Old Reloading Tools

[Green Frog]

I believe Pacific was the first with a fixed charge rotor, with the same basic design marketed by Bair and Hornady(?) Eventually RCBS got into the act with their highly successful Little Dandy and its selection of 28 sizes of rotors. Lyman made a brief, moderately successful sortie into the game with their Accu-Measure, notable for its 15 available rotors, with about 10 having two chambers, allowing for about 25 charges. I’m still using the Pacific, the Little Dandy and the Accu-Measure for certain jobs because I’ve never found anything I like better.
Froggie

 

[AJ]

Not much in the way of conversation since the change of format.

 

[Green Frog]

I’ve been trying to catch up. As we all discover it’s back, we’ll probably use it more.
Froggie

 

[Skeet 028]

Well another blast from the past...I found a Phelps reloader...in 32 S&W Long..Going to go look at it tomorrow. For those who don't know the Phelps is essentially like a Star. The fellow that has it told me it is complete and working. The only problem is finding powder bushing/slides for them. Hopefully he has some others or I will have to make some. I have to get this computer/camera problem solved so I can post pics again. He also told me he has a model of 1950 S&W in 44 Sp... Hopefully, he may sell it cheap...yeah, right!

 

[Skeet 028]

I forgot to post about the neat reloading stuff I got yesterday...nothing earth shattering but good. Powder...a cardboard can of Green dot and Unique both full unopened and a metal can of Unique also unopened but they only had 13 ounces in them...got an earlier RCBS bullet mold)41 cal) in the cardboard box...never used A Lyman single cavity 32 cal pistol bullet mold (411 316)with handles...and not reloading but a couple bags of 10 Remington 12 ga Brass cased Buckshot loads...Hey for a buck a piece they were cheap. Got it all for 90 bucks

 

[Green Frog]

“A Lyman single cavity 32 cal pistol bullet mold (411 316)with handles...”

I think you meant 311 316, right? If so, you got a winner. Of course that’s some useful powder as well. More people seem to be discovering the efficacy of Green Dot in pistol loads these days… the cognoscenti have kept that secret too long, I wonder whether that batch of brass 12 ga buckshot is military surplus. Rumor has it that it was issued in Viet Nam.

So how about that Phelps progressive loader? Any progress yet (pun intended)? I hope you didn’t use up all your Karma on the reloading stuff deal previously, and will be able to score the press and the Model 1950. Sometimes good things come to those who wait!

Froggie

 

[ColoCoug]

I don't have anything pre-1965, but I just pulled out my 1970s Lee 1000 Progressive after it was stored for 40 years. It's working well aside from a problem feeding primers. I think the plastic case sensor arm needs a bit of tweaking.

I've recently added a couple of S&W revolvers and .38 Special ammo is pretty expensive - made it worth pulling out the old press. I've loaded 50 rounds with the old Unique powder and primers to see if they still are usable.

 

[AJ]

I have a few molds. .38/357. .45 Colt & ACP, .32 ACP & .32, 9MM, .30 Carbine. Some from the 50's, 70's, 80's and more recent. A friend has close to 200 as he loads for about 100 different calibers.

 

[Skeet 028]

Yeah GF...It was a 311316.. The only problem is the mold is a gas check variety...and Ihave only about 600 of them.My fangers hit the wrong keys sometimes. These brass shells are surplus I think. The fellow Igot them from said they were in pretty much disintegrated military marked boxes. He has a few more. I may buy 'em all...just for grins. Today I happened to see a kinda friend from gun shows...he gave me a sngle cavity 358477 hollowpoint mold..I like the bullet but never had one in HP before. I think I did ok as I had given him 12 rounds of 250-3000 a couple months ago...Another day in the hood

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I use Lyman / Ideal tong tools and dies . Tru Line Jr presses , All American presses , a 1960's C&H , Lyman #55 measures , Lyman #5 measures , Belding & Mull visible measures . SEACO and Lyman Lead furnaces , Ideal #1 Lube Sizers , Lyman #45 Lube Sizers , RCBS first Gen Lube A Matic . Molds made by Ideal , Lyman , Winchester , Modern Bond that are mostly older than I am . Yep , I got a few that are old and I'm still using them same as I always have.

