Lyman #55

Mike38 · June 4, 2017, 11:58 AM

Bought a slightly used Lyman #55 powder measure yesterday. The old Lee Perfect Powder Measure had given up the ghost, it started throwing inconsistently. Once I figured out how the three barrel adjustment slides worked on the Lyman, it appears that this will be a great powder measure. New the Lyman sells for $90. Got this excellent condition used one for $60.

It didn't come with any papers, so watching a couple You Tube videos helped a bunch. Are there any tips or tricks I should know about the Lyman?

ShootistPRS · June 4, 2017, 12:55 PM

Like any other powder thrower get a consistent rhythm and when using powders with large kernels it helps to use the knocker a few times to settle the kernels in the cavity.

daboone · June 4, 2017, 01:40 PM

The 55 is a consistent performer with ball and flake powders. It not so with extruded/stick powders. As Shootist states it requires contestant operation and rhythm. Once you're got how it feels and sounds it will serve you well.

ShootistPRS · June 4, 2017, 02:16 PM

I find my Lyman 55 to be better with the extruded powders than any of my other measures. I can keep from cutting kernels by using the knocker to settle the grains in the cavity.

**44 AMP** · June 4, 2017, 02:21 PM

I have (or had?) one of those, haven't seen it in decades. Its probably under the shelf next to the Ark of the Covenant....

its a good measure, Lyman has been selling essentially that design for over a century.

ShootistPRS · June 4, 2017, 03:04 PM

44 AMP,
If you feel like paying it forward I know someone who could use a powder measure. She is just starting to get involved in reloading and I will take the time to clean it all up and give it to her. I got her a press and a scale and the press only cost flat rate shipping to me - she didn't pay anything. The scale was donated and shipped to me without cost. Reloaders are great folks!

**44 AMP** · June 5, 2017, 02:12 AM

I'd consider it, if it turns up, and I shall do some looking but don't get your hopes up.

If the gremlins realize I'm looking for it, I'll never find it...

Any idea if there's hazmat charges for a solid mass of rust and rodent droppings??

ShootistPRS · June 5, 2017, 12:30 PM

Rodent dropping can carry disease but I don't think that there is a specific haz-mat for it.
I never expect anything - you don't know me and I suppose a guy could make some coffee money by scamming folks. I guess I just expect people to be like me, ready to pay it forward as they can. I don't need money, even though I am on a fixed income, and I have a little time to clean things up and repair them and sometimes add a little paint. I just remember how hard it was to get my reloading gear back when I was in my 20s and supporting a new family.
Don't worry about digging for it but if you run across it think about whether it might help someone else. Give it to someone local or send it to me, as long as it spreads the reloading hobby it's a good thing.

Mike38 · June 5, 2017, 04:58 PM

I did about 30 "practice drops" with this Lyman and weighed every other load. Very consistent for sure. Darn thing is built like a tank, so I'm sure it will still be used by my grandkids.

muzzleblast... · June 5, 2017, 05:05 PM

My first powder measure was a Lyman 55. Although I have added several others to the collection the #55 is still a favorite.

ShootistPRS · June 5, 2017, 08:19 PM

My #55 is relegated to those loads using stick powders and it does a great job with them. I was donated a 55 that is missing some parts. I am in the process of finding plastic tube that I can make a new reservoir with or I may end up having to buy one. I am almost done with the top slide of the measure - it was missing. I'll get it fixed up and painted and give it away to someone who needs it.

J.G. Terry · June 13, 2017, 08:08 AM

This is my experience with Lyman 55's. The 55 is a highly satisfactory powder measure. Here, over the years the only one real problem has surfaced. These 55's have the plastic reservoir that fits into the metal body. It's possible to knock this plastic part off and dump contents onto the floor.

The Lyman black powder measure has the metal reservoir solid on the metal body. Lyman has a booklet with instructions for their equipment the come in the new gear. This experience has to do with older 55's. I'll gladly give a home for unwanted 55's out of the goodness of my heart.

Don Fischer · June 13, 2017, 08:43 AM

Using stick powder there is no way I'd throw the powder into any case with out weighting it. I bump sometime's and often get to where I want to be but, not all the time!

Reloader270 · June 14, 2017, 01:44 PM

I have a Lyman 55, RCBS Uniflow, Ohaus Dual, Foster Benchrest and a Harrel. As indicated above there is not really better one's. Consistency with the up and down strokes is more important with all of them. I must further say that the hammer on the Lyman 55 is an excellent help. With the other one's I just give the powder cylinder a double tap when dropping the powder.

