Lubrisizing... the quick & dirty ???

Magnum Wheel Man · July 7, 2010, 02:22 PM

I currently handload for around 50 different cartridges... I load all kinds, from lead round balls to solid copper bullets...

originally I inherited my father in laws reloading stuff, which is how I got my start... before he died, I helped him cast litterally a ton of lead into ingots... which I still have... I shoot quite a few cast bullets, but so far have been buying them, even though I'm starting to get a collection of bullet molds...

I'm not quite ready to start casting... yet... but I have a "lubrisizer" of some sorts, I've never used it, & I think my father in law must have only had one "die" for it ( likely a 38 / 357 ) & I got quite a few cast 40-65 bullets & my buddy I got them from also put the lubrisizer die in the box...

so here are a few questions...

is there only one brand / model of "lubrisizer" ???

if there are other brands & models, do all the "dies" interchange ???

I understand there are lubes that work better for black powder, & others that work better for smokeless... can you guys offer specific recommendations ???

do some of these melt at higher temps than others ??? it can get pretty hot & humid around here in the summer, & pretty darned cold in the winter... is there a winter & summer lube ( like there is for chainsaw bar oil ) ???

is there a good source for assorted diameter dies on line ???

any good links to proper methods for this subject ???

anything else a lubrisizer newbie needs to know ???

Thanks...MAG

keebo52 · July 7, 2010, 02:45 PM

Go to the cast boolits forum and look around. All your questions and many, many more you haven't thought of will be answered.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php

snuffy · July 7, 2010, 02:48 PM

Mag, the 3 main lubrisizers made today are the Lyman45-450-4500, the RCBS, and the star. The first two, the dies will interchange, BUT the RCBS dies are a built a bit different. The last one, the star, is completely different. It pushes on the base of the bullet, and goes straight through.

The sizer dies come in many sizes, you must find out what your bore needs, then order the die. For instance, your 40-65 might need a .401 sizer,(not familiar with it so it's a guess), or it could need a .402. Slugging the bore is the ONLY way to find out.

Another option is the Lee sizer, which screws in any press with 7/8x14 die hole. It does NOT lubricate, just sizes. You must lube the bullet by hand before sizing.

As for lubes, there's thousands that have been produced commercially, and many more cooked up in home brewed concoctions. The long time standard NRA formulas 50-50 alox and beeswax, does a good job, is easily applied at normal room temps,(as long as the room is not below 60 degrees), but at 100 degrees will melt off the lube grooves, if the bullet is in a box. If it's loaded, no worries, the case neck will contain it.

Edward429451 · July 7, 2010, 10:12 PM

If you wind up needing a sizer die in a diameter not available from the big guys (it happens) then theres a guy named Bullshot on the castboolits gunboard that will make you one or modify your die to a larger size. He does good work.

Magnum Wheel Man · July 8, 2010, 07:12 AM

Thanks for the info guys... I do post over there as well, but this is my main "gun" forum

sc928porsche · July 9, 2010, 01:37 AM

RCBS and Lyman sizing dies will fit both sizers. Dont forget that you will need top punches too. Same applies to the top punches.

You can find them at Midway USA.

July 7, 2010, 02:22 PM	#1
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Lubrisizing... the quick & dirty ??? I currently handload for around 50 different cartridges... I load all kinds, from lead round balls to solid copper bullets... originally I inherited my father in laws reloading stuff, which is how I got my start... before he died, I helped him cast litterally a ton of lead into ingots... which I still have... I shoot quite a few cast bullets, but so far have been buying them, even though I'm starting to get a collection of bullet molds... I'm not quite ready to start casting... yet... but I have a "lubrisizer" of some sorts, I've never used it, & I think my father in law must have only had one "die" for it ( likely a 38 / 357 ) & I got quite a few cast 40-65 bullets & my buddy I got them from also put the lubrisizer die in the box... so here are a few questions... is there only one brand / model of "lubrisizer" ??? if there are other brands & models, do all the "dies" interchange ??? I understand there are lubes that work better for black powder, & others that work better for smokeless... can you guys offer specific recommendations ??? do some of these melt at higher temps than others ??? it can get pretty hot & humid around here in the summer, & pretty darned cold in the winter... is there a winter & summer lube ( like there is for chainsaw bar oil ) ??? is there a good source for assorted diameter dies on line ??? any good links to proper methods for this subject ??? anything else a lubrisizer newbie needs to know ??? Thanks...MAG

July 7, 2010, 02:45 PM	#2
keebo52 Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2005 Posts: 244	Go to the cast boolits forum and look around. All your questions and many, many more you haven't thought of will be answered. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php

July 7, 2010, 02:48 PM	#3
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Mag, the 3 main lubrisizers made today are the Lyman45-450-4500, the RCBS, and the star. The first two, the dies will interchange, BUT the RCBS dies are a built a bit different. The last one, the star, is completely different. It pushes on the base of the bullet, and goes straight through. The sizer dies come in many sizes, you must find out what your bore needs, then order the die. For instance, your 40-65 might need a .401 sizer,(not familiar with it so it's a guess), or it could need a .402. Slugging the bore is the ONLY way to find out. Another option is the Lee sizer, which screws in any press with 7/8x14 die hole. It does NOT lubricate, just sizes. You must lube the bullet by hand before sizing. As for lubes, there's thousands that have been produced commercially, and many more cooked up in home brewed concoctions. The long time standard NRA formulas 50-50 alox and beeswax, does a good job, is easily applied at normal room temps,(as long as the room is not below 60 degrees), but at 100 degrees will melt off the lube grooves, if the bullet is in a box. If it's loaded, no worries, the case neck will contain it.

July 7, 2010, 10:12 PM	#4
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	If you wind up needing a sizer die in a diameter not available from the big guys (it happens) then theres a guy named Bullshot on the castboolits gunboard that will make you one or modify your die to a larger size. He does good work.

July 8, 2010, 07:12 AM	#5
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Thanks for the info guys... I do post over there as well, but this is my main "gun" forum

July 9, 2010, 01:37 AM	#6
sc928porsche Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2008 Location: now living in alabama Posts: 2,433	RCBS and Lyman sizing dies will fit both sizers. Dont forget that you will need top punches too. Same applies to the top punches. You can find them at Midway USA.