Brother_Love
Well-Known Member
My old Lyman 45 finally gave out today so I need a new sizer. What do you recommend that is fairly economical? I’d love a Star but cannot afford it.
Need recommendation for a new bullet sizer.
- Thread starter Brother_Love
- Start date
Well, a Lyman 450 or RCBS would use the same dies and top punches. Of the two, I have an RCBS after breaking too many handles etc on the Lymans. OTOH, a used Lyman can be fairly reasonable, even today (saw one at a local funstore last week).
Haven't used the Lyman 4500.
Haven't used the Lyman 4500.
Brother_Love
Well-Known Member
I’ve been looking for an RCBS, no one seems to have them in stock right now. I’m still looking. Thanks
Matt
Active Member
My vote is for the RCBS. Smoother and stronger and easier to use. The Saeco is better but more expensive and the sizing dies and top punches are expensive and proprietary. They don’t interchange with Lyman and RCBS. I imagine you have the sizing dies and top lunches you need already. Contact RCBS directly, you might be surprised what’s actually available. My last direct order was shipped free. Great people to deal with. They are worth the money even at suggested retail.
Brother_Love
Well-Known Member
Thanks, I want to graduate to a RCBS.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I was gonna offer same. I have a couple if those in pieces maybe a complete as well. Picked up used ir as part of a package buy. I went to the 450 and have broke two of the handles. Made a new handle then started using a APP and powder coated. I used the 450 as a GC seater for a while then bought a NOE kit and crimp on the APP.
CW
CW
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
RCBS sizers are out of stock, everywhere. They run about $230...............for less than that you can pick up a used Star. Seen quite a few lately, on CB for $200. Mostly, because lots of folks are going the PC route. You could probably find a used RBCS there too.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Here is a auction on ebay.
There is auctions to three RCBS units.
Beware of last one... 46$ shipping??!?!?!???
STAR CAST BULLET LUBRICATOR / SIZER WITH SIZING DIE & TOP PUNCH | eBay
Good overall condition, complete with. 358" sizing die and top punch.
www.ebay.com
There is auctions to three RCBS units.
Beware of last one... 46$ shipping??!?!?!???
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Mowgli Terry
Active Member
My Star sizer came from an estate sale. There were sizer dies for .358 and .452. included. Those were the size bullets cast in greater numbers. I had been using 450 and 4500's. Sizing dies had accumulated for the Lyman's over the years. The way it worked out there was very little additional money getting the Star going. Magma has been very helpful on the sizer and the Master Caster. Where I'm going is that having both Star and Lyman works out great. With the Star one has to learn a new set of eccentricities.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
As much as I would like to own a Star, every RCBS/Lyman type die I purchase pushes me further into the RCBS/Lyman camp.
If you already have a collection of dies, you may want to stay with a sizer that uses your current dies.
My Lyman 4500 works well but I would buy a used RCBS sizer withour hesitation.
If you already have a collection of dies, you may want to stay with a sizer that uses your current dies.
My Lyman 4500 works well but I would buy a used RCBS sizer withour hesitation.
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
I have both the Star and the RCBS. I noticed that bullets weren't getting sized concentrically. Bands were a bit wider on one side of the bullet. Particularly, rifle bullets, even when bullet specific top punches were used. The RCBS gave me good service over the past forty years and I still use it for pistol bullets. In fact, I just rebuilt it this Spring, when the flare on the lube rod wore though the lube reservoir nut. Of course RCBS sent me the parts at no charge.
Nose first sizers aren't dependent on specific top punches. All you need are flat punches. This is critical when sizing spire point bullets. Dropping a bullet nose first, into the sizer, automatically self centers.
RCBS/Lyman are in & out sizers............requires two strokes to lube. Only one is need for the Star. Besides being faster, less chance of concentricity error on an ejection stroke. IMO.
Nose first sizers aren't dependent on specific top punches. All you need are flat punches. This is critical when sizing spire point bullets. Dropping a bullet nose first, into the sizer, automatically self centers.
RCBS/Lyman are in & out sizers............requires two strokes to lube. Only one is need for the Star. Besides being faster, less chance of concentricity error on an ejection stroke. IMO.
Ian
Notorious member
I found a huge concentricity error with my 450. Turns out it is a terrible design exacerbated by even worse manufacturing tolerances and material choice. The sloppy ram fit plus the nature of the compound linkage which reverses the side load direction halfway through the stroke causes crooked and bent bullets. It won't even seat a gas check squarely on the base. That POS is in a box too since I PC most of my pistol bullets now. I still have three 45s bolted to the bench and use them all. Never owned a Star, never felt the need for that kind of production capability coupled with the inherent limitations it has for certain things.
The RCBS lube-a-matic appears identical to a Lyman 450, but maybe built to tighter tolerances? I don't know, never used one, but I can say that if you've been using a 45 you may be disappointed in the later models except for the huge increase in power/leverage and strength of the handle linkage.
The RCBS lube-a-matic appears identical to a Lyman 450, but maybe built to tighter tolerances? I don't know, never used one, but I can say that if you've been using a 45 you may be disappointed in the later models except for the huge increase in power/leverage and strength of the handle linkage.
