When to Put The Pressure On

quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Got a question for you guys .

When do you put the pressure on when lubing your bullets?

Normally I apply pressure after I have pushed the bullet in to the lube sizer.

But since I started using Ben's Red I found myself using too much pressure,just out of habit.

I lube after the bullet has been sized using a push through sizer.

I use a slightly over sized die in the 450.

Things can get a little messy.

So just for grins I tried applying pressure before I pushed the bullet in to the 450.

Things seemed to clean up, nicely ,no extra lube anyehere.

Your thoughts?
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
Always while holding the bullet firmly against the plunger at the bottom of the stroke. I insist on lube that is by most standards "soft" and tends to migrate under the bullet base if pressure is applied at any point other than the bottom.
 
quicksylver

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Ian....thanks, that is the method I have been using.

Just having a bit of trouble adjusting to
Ben's Red, it's a bit softer than I am used to and flows under the bullet quite readily.

Applying pressure before hand seemed to aliviate the problem somewhat.
 
Rally Hess

Rally Hess

Well-Known Member
I use both methods. For bullets that require smaller amounts of lube, I keep pressure all the time. When doing larger bullets, like the NOE 350 RD bullets, that use alot of lube, I apply at the bottom.I can't seem to get enough pressure at the top to fill the lube grooves in the big bullets before the plunger spins inside the body.
I find the Bens Red so slick, that the plunger spins when too much pressure is applied at the top, so requires more tightening or ratcheting.
I'm seriously considering making an air cylinder attachment for my sizer. I already have air run throughout my shop and adding one more fitting would be no big deal. A wall mounted pressure regulator and a stand with three legs that holds the air cylinder. Two legs hinged and the third removable, to allow refilling the sizer. If the stand is built the correct height the plunger would extract out of the sizer body when the pressure is released. Kind of a bow-legged tri-pod, anchored on the bench, above the sizer body. Shouldn't take much pressure with Bens Red.
 
L

Lost Dog

Guest
Ages ago I fell into a rhythm of sorts when sizing and applying lube. Large bullets pressed to the bottom and held there with gentle hand pressure. Then a tug if you will with the ratchet wrench and return the handle to the top and go to the next. A 4 groove .45 rifle bullet gets total coverage. With single groove pistol bullets insert into the die. Bottom the bullet and a moderate tug on the ratchet wrench. Then usually it will go two more times without the use of more pressure. Simply bottom the bullet. Wait a moment and do it again. By the third bullet plunged into the die another easy tug at the ratchet is in order.


Now if I hesitate, or stop this "rhythm" there will appear a small amount of lube on the bullet base and the plunger of the die. My old 450 will put a lot of "push" behind a pull of the ratchet so if I stop lubing and sizing I'll quickly will reverse the ratchet wrench and pull three or four times to relieve the pressure and avoid lube oozing out of the die and all over the place.

The above mentioned methods work for me, however, others may find it an archaic practice. My goal is to keep mild pressure on while moving rounds from the device to the bench, and increase it when a round is in the die at the bottom stroke. In essence I want the bulk pressure on only when it can push lube into the bullet's
 
Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
I find it pretty easy to hook up the air hose, adjust pressure for the lube and room temp and start lubing. :D
 
Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Brad said:
Rick, some people just don't own modern equipment.
Click to expand...


????? The Star machine exactly as it is still made today is a couple of decades older than you! If that's modern what does that make Brad? Hhmmm . . . :D
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Rick said:
????? The Star machine exactly as it is still made today is a couple of decades older than you! If that's modern what does that make Brad? Hhmmm . . . :D
Click to expand...
It makes me younger than you?

I did find it best to add pressure at the bottom of the stroke with the bullet firm against the bottom. Too much pressure with smaller bullets tended to give lube under bullet problems.

With any sizer there is definitely a learning curve. Each bullet and lube seems to have a unique set of parameters where it works best. My Star drove me nuts at first, I wondered why I even bought the damn thing. My Lyman gave me similar fits at times. Now I have a better feel on what is going on and can adjust to fit the needs of the bullet and the properties of the lube.

Not sure it is entirely the same with a Lyman but with the Star I always find more pressure is better than more heat.
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Have you considered readjusting the bullet stop? I try to have the base of the bullet away from the lube feed holes of the die, then just nudge the ratchet. There is plenty of pressure to fill the grooves as the bullet goes up and down.
 
2

.22-5-40

Member
I took a note from my old ideal No.1 & replaced the ratchet handle on my Lyman 45 & 450 with a Craftsman socket / swivel handle. after lubing & still holding bullet down with top punch, I back off pressure slightly & eject bullet..after awhile it becomes a habit.
 
RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
OK, I didn't know. Some guys have told me they adjust them so the top punch is a solid stop on the top of the die. That just about guaranties that you will have bullet lube on the base.
 
KHornet

KHornet

Well-Known Member
I like the word nudge! Am running some 22's for JWF tomorrow, an will be the first time I have used Ben's Red. Should be inderesting, and I plan to just "nudge" the ratchet a scose.
 
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