Fast bullet sizer

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hswaters

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Back in June I was lurking on the Cast boolits forum when I saw a really nice idea.
A fellow there was demonstrating his fast bullet sizer and I let that sort of bounce around in the empty space between my ears for a couple of weeks and then I went back and looked at it again and saved pictures. I was hooked, I had to have one so I ordered the parts needed to build it and then sort of piddled with it for about 6 weeks or more. But a couple of days ago I finished the thing up and I sized about 150 bullets in less than 5 minutes. I am sure there is a lot wrong with the video but their is nothing wrong with the machine. Best thing since sliced bread. Here is a short video to show what it looks like and how it works.

Fast bullet sizer or Completely wonderful and useful machine - YouTube
 
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While nicely done, you still have to lube in a separate step? So nice, but sliced bread, uh no. Get a star/magma, lube & size in one stroke, about 1200-1500/hr.
 
fredj338 said:
While nicely done, you still have to lube in a separate step? So nice, but sliced bread, uh no. Get a star/magma, lube & size in one stroke, about 1200-1500/hr.
Click to expand...

I am happy enough with this. I cast about 600-1200 a month. I don't have a need to size thousands of bullets a day much less in one hour. And the cost of this was less than a third of the magma machine. Other than the Lee press I had most of the stuff lying around the shop. And I had the fun of making the thing as well. Thanks for your comments.
 
Thanks for the video. Clever idea.
Keep us posted on modifications needed as you use the sizer.

wyo-man
 
wyo-man said:
Thanks for the video. Clever idea.
Keep us posted on modifications needed as you use the sizer.

wyo-man
Click to expand...

Thanks wyo-man. I think that other than increasing the width of the support for the arm that moves the shuttle back and forth I wont make many changes. I don't cast that much and this has sped me up at least 10 times and taken the misery out and I am happy with that. For some really nice changes see the castboolits forum and look up the inventor gremlin460. He and others have gone a lot further than I have and they keep on improving things with multiple bullet feeders and motors and all sorts of things.
 
I can see where this device fills a need, but unfortunately it is only required because of something Lee provides to the public. I am talking about their Tumble Lube moulds...

I have only used two of those moulds, and it was very early in my casting career, before I learned what a good mould would do. The Lees that I had were roughly made with very poor Quality Control, and in some instances the as-cast full wadcutters bulged the 38 Special hulls to the point that I had to run the loaded rounds back through a full length sizer with the de-capping assembly removed so they would chamber. All this was due to the Lee Tumble Lube mould throwing projectiles so over-sized they bulged the cases when loaded. Completely unacceptable.

This machine will correct that issue, but if you buy Lyman, RCBS, NOE, Accurate Moulds, the older NEIs, H&Gs, etc., you will find this machine is unnecessary as the stated problem goes away.

As has been stated previously, get a Star/Magma machine and let the good times roll!
 
I agree that the Lee TL design blows monkey vomit for oh so many reasons.

This flavor of machine is not limited to TL design.
It might not be ideal for traditional lube and size procedures.
I will defend this mans accomplishment, for the accomplishment, as well as what it brings to the new, non traditional field of coated cast.
 
Doubless said:
I can see where this device fills a need, but unfortunately it is only required because of something Lee provides to the public. I am talking about their Tumble Lube moulds...

I have only used two of those moulds, and it was very early in my casting career, before I learned what a good mould would do. The Lees that I had were roughly made with very poor Quality Control, and in some instances the as-cast full wadcutters bulged the 38 Special hulls to the point that I had to run the loaded rounds back through a full length sizer with the de-capping assembly removed so they would chamber. All this was due to the Lee Tumble Lube mould throwing projectiles so over-sized they bulged the cases when loaded. Completely unacceptable.

This machine will correct that issue, but if you buy Lyman, RCBS, NOE, Accurate Moulds, the older NEIs, H&Gs, etc., you will find this machine is unnecessary as the stated problem goes away.

As has been stated previously, get a Star/Magma machine and let the good times roll!
Click to expand...
You can tumble lube any bullet design. The TL design by LEE seems to have as many followers as not, me being one of the not. So one couls still tumble lube a NEI, etc, then just size in that nifty machine. I am a Star guy though, lube & size in one stroke. If the idea is to save time or make a job less hassle, then the Star would be it. Only thing that makes it better us a bullet feeder & air assist. My buddy has one setup that way, but he hates pulling the handle.
 
Last edited:
fredj338 said:
You can tumble lube any bullet design. The TL design by LEE seems to have as many followers as not, me being one of the not. So one couls still tumble lube a NEI, etc, then just size in that nifty machine. I am a Star guy though, lube & size in one stroke...
Click to expand...
or go with the hi tec coating instead of alox.
the creation at hand is ideal for the full plastic jackets.