June 4, 2017, 11:58 AM	#1
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	Lyman #55 Bought a slightly used Lyman #55 powder measure yesterday. The old Lee Perfect Powder Measure had given up the ghost, it started throwing inconsistently. Once I figured out how the three barrel adjustment slides worked on the Lyman, it appears that this will be a great powder measure. New the Lyman sells for $90. Got this excellent condition used one for $60. It didn't come with any papers, so watching a couple You Tube videos helped a bunch. Are there any tips or tricks I should know about the Lyman?

June 5, 2017, 02:12 AM	#7
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,870	I'd consider it, if it turns up, and I shall do some looking but don't get your hopes up. If the gremlins realize I'm looking for it, I'll never find it... Any idea if there's hazmat charges for a solid mass of rust and rodent droppings?? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

June 13, 2017, 08:08 AM	#12
J.G. Terry Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2014 Posts: 577	Lyman 55's-a tradtional favorite This is my experience with Lyman 55's. The 55 is a highly satisfactory powder measure. Here, over the years the only one real problem has surfaced. These 55's have the plastic reservoir that fits into the metal body. It's possible to knock this plastic part off and dump contents onto the floor. The Lyman black powder measure has the metal reservoir solid on the metal body. Lyman has a booklet with instructions for their equipment the come in the new gear. This experience has to do with older 55's. I'll gladly give a home for unwanted 55's out of the goodness of my heart.

June 4, 2017, 12:55 PM	#2
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	Like any other powder thrower get a consistent rhythm and when using powders with large kernels it helps to use the knocker a few times to settle the kernels in the cavity.

June 4, 2017, 01:40 PM	#3
daboone Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Phoenix AZ, Kealakekua HI Posts: 100	The 55 is a consistent performer with ball and flake powders. It not so with extruded/stick powders. As Shootist states it requires contestant operation and rhythm. Once you're got how it feels and sounds it will serve you well.

June 4, 2017, 02:16 PM	#4
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	I find my Lyman 55 to be better with the extruded powders than any of my other measures. I can keep from cutting kernels by using the knocker to settle the grains in the cavity.

June 4, 2017, 02:21 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,870	I have (or had?) one of those, haven't seen it in decades. Its probably under the shelf next to the Ark of the Covenant.... its a good measure, Lyman has been selling essentially that design for over a century. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

June 4, 2017, 03:04 PM	#6
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	44 AMP, If you feel like paying it forward I know someone who could use a powder measure. She is just starting to get involved in reloading and I will take the time to clean it all up and give it to her. I got her a press and a scale and the press only cost flat rate shipping to me - she didn't pay anything. The scale was donated and shipped to me without cost. Reloaders are great folks!

June 5, 2017, 12:30 PM	#8
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	Rodent dropping can carry disease but I don't think that there is a specific haz-mat for it. I never expect anything - you don't know me and I suppose a guy could make some coffee money by scamming folks. I guess I just expect people to be like me, ready to pay it forward as they can. I don't need money, even though I am on a fixed income, and I have a little time to clean things up and repair them and sometimes add a little paint. I just remember how hard it was to get my reloading gear back when I was in my 20s and supporting a new family. Don't worry about digging for it but if you run across it think about whether it might help someone else. Give it to someone local or send it to me, as long as it spreads the reloading hobby it's a good thing.

June 5, 2017, 04:58 PM	#9
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	I did about 30 "practice drops" with this Lyman and weighed every other load. Very consistent for sure. Darn thing is built like a tank, so I'm sure it will still be used by my grandkids.

June 5, 2017, 05:05 PM	#10
muzzleblast... Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2015 Location: Obwat, TN Posts: 285	My first powder measure was a Lyman 55. Although I have added several others to the collection the #55 is still a favorite.

June 5, 2017, 08:19 PM	#11
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	My #55 is relegated to those loads using stick powders and it does a great job with them. I was donated a 55 that is missing some parts. I am in the process of finding plastic tube that I can make a new reservoir with or I may end up having to buy one. I am almost done with the top slide of the measure - it was missing. I'll get it fixed up and painted and give it away to someone who needs it.

June 13, 2017, 08:43 AM	#13
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	Using stick powder there is no way I'd throw the powder into any case with out weighting it. I bump sometime's and often get to where I want to be but, not all the time!

June 14, 2017, 01:44 PM	#14
Reloader270 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2015 Location: South Africa Posts: 138	I have a Lyman 55, RCBS Uniflow, Ohaus Dual, Foster Benchrest and a Harrel. As indicated above there is not really better one's. Consistency with the up and down strokes is more important with all of them. I must further say that the hammer on the Lyman 55 is an excellent help. With the other one's I just give the powder cylinder a double tap when dropping the powder.