 

[Green Frog]

But do you have an Ideal #5 Micrometer measure? That was the best adjustable measure out there until Homer Culver developed his micrometer adjust rotors for the #55!
Froggie

 

[Skeet 028]

Yesterday I went into a Porn....er Pawn Shop and they had a 500 Rd box of Ranier 32 caliber plated bullets...may have a few missing but not many...price was 10 bucks OTD. Only thing of interst in the place...for me anyway...Fellow called me and had older cans of Hercules powders he wntst to sell me cheap...got to go look...Even has 10 cans of Norma rifle powders and a couple pounds of H414(AKA Win 760) and some BLC2...yep...gotta go look. BTW I did not buy the old Star loader...missing the sizing Die...Is Lifetime die company still in business??

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I bought two boxes of Markell cast lead bullets for use in my 38-40 WCF model 92. Paid $20 for the two of them. The boxes are marked with their old San Francisco address, being on 2347 35th Ave. They are about used up but I'll keep the boxes for display. I know that Markell moved around a bit but have no idea of when these were made.

John

 

[Skeet 028]

I haven't seen any Markell bullets in years...I do have a few in a box or two

 

[Skeet 028]

I think you meant 311 316, right? If so, you got a winner. Of course that’s some useful powder as well. More people seem to be discovering the efficacy of Green Dot in pistol loads these days… the cognoscenti have kept that secret too long, I wonder whether that batch of brass 12 ga buckshot is military surplus. Rumor has it that it was issued in Viet Nam.

Won a few items in an online auction today...A Dillon 550B with extras and a Phelps copy of a Star reloader..unlike the 32 I looked at this one had all it's 38 Special dies. In with all the extras I got a box of Sierra 32 caliber Gas Checks..Gas checks from Sierra?? That has been a day or so. Back in late 59 I got my first commercial bullet jackets from Sierra...so I could make bullets for the M-70 in 220 Swift....BTW...the Phelps is complete with a couple extra powder slides...Like the Star they are built beautifully. ... and even better the price was as they say...RIGHT

 

[BillyKframe]

I still use the Ideal 55 and the Ohaus scale. I retired the old Redding scale. The Redding scale has a paddle for a damper that fits down a hole in the base. The instructions say to fill the hole with 10wt. non-detergent motor oil.

 

[Skeet 028]

For some reason I haven't been able to access the site for a week or so...kept getting all kinds of warnings etc etc. Think I have it mostly straight.
Anyway... At the auction last week I got 3 or 4 different presses. I...last but not least I got another seldom seen Herter's Number 9 ( H press.)..actually made by Dunbar back in the day. The Herter's and Phelps went for very good prices as the reloading crowd these days only seem to know RCBS and the other standard brands. Got a couple more powder measures...and including the nee plus ultra Ohaus/RCBS 10-10 scale...and as I said got the 32 gas checks by Sierra...Oh well...more stuff

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Yeah GF...It was a 311316.. The only problem is the mold is a gas check variety...and Ihave only about 600 of them.My fangers hit the wrong keys sometimes. These brass shells are surplus I think. The fellow Igot them from said they were in pretty much disintegrated military marked boxes. He has a few more. I may buy 'em all...just for grins. Today I happened to see a kinda friend from gun shows...he gave me a sngle cavity 358477 hollowpoint mold..I like the bullet but never had one in HP before. I think I did ok as I had given him 12 rounds of 250-3000 a couple months ago...Another day in the hood

Need to be careful of holding those Lyman Hp molds over your pot when you pour them . The HP pins fall out pretty easy until the lead goes solid and they can easily end up in the lead pot. Only takes a second to char the knob .

 

[Eddie Southgate]

But do you have an Ideal #5 Micrometer measure? That was the best adjustable measure out there until Homer Culver developed his micrometer adjust rotors for the #55!
Froggie

Probably not but I'm not 100% sure as I have a few including one in the original box with papers. Do you have a Left Handed Belding & Mull measure ? I do !

 

[505Gibbs]

Haven't used it in a looooong time but for its day it was pretty accurate!!