It might be quirky, it might have rough edges, and it might not meet OSHA regulations for some pinch points, but the man built himself a hot rod instead of buying a Porsche.
I have a special brand of respect for that.
 
venomballistics said:
Coating is yet another gem for the bullet caster.
Either the hi tec system or powder coating to replace your lube step, and you have a natural pairing.
Click to expand...

I have watched a number of videos where people were coating bullets and the product is very nice. I think they still have to size at some point. One fellow in Germany seems to be very good at it. But they do take a lot of steps, they coat, bake, coat and bake all over again. Thanks for explaining.
 
venomballistics said:
or go with the hi tec coating instead of alox.
the creation at hand is ideal for the full plastic jackets.

It might be quirky, it might have rough edges, and it might not meet OSHA regulations for some pinch points, but the man built himself a hot rod instead of buying a Porsche.
I have a special brand of respect for that.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments. Up until now I had never heard of the magma thing or the star or any of those machines. I reload to make it cheaper to shoot and allow me to enter more events. Not that I am any great shot, last place lots of the time but I like to do it anyway. I am also prone to be a bit cheap. I like to see a payout when I purchase a tool. It took three cases of 9mm to pay out my Lee Loadmaster. And I have no idea how much bullet production the magma device would require to break even. In the past 69 years I have noticed that fancy devices sometimes come with fancy maintenance costs.

And then I got a lot of fun from the project. Any guy with a lathe in the garage can tell you the product does not have to be the least bit useful or economical, the making of it is the reward as often as not. Anyway thanks for the kind words.
 
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hswaters said:
I have watched a number of videos where people were coating bullets and the product is very nice. I think they still have to size at some point. One fellow in Germany seems to be very good at it. But they do take a lot of steps, they coat, bake, coat and bake all over again. Thanks for explaining.
Click to expand...

my primary focus is powder coating.
I spray and bake once, and off to the sizer;)
at least, most of the time.
some bullets need their process ironed out more than others.

Thanks for the comments. Up until now I had never heard of the magma thing or the star or any of those machines. I reload to make it cheaper to shoot and allow me to enter more events. Not that I am any great shot, last place lots of the time but I like to do it anyway. I am also prone to be a bit cheap. I like to see a payout when I purchase a tool. It took three cases of 9mm to pay out my Lee Loadmaster. And I have no idea how much bullet production the magma device would require to break even. In the past 69 years I have noticed that fancy devices sometimes come with fancy maintenance costs.

And then I got a lot of fun from the project. Any guy with a lathe in the garage can tell you the product does not have to be the least bit useful or economical, the making of it is the reward as often as not. Anyway thanks for the kind words.
Click to expand...

I've been known to use a lathe to convert perfectly good steel into scrap myself.
perhaps that lets me view things like your press as I do.
I also see the intellectual thuggery of those who can't see the value in such endeavors.
If not for reinventing the wheel once in a while, they'd not have their Star and Magma machines.
They were born in a shop at the hands of bloodied knuckles in a development process much like your own.
Blow em off for the most part.
Iron these things out and the next time round, they'll meet you with open wallets.
 
venomballistics said:
my primary focus is powder coating.
I spray and bake once, and off to the sizer;)
at least, most of the time.
some bullets need their process ironed out more than others.



I've been known to use a lathe to convert perfectly good steel into scrap myself.
perhaps that lets me view things like your press as I do.
I also see the intellectual thuggery of those who can't see the value in such endeavors.
If not for reinventing the wheel once in a while, they'd not have their Star and Magma machines.
They were born in a shop at the hands of bloodied knuckles in a development process much like your own.
Blow em off for the most part.
Iron these things out and the next time round, they'll meet you with open wallets.
Click to expand...



No wallets please. I did not invent this and have no right to sell one, possibly no right to make one for my personal use either. I think I am alright having made one for myself as it is a copy of his prototype and not the current version. And he did not seem upset about it when I emailed him. If he (gremlin406) asks me to I will pay him a royalty. I am not a crook, I just saw it and got carried away.
 
hswaters said:
No wallets please. I did not invent this and have no right to sell one, possibly no right to make one for my personal use either. I think I am alright having made one for myself as it is a copy of his prototype and not the current version. And he did not seem upset about it when I emailed him. If he (gremlin406) asks me to I will pay him a royalty. I am not a crook, I just saw it and got carried away.
Click to expand...

Well, it's probably not open wallet worthy yet ....
But, a couple cups of coffee from now, and who knows.
 
I would be really impressed if the bullets dropped out sized and lubed.
Figure out how to make it do that and I'll go get my wallet.
 
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