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Messages - rbwillnj

796
Star Reloaders / Re: 223 Options - Shell Plates
« on: August 24, 2009, 04:34:05 pm »
Finally, just to show the difference, pictured below are three .380/223 Shell Plates,

From left to right, Star, Dillon, Phelps

797
Star Reloaders / Re: 223 Options - Phelps tool head powder spout
« on: August 24, 2009, 04:14:11 pm »
I think the pictures speak for themselves, but let me know if you have any questions.   Since I don't actually load .223 yet, I don't know how well it works, but I have cycled cases through it and it seems to function mechanically.   Like the Dillon Powder Spout described by TABranch, this spout has a narrow tube piece that seems to be swagged into the powder slide housing.   There is a spring loaded collar that fits over the neck of the case and rests on the shoulder.   Also, note the spacer that goes between the powder slide housing and the tool head.  This provides needed clearance.  Without it, cases get crunched.

798
Star Reloaders / Re: 223 Options - Phelps Tool Head
« on: August 24, 2009, 04:04:15 pm »
I purchase a couple of Star Reloaders and a couple of Phelps reloaders earlier this year, and among the booty was this tool head set up for .223   It is two of the holes are drilled and tapped for 7/8-14 dies  (RCBS dies were included).  Also note how the holes for the 7/8-14 dies are countersunk to allow the dies to be adjusted further down.   The tool head also came with a very interesting spring loaded powder spout that I will show in the next post.

799
Star Reloaders / 223 Options
« on: August 24, 2009, 03:58:29 pm »
OK, Manuel, George, and Tom,    You guys have inspired me to get off my butt and take some pictures.   I have had the long term goal to develop a means of loading 223 on a Star, but since I don't actually own a .223 it hasn't been a real high priority.   None the less, I have been researching it whenever I can, and picking up parts whenever the opportunity presented itself.

I was able to pick up a number of what I believe are Super Star parts a couple years back.   Most of them came from a guy who purchased them in a gun shop in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Its always been in my head that these parts were never part of a complete Super Star kit, but rather were the parts that Mike Dillon had left over when he stopped selling the Super Star kit.  I say that because the original owner had several duplicate sets of some of the parts.  I picked up the 5/8" adjustable charge bar on ebay.   It looks just like the one that Dillon had pictured in his advertisement.

According to Dillons website,  Mike Dillon said "So I went to a machinist and cut down an RCBS die, ground the hardcoat off of the outside and had him thread it to the weird thread size that Star dies used "

As you can see, the sizing die is just a neck sizing die.  I have heard elsewere that Dillon recommended that the .223 cases be full length sized before being reloaded on the Star.  I do not have the expander or the powder spout that go with the set.  TABranch's posts have helped answer some of my questions in that area, but I don't think the expander he has will work with the powder slide housing that I have.

800
Star Reloaders / Re: Tap toolhead or turn down dies?
« on: August 17, 2009, 10:28:55 am »
I don't think I am qualified to answer the question.  I'm pretty sure that Barrel Tester on this forum has turned down dies and drilled and taped tool heads for 7/8-14 dies.   Send him a PM.

If they have them, a three die set from CH-Tool and Die (Sizer, Seater and Expander) was about $170 the last time I bought one.  Add another $35-$40 for a taper crimp die.

Personally, I have a bias against modifying Star tool heads for 7/8-14 dies.   If you are thinking of going that route, you might want to check with Swanee to see if he still has any Berdon tool heads.


801
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 223 reloading
« on: August 16, 2009, 08:36:54 am »
Tom,  Thanks for the picture of the expander.    Because of the reflection in the picture, I can't see how long the threaded section is, but I assume it's pretty short, since a .223 case actually goes up into the tool head when the tool head is lowered all the way.

You said you purchased one of the first Super Star conversions.   I'm thinking that Dillon must have changed the design of the powder slide housing and expander later on.   I have a copy of one of his ads, and the powder slide housing looks like the one that I have.   Unfortunately, due to the quality of the picture, I can't see what he is using for an expander.   Your expander wouldn't work with my powder slide housing because I wouldn't be able to nut the expander from the top.  Of course I could modify the housing that I have, but I hate to do that.

802
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 223 reloading
« on: August 14, 2009, 04:10:34 pm »
Tom,

Thanks, the pictures help.   I understand the narrow tube swagged into the powder slide housing, I have a similar one that came on a Phelps tool head that I have.  Is the larger tube also attached to the powder slide housing?  Looks like it might be held in place with a set screw.   I assume both tubes are fixed, right?

I have the same 5/8" adjustable powder slide as the one you pictured, but my powder slide housing is a little different than yours.  Mine extends out over the expander hole, and has a small hole centered over the expander hole.  That's why I have had a hard time picturing what Dillon used for an expander.   A picture of the expander and some dimensions would be a great help.

803
Star Reloaders / Re: 380 acp reloadin
« on: August 14, 2009, 03:44:56 pm »
Attached are pictures of the .380 top plate and 9mm top plate that I have.   Also included are some pictures of the .380 ram.   In case you can't tell from the pictures, the .380 top plate has a steel tube inserted in the hole.  The OD of the tube is .518", the same as the the hole size in the 9mm top plate (and probably the same as the hole in an M3 top plate)  The ID of the tube is .389".   I would almost say that they modified a 9mm top plate to make the .380 top plate, but that's not the case.   The section that protrudes down into the case feeder is longer on the .380 top plate.

