Getting Old

[rodmkr]

Ok so I have reached the age (87) where having a lot of extra gear doesn't make
a lot of sense anymore.
I have never done any of the shake and bake and all of my gear is for grease groove
bullets.
Is there any market for lubesizers and H&I dies anymore?
Or are they kinda dead soldiers anymore?

Jim

 

[Rick]

Big market yes. And prices are way up. Last I heard (duno if true) is Magma is a year out on new orders for the Star.

 

[462]

Jim,

First of all, congratulations on reaching an age that many don't and many aspire to.

I think there will always be the those of us who use the traditional bullet casting, sizing and lubing methods. If it weren't for traditionalists, singe-action revolvers and lever-action rifles would not be as popular as they are. Or, for that matter, bullet casting. I'm a proud a traditionalist.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I'll second the congrats on reaching 87.

As for the equipment, there's a huge market for that stuff. I never got into powder coating and probably never will. There is nothing wrong wth powder coating but all of my gear is set up for grease grooves and that process. I'm too set in my ways to change and it would cost way too much to convert to another system. I don't think I'm alone.

While time & tide waits for no man, some things will always remain. Computers, phones, Televisions, etc. advance at a tremendous pace but mechanical tools that were good years ago, remain just as good today.
I have tools that were handed down to me from my father and his father. I have tools that I've accumulated over the years and good quality doesn't change. Sometimes they reach the end of their usefulness due to excessive wear but they seldom become obsolete simply due to the passage of time.

 

[JWFilips]

Congratulations! & Yes you have a "Bull Market" for shooting & reloading stuff at this time!
Sell what you don't need anymore and use the $'s to enjoy a nice vacation!

 

[Bret4207]

There are still a lot of traditional lubers out here. I think you'll make $$$ on them. But don't get too carried away! You might need some of them when you hit 97!!!

 

[Ian]

I powder coat a LOT, but all four of my Lyman 45s are still bolted to the table and get used. It's a seller's market right now, don't be afraid to ask premium prices. I'd put $150 on a complete Lyman lubrisizer with one die and one top punch.

 

[RicinYakima]

"Is there any market for lubesizers and H&I dies anymore?
Or are they kinda dead soldiers anymore?"

To the best of my knowledge, there is not a single powder coater within a 100 miles of me.

Congratulations upon a long life and I hope it was been fun!

 

[CZ93X62]

Long live Greasy Kid Stuff! (Sancho, my horse!)

 

[358156 hp]

I powder coat a lot, but unlike many out there I still have my Star, sizing dies, and plenty of lube along with the capacity and materials to make plenty more. I originally started PC to allow me to shoot cast indoors without smoking the range up.

 

[Joshua]

To the best of my knowledge, there is not a single powder coater within a 100 miles of me.

Well I’m less than 200 miles.

I started off tumble lubing with Recluse’s recipe for homemade 45/45/10, and still use it. I also powder coat. I do all my sizing with Lee push through dies.

I did buy a Lyman 45, but have not invested in dies for it. At this point I can totally see the utility of lube/sizers for specific reasons, i.e. nose sizing, installing plain base gas checks, or chasing more accurate high velocity rifle loads using “Super Secret Satanic Lube Recipes”.

But on the other hand, I could load and shoot cast bullets the way I do now, for the rest of my life and not really need a lube/sizer.

One of the biggest reasons I haven’t gone down this road is cost. But, the demand is out there, you should be able to get top dollar for all your gear.

 

[RBHarter]

I've gotten by for 14 years thumbing in Darrs with Lee sizers ..... But a Herters/Lyman 45 came along at a price I would pay last winter and H&I dies have been aquired in singles and pairs ......nose punch's not so much but the 2-3 that came with NOE moulds before they became a separate part will suffice if I come up with a few FP punches .... I only need 17 cal specific but could probably get by with a dozen . Do I really need 2 for 6.5&7mm flat points ?

I should probably know which dies I need ........

 

[Brad]

I have a Lyman 450 but haven’t used it in years. Once I got the lathe I made Star dies to handle everything. Now I PC about everything so I use Lee push thru sizers instead.

Is there a market for Lyman sizers? Oh hell yes there is. A very robust one I bet.

 

[fiver]

I'm down to 2 stars and powder coat, I'm still thinking I could use an old lyman or RCBS sizer for a few things.

 

[Winelover]

I don't/won't power coat. I purchased some PC 9mm bullets from a vendor on CB. They worked but no better than my traditionally lubed bullets. Not interested in trying to duplicate jacketed or plated bullets. Besides, I'm retired and enjoy every aspect of reloading/casting, including lubing bullets.

 

[L Ross]

87, wonderful! Neighbors stopped over last night for dessert before Supper and aging came up. I'm 67 and figger I have 13 good years left if I'm very lucky. I have watched several friends and my Father as they aged and something magically bad happened right after 80.

So I am pushing and pushing. Fishing, shooting, riding motorcycle, driving the hot rod, working in the garden, the prairie, and the woods. I have taken a serious look at some of the stuff I have accumulated and have started to give it away or sell it at steeply discounted prices to younger friends that share my interests. I am so very fortunate to not have to pinch every penny any longer and find the joy of gifting to be extremely satisfying. I would get no joy from my stuff when it is sold in an estate sale.

God has blessed, and may he continue to bless you.

 

[Cherokee]

I'm almost 80 and started selling off reloading stuff & guns last year. Sep last year my body started to "fall apart", all kind of problems have plagued me since. Market has been good and I still have more than I'll ever use, it's just not easy giving up some things.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Unlike some of these guys... I only powder coat a little.


Last fall I removed the last of my three Lyman 450's from the bench.
Powder Coating covers my style and "speed" just fine.
My Mother in law is heading to her 100th Birthday next June. 87 is the new 60!!
If you would like to try, PM me, W/some calibers you shoot. Include a ship to address, and Ill send ya some Power Coated bullets to try!

CW

 

[RicinYakima]

" I am so very fortunate to not have to pinch every penny any longer and find the joy of gifting to be extremely satisfying. I would get no joy from my stuff when it is sold in an estate sale."

Great response!!

 

[popper]

"I would get no joy from my stuff when it is sold in an estate sale."
Uh, I won't be here when my stuff is given away, so don't really care. 10 yrs if I'm lucky.