[Vacek]

I like to accumulate old reloading manuals and have the Speer #3. Anyway in that manual there is a picture of a Wilson Full Length resizer. This is the Wakamo style. Then I have seen references to Ideal/Lyman also having similar Whaking full length size dies. Finally I own a couple of Mequon's (a transitional) Lee product and they had full length resizing Wakamo's. However, they are not in a caliber I use so I haven't had the pleasure.

I was just interested if anyone had any significant experience with this type of reloading die.

[Vacek]

Dang'it. No interest??? No feedback. A single big tear rolling down my cheek here.:confused:

[loadedround]

Are you referring to the manual FL sizing die that you could close in a vise and used a steel rod to remove the case? If so I've used the Lyman dies in 308 and 30-06. Got rid of them years ago though. :)

[rcmodel]

L. E. Wilson still makes those neck sizing and bullet seating dies.
I think some benchrest shooters still use them.
They load the same set of five cases over & over again right at the match.

Scroll down about 3/4 way on this page.
http://www.lewilson.com/productlisting.html

rc

[dagger dog]

That type die can also be used with an arbor press.

[Vacek]

RC, noted and I agree. But what I am talking about is full length resizing. Lee, Wilson, and even Herters has had the neck sizing dies.

It appears though that Wilson, Lee/Mequon, and Lyman/Idea also had the Whakamo dies in full-length resize. I may have to get some 8X57 cases for my Mequon and see if it works. I don't have the rifle but am truly curious.

[FROGO207]

Are you talking about the lee loader type? If you are I have several and even though they are slower (for me at least) they work well if you only want to neck size the casings when reloading. I have never seen one that FL sized the brass however.

[Walkalong]

I think some benchrest shooters still use them.
They load the same set of five cases over & over again right at the match.

Generally a set of 15 to 20 cases (http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5187806&postcount=7) after scrapping any that don't "feel" just right seating bullets. :)

[Vacek]

Again, everything being referred to is neck sizing. Lee and Wilson still have those units. What I am referring too are full length dies that you used a mallet and dowel not a press. Phil Sharpe has a pic of one in his huge volume of handloading. The 1960 Speer Manual shows a picture of one as does an earlier Lyman (I think #43). The the Mequons that Lee sold in the 70's were also advertiesed as full length resizing dies.

[Offfhand]

Vacek, No problem. It's been fun to watch this thread to see if any of the usual suspects could answer your question or had any idea what you were talking about. Having given up, the short answer is that Wilson did indeed make full length sizing dies, and did so until recently. (Probably still will on special order.) Basically, they worked just as you describe, with a mallet, but easier with an arbor press. Attaching photos so you (and everyone) can see for yourself. Rather than banging the unprotected base of the case into the die, the way the old Lyman FL die worked, the Wilson die has a base plug "pusher" behind the case so it is more protected from deformation. see photots. Any questions?

[Vacek]

Thanks offhand. I like collecting some of the old stuff especially the handloading without presses, old trimmers, etc. Phil Sharpe's book and a lot of the 50's-60's loading manuals had some interestingitems. I am hoping someday to get that horizontal press by Belding and Mull. Gotta do something with all this post recession moola.:scrutiny:

Anyhew. Am hoping for a Mequon one of these days in a caliber I shoot. Will keep ya posted.

[Quoheleth]

ahh...you mean "whack-a-mole".

Yep - Lee still makes them. They work, albeit loudly and more slowly than a regular press.

Can't say about any other manufacturer.

Q

[Vacek]

This is getting funny. I don't think people really read the posts all that well. Again, not the current Lee Neck Size Loaders. We all know about that:eek:

[Offfhand]

Vacek, and Everyone, following up on above post and pics of FL sizers, attached is another photo of an old Lyman FL sizer. Operation was quite simple: the fired case was driven into the sizer with whatever means handy. Preferably a wood or rawhide mallet, but the battered end of this sizer indicates a hard face hammer must have been used. These sizers were mainly used as an adjunct to the Lyman/Ideal 310 "tong" tool that neck sized bottleneck rifle cases. This sizer is marked .244 Rem. which indicates vintage, but not all that old either.
Offfhand

[Vacek]

Offhand. Yes that is what I am talking about. I have accumulated these in 308, 3006, 22 Savage HP, and another caliber I cannot remember offhand. I am also getting some made be L.E. Wilson. These things intrigue me as to their usefullness and history.

First I am assuming when buffalo hunters of old went out in the boondocks of the Texas Panhandle to hunt they reloaded with the tong type tool. Now those were most certain necksizing reloading tools. But, I am curious if at some point they had to full length resize those cases after multiple firing as we do today when we necksize. Probably not with blackpowder pressures, but I don't know.

Anyway, the history of the Whackamos from Lee, Herters, Lyman, Wilson are an interesting subspecies of our hobby that I hope to learn more about.

While I have a ton of reloading equipment as does about everyone on this forum, I also acknowledge there is often grace in simplicity. When my bum shoulder (rotator cuff surgery) gets healed up I am going to see what I can do with "handloading". Should be interesting.