Glad to hear that his heirloom is safe. How about you? What do you keep under your workbench?
Old Reloading Tools
- Thread starter Skeet 028
- Start date
AJ
US Veteran
I have a couple that are set up for different loads...........Don't use them much though.
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Fauquier
Member
I still use my Dad's Lyman/Ideal No.5 powder measure , no need for a newer one !
AJ
US Veteran
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I have several 310 tools, one is Ideal and nickel plated. The oldest of the Lyman tools I have shipped in 1947 and is Hot Blued! That 1947 310 shipped with 22 Hornet dies. All told I have 7 tools and around 20 sets of dies. 44 S&W Russian & Special, 45 Colt, 45 ACP, 38 Special, 38 S&W, 222 Rem, 22 Hornet, 22 K Hornet, 30-06, 7.7 & 6.5 Jap., 6.5 Carcano, 8mm Mauser, 32 S&W Long and short to name a few. The 310s I have, are marked Large, Small, and one is marked Hornet. (The 310 with dies that shipped in 1947 went to a home in Columbus, Ohio. It cost Lyman 44 cents for First Class postage. That home is gone now, and that is a really BAD Neighborhood now!)
I use a very late Lyman 55 "Black Powder" Version with a foot tall all aluminum hopper.
I load 117 metallic cartridges, with 7/8-14 dies. My favorite set is 219 Donaldson Wasp, These were Harry's back-up set! (They were given to me by his cousin around 2000)
I have about 12 Lyman Arbor Press Dies, they are a single FL die and a knock out rod, most are pretty common 8x56, 30-06, 308, 30-30. The treasure is in 219 Zipper!
In the 80s & 90s the WWII Reloaders were dying off fast. I could get 1950s & 1960s single stage presses with one or two sets of dies for $20. For the missionaries at church, I would use an old toolbox to make a reloading kit. These included a press, dies, priming tool, Lee powder scoops. Depending on the national laws: Pound of powder (most commonly IMR 3031), 300 primers, & 300 bullets. Mostly for WWI or II Surplus rifles. They took lots of deer/goat type food animals. Also, lots of garden pests! My kits went to Australia, Bolivia, and South Africa.
I still have my first Lee Loader in 303 British, and around 15 more (all rifle).
Ivan
I use a very late Lyman 55 "Black Powder" Version with a foot tall all aluminum hopper.
I load 117 metallic cartridges, with 7/8-14 dies. My favorite set is 219 Donaldson Wasp, These were Harry's back-up set! (They were given to me by his cousin around 2000)
I have about 12 Lyman Arbor Press Dies, they are a single FL die and a knock out rod, most are pretty common 8x56, 30-06, 308, 30-30. The treasure is in 219 Zipper!
In the 80s & 90s the WWII Reloaders were dying off fast. I could get 1950s & 1960s single stage presses with one or two sets of dies for $20. For the missionaries at church, I would use an old toolbox to make a reloading kit. These included a press, dies, priming tool, Lee powder scoops. Depending on the national laws: Pound of powder (most commonly IMR 3031), 300 primers, & 300 bullets. Mostly for WWI or II Surplus rifles. They took lots of deer/goat type food animals. Also, lots of garden pests! My kits went to Australia, Bolivia, and South Africa.
I still have my first Lee Loader in 303 British, and around 15 more (all rifle).
Ivan
oberon
Member
I use a '70s era RCBS Jr. for resizing/decapping/flare necking, and I have 4 Truline Jr. turrets, each equipped with a Lyman #55 for operations requiring a less robust press. I have 310/TruLine dies for several calibers, and several 310 tong tools. There are quite a few of the old style 'j' type shell holders, primer punches, and lots of odds & ends. I have identified nearly all of the dies with an ancient TruLine parts list. I also got a lubrisizer in a box of stuff, but I don't see where I will ever get it running. Perhaps one of you guys can use it. It may be only useful as parts.
My setup is strictly a rinky-dink, mongrel assortment, but it works. I reckon if the stuff worked for the old timers decades ago, it'll work for me as well.
My setup is strictly a rinky-dink, mongrel assortment, but it works. I reckon if the stuff worked for the old timers decades ago, it'll work for me as well.