804
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Loading .380 with 9mm dies?
« on: August 13, 2009, 04:35:17 pm »
I took a look at my .380 and 9mm die sets comparred to one another and here is my opinion.  (Just an opinion, since I have not tried to load .380 with a 9mm die set.

I think that there would be no problem using a 9mm seating die and 9mm taper crimp die to load .380 unless you just can't adjust the die down far enough to do its intended job.

I think you may have a problem with the expander.  The working part of the 9mm expander is much longer than  the working part of a .380 expander.   I think you might end up expanding the full length of the .380 case before you could get a flare.   You might even bottom out the expander in the .380 case.

Although I haven't tried it, I don't think a 9mm sizing die will work for .380.   9mm is a tapered case, and although the dimensions of the bullet are the same, the dimensions of the case, (just above the rim ) are very different (.391 Vs .374).  The 9mm sizing die has a long tapered carbide sizing ring, the .380 sizer die does not.

tabranch    I'd still like to see those pictures of the Super Star parts.   You know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.   I'm having a hard time visualising it from your description.

805
Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: installing lube
« on: August 12, 2009, 05:10:05 pm »
Once you remove the pressure screw, remove the pressure screw handle and flip the pressure screw upside down.  Now thread the top of the pressure screw onto the top of the pressure spring piston rod and pull up on the pressure screw nut to pull the pressure spring assembly out of the lubricator body.   Depending on the type of lube, and the condition of the lube, in the lubesizer, you may need to heat things up a bit to get the pressure spring assembly out.  A hair dryer should provide sufficient heat.  

Since you haven't used the lubesizer in a while, I'd recommend using some heat to get all of the old lube out before recharging it with fresh lube.

806
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: 223 reloading
« on: August 10, 2009, 08:56:58 pm »
I would be very interested if you could provide pictures of the individual components of the Dillon Super Star conversion.   I have what I believe is a partial set of the pieces but I'd like to see the rest.   I have dies, but I don't think they are Dillons.  Also, I'd like to see what he did for a powder spout, and where he did the expanding step, and what he used.

807
Star Reloaders / Re: 380 acp reloadin
« on: August 07, 2009, 09:20:05 am »
I was fortunate to find a set of Star dies in 380 ACP, including a Lifetyme carbide sizing die.   However, I'm pretty sure that CH Tool and Die made die sets in 380 when they did their run.  You might check if they have any left.   Also, I know that Rich Daniels (barrel tester) has done some work with turning down standard dies and cutting them with the Star thread.   I just picked up a new lathe (by new I mean 1946) with a tool post grinder, so at some point I plan to try turning down some standard dies as well.....but its way down on my priority list.

Hulme sold an adapter kit for 380.  It includes a replacement ram for the case feeder, and a 380 top plate.  The replacement ram is milled down to create a flatspot which is positioned at the top.  that way the cross section of the ram is only tall enough to catch one .380 (or 32 ACP) case at a time.   The top plate is similar to a 9mm top plate with some adjustments to account for the shorter and smaller diameter .380 case.

I could reproduce both parts for you.   I have the stock and the tooling for the ram.   I have some of what I need for the top plate but need to pick up some special end mills for the top plate.

808
Star Reloaders / Re: 380 acp reloadin
« on: August 07, 2009, 01:22:03 am »
I reload 380 ACP on a Star, what do you want to know?

809
Star History / Re: Star Price History
« on: August 03, 2009, 05:00:54 pm »
I picked up a few more original price lists, so I have updated my previous list/

For a Universal Reloader, I can share the following price history;

December 1, 1945........$ 120.00     (no mention of carbide sizing dies)
December 1, 1958........$ 190.00     (with carbide sizing die option)
April 1, 1966................$ 248.00    (with carbide sizing die option)
March 1, 1968.............$ 248.00    (with carbide sizing die option)
Dec 1, 1968................$ 262.50    (with carbide sizing die option. data from Jet22)
July 15, 1970...............$ 287.50    (with carbide sizing die option. data from Jet22)
November 1, 1973........$ 450.00    (Carbide Dies are Standard)
November 1, 1975.........$ 450.00    (Carbide Dies are Standard
February 1, 1977..........$ 525.00    (from Kenneth L. Walters)
March 1, 1978..............$ 660.00  
March 1, 1979..............$ 760.00    
March 1, 1980..............$ 925.00    (from Kenneth L. Walters
April 1, 1981................$1110.00    (pricing for "Progressive" Reloader no longer given)
January 10, 1983.........$  925.00    (Says New Lower Prices)
April 1, 1988.................$ 925.00    (Says New Lower Prices!)
May 1, 1990.................$ 925.00
September 1, 1991........$ 925.00
May 1, 1997.................$ 925.00    (looks like an original Star price list, but maybe from Bill Cunningham?)


810
Survey Says... / Re: Camp Perry
« on: July 28, 2009, 10:47:48 pm »
Ross,

Initially, I too was put off by the idea of Stars being parted out, but then I realized that one Star parted out can bring many others back to life.   If there was a ready source of original parts there wouldn't be a market for parted out Stars.