Old Lyman 55

Pressman

Active Member
Looks like most of the questions have been answered. That snap ring retainer was a great idea on paper and a total failure in the field.
They are rarely found today as most of them were converted to a set screw, just like Lyman did.
The 55 passed into history in 2019 after 120 years of faithful service, replaced by something easier to produce (cheaper).
Gone, but not forgotten. Progress is not always an improvement.
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
My 55 is used for Black Powder only. I use a Redding, a Belding and Mull, and a RCBS Little Dandy for smokieless powders.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Modification of the Lyman 55 powder measure.

The old style 55's had a spring steel clip that held the funnel / drop tube.

On this one, there was a small amount of loose fit.
Each time I would fit a case in the end of the drop tube and drop a charge , I could feel " a bit of wiggle ". I didn't like that............
I decided to remove the clip and drill and tap a 10-24 threaded hole and install a set screw. No loose fit now. Solid as a rock.

Seems from reading about the old Lyman 55's that I'm not the only one to do this modification. Very common.

At some point in the past, Lyman abandoned the idea of the spring steel clip / spring to hold the drop tube instead going to a threaded screw.

Ben

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