[waco]

Do,you have a Lyman size die .001 larger than the one used?

No, but I have a .308" I could open to .312"

 

[Rick]

BUT . . . (There's always a dang but isn't there)

You still need to align the bullet with the die. If you simply plunk the bullet into the die and shove it through with the punch it will try to go through the die at the same angle it was plunked into the die. On the Star I hold the bullet base up against the flat punch and ease it into the die. Straight.

Brad is correct, I frequently size & gas check to the needed diameter before heat treating and then lube in a die .001" larger than the sizing die. Works perfectly.
.

 

[Rick]

$52.50 per size die! WOW!!!!! They like their product huh?

Lathesmith over on the CB site makes an excellent Star die and is somewhat cheaper. On the other hand I am sure glad I bought my Star dies when I did, I've got well over 30 of them.
.

 

[waco]

BUT...)) can I fix the press, or is that just the nature of the beast with the Lyman?

 

[waco]

Lathesmith over on the CB site makes an excellent Star die and is somewhat cheaper.

I would only buy one. We have an extensive machine shop with both manual and CNC lathes at work with a couple very skilled "gun guy" operators.

 

[Rick]

BUT...)) can I fix the press, or is that just the nature of the beast with the Lyman?

It's the nature of the beast. Doubtful the ram (punch) and die are mis-aligned, it's the top punch on the bullet nose and in & out method that's the problem.
.

 

[Ben]

Ben. How fast have people run your BLL as a stand alone lube without leading???

35 Shooter has triple coated 35 Whelen bullets with BLL and shot them at 2,500 fps into 1.25 - 1.50 " @ 100 yards.

 

[waco]

it's the top punch on the bullet nose and in & out method that's the problem.

Gotcha

 

[waco]

35 Shooter has triple coated 35 Whelen bullets with BLL and shot them at 2,500 fps into 1.25 - 1.50 " @ 100 yards.

WOW! I'm not running anything that fast. I'll give that a try first. I'm already sold on BLL. The stuff just works!