I have heard that the 450 lyman lubrisizers are sometimes subject to breakage.Where these problems fixed when it was changed to the model 4500?What do you all think of the 4500?

Thanks Tom

Only ones I've seen break were abused...not Lyman specific, RCBS will break if you over strain it. Both guys werre trying to use a luber sizer as a swage...first guy was determined to try making .430" bullets out of .452" and ther other guy was trying to bump up .406's to .411's. Neitehr of these ideas are good ones, use the luber-sizer as a luber-sizer.

I do not think the new 4500 was desgine specifily for any problem in the 450...i'd certainly not trade a 450 in to buy a 4500 (and for that matter, am sizing on a Lyman 45).

In both cases., a linkage snaped...with a new part, both were back in service.

I own two of the Lyman 450's, and I've broken both of them. It is relatively easy to break off the handle. As previously stated, it was my own fault. Big, linotype bullets will get you in trouble.

Luckily, I have the equipment and ingenuity to fix them myself.

There's actually two different 450 sizers. The early ones were painted grey-blue and had a two strap handle. The later orange ones had a single rod handle. I haven't seen a 4500 up close, but it looks like the linkage on my orange 450, which hasn't broken yet. Air cooled wheel weight bullets take several days to harden, and it's easier on the sizer and my creaky shoulder if I size as soon as possible.

Bye
Jack

Funny you mention that. Both of my 450 sizers are grey-blue, and each has one of the handles you described. The last one I broke had the single rod handle. Both of them broke at the hole where the connecting pins go through. On the single handle model, that toggle link is a casting. I fashioned a new one from mild steel and welded the handle back on.

Thanks for the information on lyman lubrisizers.I think I will make my first lubrisizer an RCBS like most of my other handloading equipment.

Tom

My 450 has a ratchet handle for forcing the lube that is much more friendly to use than my RCBS with its sliding-barbell looking handle. The 450 handle can stay in one area, while the RCBS can't and often gets in the way of the operating handle. BTW, my 450 is now 30 years old and my RCBS is eight. Neither has broken, but i don't force these like i do my press.

My 45 is ?? years old. Dad got it when he started casting bullets for his 45-70 Trapdoor. I've used the crap out of it sizing 457124's, 429244's and 358156's. Nary a problem yet. Still use the old Lyman alox/beeswax lube with much success. No need to mess with success.

According to Lyman, the problem with the 450 was leakage of lubricant out of the bottom of the reservoir. Once this started it was virtually impossible to fix. What design changes they made in the 4500 to eliminate this I don't know. But my 450 leaks and my three 4500's do not.

Somewhere in the life of the 450 there was another design change. The specs on the sizing dies was tightened up significantly. So some, mine is the orange version, will accept virtually any sizing die. Mine does. Later ones, however, and ALL 4500's will not.

I keep my 450, despite its leakage problems, because I have a life time collection of these sizing dies, some from Lyman, some from RCBS, some from other manufacturers, and all of them will fit this machine. Many, however, will not fit a 4500.

RCBS lubricator/sizers, to the best of my knowledge will also accept all flavors of these sizing dies.

[QUOTE=klw]According to Lyman, the problem with the 450 was leakage of lubricant out of the bottom of the reservoir. Once this started it was virtually impossible to fix. What design changes they made in the 4500 to eliminate this I don't know. But my 450 leaks and my three 4500's do not.

The 45/450's have the o-ring gizmo (leaky) at the bottom, 4500's are solid. Wonder why it took so long to figure it out? I just live with the mess.

I have 45, 450 and 4500. What will cause a leak in 4500 is running a heater, a Midway, too long. I asked Lyman about this problem. The answer was to turn the heater off as soon as the hard lube flows smoothly. Lyman has always been helpful working through problems. The 450 will not work as swage. Mine broke sizing a hard .379 cast bullet to .375. The 45 is being cleaned and readied for use. One can meditate on the difference between change and progress looking at the old 45. :D

I'm thinking of buying the lyman 4500. I've been using a lee sizing die and tumble lubing and now I'm thinking of trying the other. What is the production rate of the lyman? Is it faster than the RCBS? Does anyone know what the fastes lube/sizer is in the $200 or less range? Thanks

I use both methods, Lee and lubrisizer. I can't compare the RCBS to the Lyman, because I've never used one. I know RCBS has excellent customer service, Lyman less so. If I were starting over with no equipment, I think I'd go with RCBS. The sizing dies are interchangable between Lyman and RCBS. I make my own sizing dies and nose punches on my lathe, so that's not in the equation. Many of the casters are going with the Star lubrisizers, but they are about 3 times the cost of the Lyman or RCBS, and are a completely different system. Sizing dies are more expensive, but push the boolit through base first, which saves $ on nose punches. The guys that have owned both say the Star sizers are the Lexus.

So.......are you a Ruger guy or a Freedom Arms guy?

If I were to choose, I'd choose Freedom Arms. However, for now, I'm a 1911 guy... but I really enjoy shooting revolver... I'm tired of big game hunting with rifles. I guess it's because I'm not hungry, but it's just not challenging enough to give me that rush that I used to get. I think next season I'm going to put the rifles away when hunting season comes around. Oh, I was wondering RE the lube/sizer: What is the production rate? How many bullets per hour can a fella lube and size. Thanks

That was an oblique way of asking if you would buy the Star or the Lyman... you can buy 3 Rugers for what a F.A. costs.

I'm a slow guy on the lubrisizer. It's easy to damage a cast boolit if you get too speedy. It depends on whether the boolit wears a gas check or is plain based. I can size and lube about 200 per hour if they are plain based, half that many if they use a gas check. I wipe all the lube off the boolit base to avoid powder contamination, then I box them standing on the base to avoid dings.

Oh, Sorry I missed that. In that case I'm a Ruger man. That is unless the Star is super fast... The less time I spend making the bullets the more time I can spend shooting them. Pardon me but in this case I prefer putting the cart before the horse.

The Star lubricator/sizer is hands down the fastest on the market. The first bullet takes two strokes and after that it's one stroke per bullet. The bullets fall through the Star with each stroke. Other brands need two strokes to lube and size a bullet. One stroke to force the bullet into the sizer and another one to bring the lubed and sized bullet out. The Star is also the most expensive but it is built like a tank. If you're looking for speed, look at the Star. Otherwise, the other lubricator/sizer will work just fine. I am not pushing any particular brand, just noting what's on the market. :)

The Lyman lady was able to tell me what parts from the 450/4500 would fit on the vintage 45 sizer. When I got started I bought a 450, molds, top punches and sizing dies and a Lyman turret press second hand. Over the years other molds were added in other designs and calibers. Lyman casting equipment shows up second hand. At the same time a supply of o-rings and small parts was put in to keep things going. The original 450 leaked badly. Lyman replaced the body of that sizer. These are the pluses for Lyman/RCBS gear. The 4500 was added for hard lube with heater. There is a small article in “The Fouling Shot” #179 describing gaskets and such under the sizer to stop the leaking. I can order top punches and sizing dies and get them in two days several places. These sizers are not perfect but do work very well. ;)

[QUOTE=454PB]That was an oblique way of asking if you would buy the Star or the Lyman... you can buy 3 Rugers for what a F.A. costs.
About all those lube/sizing questions, can you give me an idea of about how many 45 cal 200 grn bullets w/ one lube ring I can lube per stick? That would be very helpful information. P.S. Are gettin' any snow there in the Capital?

That can only be answered with a wild guess dependant on how deep the lube recesses....1000 or so.

I was born and raised in Billings, but have lived here in Helena for the last 32 years. We are having a mild winter, all the snow is dumping in the mountains.