When I started casting, I was surprised how much time it took. I expected the casting part to be slow, but had not known the lubing and sizing operation would make that seem fast. Having spent a fair amount of time with the two or three basic types of lube-sizers, I have developed some opinions.
I’m going to give my opinions, along with descriptions of the different styles for anyone getting started in casting. Basically, the info I didn’t have or readily find.
I break lube-sizers into two methods of operation. There are what I call the in-and-out type of Lyman, RCBS, and Saeco. And there are the push-through like the Star and
Magna.
I further split the in-and-outs into Lyman/RCBS and the Saeco.
I first bought an old Lyman model 45. This was replaced by the 450, then the current 4500. A stronger handle is the main change. The RCBS tool is very similar, and the two brands can even use each others sizing dies and top punches.
The bullet gets centered on the sizing die, pushed base-first down into the die by lowering the handle, then pushed back out by raising the handle. The lube reservoir is pressurized by cranking down on a screw in its top. This lube squirts into the bullet’s lube grooves as the grooves pass by a series of holes in the sizing die.
Because the lube can exit the holes in the die at any time, the center piece has to be in place to block these holes until the bullet passes over them. It is also what pushes the bullet back up.
The Saeco differs in its handle orientation, and by how the size die and top punches install. The top punch screws into the Saeco, and the die gets pressed in then a collar screwed onto the bottom. In the Lyman and RCBS, the die and top punch get pressed into place and then secured by a set screw.
The Saeco way is more secure, but I can attest that when that area gets bullet lube all over the threads, they get hard to turn.
The Star is now sold by Magna. With the Star type, the sizing die is open all the way through. You drop a bullet into the die (it is tapered wider at the top so you can in fact drop it in) and lower the handle. The bullet passes through the sizing die, then at the bottom of this stroke the handle bumps a valve releasing the lube. Since the lube only comes out at this one point, you have to adjust that depth so the lube grooves line up with the holes for the lube. The top punch that pushes against the bullet gets screwed in or out to set this.
The next bullet to be sized pushes the previous bullet out and into a container.
With the Star, sometimes it works better to drop the bullets in nose-first and sometimes base-first. Location of the lube grooves on the bullet design might determine this. If you are seating gas checks while sizing, base-first is better.
The Star is by far faster. You drop a bullet in and work the handle. Drop and pull, drop and pull, and keep the lube pressurized by cranking its lever down now and then. You can get bullet feeders to keep a stack of bullets feeding in so you can just work the handle between bullet refills.
But the Lyman/RCBS/Saeco are faster to setup. Getting the depth set correctly on the Star is a fiddly process. You can measure and record the setting once you have it, but I never seem to do that.
If doing maybe 50 bullets or less, it’s easier to skip the Star.
The dies and top punches are cheapest for the Lyman/RCBS and cheaper yet if you buy off eBay. The Saeco ones cost a little more. And they are a little more expensive on the Star.
So what do I prefer?
I use my Star most, and my Saeco less but I do use it. I rarely use my Lyman, but the reason I use the Saeco over it is because the handle arrangement works better with my bench.
The thought of having to do several hundred bullets through the Saeco or Lyman is depressing.
But then, if I’m processing a few dozen each of several different bullets, and that happens, the thought of all that adjusting on the Star with each bullet change isn’t appealing either.
If I just have to seat gas checks, I’d say the Lyman/RCBS/Saeco is a little easier but not much.
If I had to have just one, I’d take the Star.
I’m going to give my opinions, along with descriptions of the different styles for anyone getting started in casting. Basically, the info I didn’t have or readily find.
I break lube-sizers into two methods of operation. There are what I call the in-and-out type of Lyman, RCBS, and Saeco. And there are the push-through like the Star and
Magna.
I further split the in-and-outs into Lyman/RCBS and the Saeco.
I first bought an old Lyman model 45. This was replaced by the 450, then the current 4500. A stronger handle is the main change. The RCBS tool is very similar, and the two brands can even use each others sizing dies and top punches.
The bullet gets centered on the sizing die, pushed base-first down into the die by lowering the handle, then pushed back out by raising the handle. The lube reservoir is pressurized by cranking down on a screw in its top. This lube squirts into the bullet’s lube grooves as the grooves pass by a series of holes in the sizing die.
Because the lube can exit the holes in the die at any time, the center piece has to be in place to block these holes until the bullet passes over them. It is also what pushes the bullet back up.
The Saeco differs in its handle orientation, and by how the size die and top punches install. The top punch screws into the Saeco, and the die gets pressed in then a collar screwed onto the bottom. In the Lyman and RCBS, the die and top punch get pressed into place and then secured by a set screw.
The Saeco way is more secure, but I can attest that when that area gets bullet lube all over the threads, they get hard to turn.
The Star is now sold by Magna. With the Star type, the sizing die is open all the way through. You drop a bullet into the die (it is tapered wider at the top so you can in fact drop it in) and lower the handle. The bullet passes through the sizing die, then at the bottom of this stroke the handle bumps a valve releasing the lube. Since the lube only comes out at this one point, you have to adjust that depth so the lube grooves line up with the holes for the lube. The top punch that pushes against the bullet gets screwed in or out to set this.
The next bullet to be sized pushes the previous bullet out and into a container.
With the Star, sometimes it works better to drop the bullets in nose-first and sometimes base-first. Location of the lube grooves on the bullet design might determine this. If you are seating gas checks while sizing, base-first is better.
The Star is by far faster. You drop a bullet in and work the handle. Drop and pull, drop and pull, and keep the lube pressurized by cranking its lever down now and then. You can get bullet feeders to keep a stack of bullets feeding in so you can just work the handle between bullet refills.
But the Lyman/RCBS/Saeco are faster to setup. Getting the depth set correctly on the Star is a fiddly process. You can measure and record the setting once you have it, but I never seem to do that.
If doing maybe 50 bullets or less, it’s easier to skip the Star.
The dies and top punches are cheapest for the Lyman/RCBS and cheaper yet if you buy off eBay. The Saeco ones cost a little more. And they are a little more expensive on the Star.
So what do I prefer?
I use my Star most, and my Saeco less but I do use it. I rarely use my Lyman, but the reason I use the Saeco over it is because the handle arrangement works better with my bench.
The thought of having to do several hundred bullets through the Saeco or Lyman is depressing.
But then, if I’m processing a few dozen each of several different bullets, and that happens, the thought of all that adjusting on the Star with each bullet change isn’t appealing either.
If I just have to seat gas checks, I’d say the Lyman/RCBS/Saeco is a little easier but not much.
If I had to have just one, I’d take the Star.
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