Lyman 45 versus 450 lubricator

[lordgroom]

Can anyone give me an idea of the differences between the Lyman 45 and Lyman 450 Lubricators? I have someone at my gun club who is in to competitive cast shooting who advised me to look for a 45. He believes it works well and is built well. Two members of the forum offered me a 450 for sale, but I don't know the differences.

Thanks in advance

 

[ReloaderFred]

I have the Lyman 450, an RCBS, two Saeco and four Star Lubri-sizers. Of the conventional "up and down" sizer-lubricators, the Saeco is hands down the best, in my opinion. There are some bullets that will only come out right in the Saeco.

For most of my production work for pistol rounds, the Star machines are my "go to" sizer-lubricators. They do the job much quicker than any of the others, but also cost more.

My bottom line suggestion in answer to your question as to whether the Lyman 45 or Lyman 450 is better, is buy a Saeco..........

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ranger335v]

The major difference is the old 45 has a cast iron handle that mounts to the right of the moving head, the ram pressue is somewhat off center. The 450 went to a handle made of two steel bars that straddle the head which balances the pressure as the sizing is done. Lynan still uses that balanced leverage system on the current 4500 lubrisizers so I guess it's doing good.

My old 45 model worked well enough but I sold it soon after the 450 models came on the market. Was glad I found someone who wanted it badly enough to give me a decent price. All three models work well enough.

 

[Mac45]

I was told that one difference between the 45 & the 450 is the way they seal the bottom of the lube chamber. The 45 was a blind hole, and they changed it to use an O-ring on the 450. This made the 450 easier, (cheaper), to machine, but makes it prone to blowing out O-rings.
Take this with a grain of salt, since I don't have a 45, and have never seen one apart. I DO have the 450, and yes, I've replaced a LOT of O-rings.

FWIW, my buddy bought a used RCBS, and loves it.
RCBS even replaced some parts free, no questions asked.

 

[Mac45]

There's a parts diagram of the 450 and the 4500 on the Lyman page. http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/index.htm
Click on casting, then scroll down to the 4500 and click on the PDF.
Part #7 on the 450 diagram is the O-ring that blows out.

 

[lordgroom]

I am getting into casting and I have an experienced mentor from my club. He adm=vised me to save up money for good equipment such as the Star, but he also suggested I purchase a Lyman 45 in the interim. While looking for a Lyman 45 I came across a 450 and wondered about the differences. The person advising me to find a Lyman 45 believes it that lubrsizer is still useful and can do some operations the Star cannot. I have no idea what he means yet, I am just following his advice.

That was the background for my question.

 

[ReloaderFred]

He's probably talking about seating gas checks on bullets that require them. It can be done on the Star if you use the flat punch and size the bullets nose first, but it's not as good as the Saeco, RCBS or Lyman at seating them.

I still recommend the Saeco over the Lyman or RCBS. Leakage is a real problem with the Lyman 450. I've just about stopped using mine in favor of the others.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Slamfire]

I was given a Model 450. So I decided to use it. The attached picture is of sizing rifle bullets. Also installing gas checks

My Lyman leaks around the O ring. Leaks less now that I put a lube heater under the press. I could not have sized and lubed my bullets without that lube heater. The Red Rooster lube I have would not flow in cold weather.

I do like the fact that RCBS sizing dies and punches will fit in the Lyman, and visa versa.

 

[scrat]

I still lube the old way. But it still works just slower. I use a small portable lamp with a 40 watt bulb. I put the lamp next to the lubrisizer. you have wait probably a half hour as it needs to get the lubrisizer heated up and the lube heated up so it can flow. However afer about 30 minutes the heat by the 40 watt bulb maintains just the proper amount of heat. Same time if it gets a little too hot i just pull back the lamp a little. This is while using an rcbs lubrisizer though.

 

[MMCSRET]

i have a 25 yr. old 450 and a 1st generation RCBS. Both work very well and!!!!!! the dies and punches are interchangeable. I have never replaced the o-ring on the 450 because it is permanently mounted with 1/32 gasket paper between it and the finished hardwood bench top. No leakage. Works like an oil pan gasket on a Cat.

 

[Kragman71]

I used both the #45 and the #450 model sizers,over a long time.
I have no preference for one over the other.
The older one did leaklube at the bottom of the colum,though.
Frank