I still have a couple Tru Line Jrs. One of the old style mechanical advantage and one of the later stronger MA.. There was not much difference. Also have a CC Johnson Red Top that takes the same 310 dies. Have a few Tong Tools both steel and Aluminum. I have a few very old Ideal items including a 44 cal mold that is made with the handles and mold blocks one piece. They quit making them that way by 1927 or 28. . Part of the reason I got into this discussion was because I called Lyman to ask what size threaded bolts attach the handles on the old Lyman 45 suzers...I wasn't really expecting them to have the part...but they don't even know the size! One of my first metallic loading tools other than the Lyman tong tool was a screw together affair that I thought Pacific made back in the 60s They also ha a kit called a measure kit that attached to powder cans to throw powder charges First metallic round for me was in 1958...a tong tool in 22 Hornet. I use old Herter's presses to decap and size ...Ugly but they work
First of all... I don't consider anything close to pre 65 old. I'm still using my fathers Pacific "C" press, Redding balance beam scale, and Redding case trimmer. They were all bought in the early 1960s. I just retired his two sets of Pacific dies from the same time, 30-06 and 222 Remington.
But now, if you want to see something really old, I have a few Ideal reloading tools... 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32-20, 32-40, 38-55, 38-40.
But now, if you want to see something really old, I have a few Ideal reloading tools... 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32-20, 32-40, 38-55, 38-40.
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Star progressive in 38spl, like new from Bruce Willams
carelesslove
Member
carelesslove, here !
Anyone still use "Bullseye" Powder Measures ?
I have one relegated to an obscure box, under the reloading bench - with a 2.7 gr. and 5.0 gr. drum, detailed operating instructions, and the original box.
It seems to a fine, apparently well-functioning tool, but like a lot of things (these days) isn't seeing any usage.
Thanks, Tom "carelesslove" Love
Anyone still use "Bullseye" Powder Measures ?
I have one relegated to an obscure box, under the reloading bench - with a 2.7 gr. and 5.0 gr. drum, detailed operating instructions, and the original box.
It seems to a fine, apparently well-functioning tool, but like a lot of things (these days) isn't seeing any usage.
Thanks, Tom "carelesslove" Love
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I have one of the Pacific powder kits, still in the box. It came with an empty can, the same shape as the 1-pound DuPont cans from the 70's, in case your powder came in the cubical tins. (And now plastic jars.
Ivan
Ivan
I have one of the Meaure kit cans...looks like the DuPont type cans but seems a bit larger. Then there are the predecessor's tp the Lee Powder scoops. I was given a whole bunch of homemade scoops made by an old shooter of the 20s and thirties...40s 50s too.. He made them to load the hornet 257 Roberts and many others. He put them in old snuff and tobacco cans marked with calibers...I even have most of a box of 222 Remington he loaded on Jan 4 1959...21.5 gr 4198 50 gr Sierra and a Rem 6 1/2 primer in Western cases...I bought his first year Rem 722 in 1961...with the scoop he made for that powder charge. I still use that same load in 222 and 223 except Nosler 40 gr BT in the 222...with his scoop...BTW...Not really old...but the Lee powder scoops are their best product...and they made a Lee Target Model Lee loader. ...Worked well too. No pounding the primer in with them
AJ
US Veteran
Got a picture?
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AJ
US Veteran
Wondered when someone was going to mention the Lee Powder Measure Kits (Lee Scoops or Lee Spoons). I have two sets, the old (black box) and the newer (white) box. I learned to reload with the black box version. I still use these for just plinking ammo. They work just fine.
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The Bullseye measure was a short squat powder measure...most were red? But think I remember them in brown too. I gave one to a friend. Don't even want to get into powder measures. I must have 30 different ones plus duplicates...Another company that has not been named...yet...is Hollywood. They made some great tools too
Just thought I would ask...is there anyone out there that stilluses Hollywood press...powder measure or dies? Not long ago I bought an odd Holluwood press. It was a Hollywood Jr press. Omly the 2nd I have ever seen. ...got it at a for a better word..yard /garage sale. Really just a bunch of junk in the guys yard. He didn't know what it was and had been sitting outside most of the winter...lukily un-rusted in good condition. Only the 2nd I have ever seen. Have been offered 150 for it...I paid 5. I use a ser of dies by Hollywood...I bought a pre war Model 70 Super Grade in 22 K Hornet and got the dies with it...luckily
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AJ
US Veteran
Tom sent me the pictures of his Bullseye Powder Measure to post for him. Please find them below.
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That's the one. They work ok if you have all of the rotors...Pacific/ Hornady made one or two CH and of course RCBS...They can be very precise. That one is a nice example with all the Docs and box...Some other companies may have made one too. Thanks for the pics. I was looking at the old RCBS measure today...I thought it was brown but with the sun on it turns out it is the dark GI green RCBS used to paint everything pre 1960 or so...I think they bought it Military surplus. Bonanza made good equipment...I even have one of their adj temp shotshell ironing tools
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AJ
US Veteran
Guess all our pictures are gone into the ether!
