H&I Top punch for Keith Style Bullets

[Ben]

I made this in the early 70's.
It is a home made Lyman H&I top punch.
I made it from a bolt with a hand drill and flat files.
Works as good today as it did 50 yrs. ago.
It fits all the Keith style bullets and many RN flat points.
Necessity is the Mother of invention.

Ben

 

[462]

I've used small bolts, all thread, drill rods, a drill press, files, wet/dry paper, and a lot of patience to make Lyman top punches, and fatter bullet ejectors for lube dies that had been enlarged by even more patience.

 

[358156 hp]

I no longer use a Lyman sizer, but I made my flat punch from an existing Lyman punch that was already flat except for a slight rim around it. I spent perhaps 15-20 minutes sanding the nose as flat and square to the shaft as I could get it. I sold it off, along with the rest of my Lyman sizing stuff when I got my Star Sizer.

 

[Bazoo]

That's clean work for hand tools. I have done similar. I faced off a seating stem flat for my 30-30 set using files, grind, and a drill press. I never did like using a flat punch though for my top punches. I always felt it introduced error. I've reshaped a lot of top punches to make them fit by spinning them in a drill and using the dremel against them while turning, then sandpaper until they were smooth.

 

[beagle]

Ben,
Lay your hands on a sharp lather cutting tool and you'll be surprised what you can make in the drill with the tool held in a small set of vise grips. Opens up all kinds of possibilities without owning a lathe./beagle

 

[Bazoo]

Thanks for the tip beagle.