Messages

766

Star Reloaders / Re: Any interest in new star type reloader?

« on: February 17, 2010, 09:53:01 am »

I'd be curious how many reloaders Spolar sells in a year.  At $1550, I'm guessing they don't sell many at all.

I do a lot of Trap Shooting (12,000 - 15,000 shells per year).   I don't know anyone with a Spolar.  I know very few people with Ponsness Warrens (which are also quality machines) and Dillons which both go for around $800.   Mec's are the most popular, with the Mec 9000GN being the most popular among volume shooters.   A Mec 9000GN lists for under $500 now.

In reloading for pistol, most of us reload not only because it saves money, but because we create loads which are better than what we can buy.   With shotgun reloading, you never hear anyone say they can load better rounds than they can buy.  It's all about cost.

767

Star Reloaders / Re: Converting a Star Progressive to 9mm

« on: February 15, 2010, 02:31:22 pm »

Ricketts is a good Ebay seller who sells a lot of reloading equipment, including a lot of Star equipment.  Generally knows what he is talking about, but in this case I would be surprised if  he were correct in his assessment that the shell plate would be for a progressive only, and would not work on a Universal.   

Progressives have a slightly smaller base, and many shell plates designed for a Universal will not fit on a Progressive.   However, any shell plate that fits a Progressive should work on a Universal.    I have had quite a few 38 Special shell plates.   Most are unmarked, but some have a U stamped in the bottom.   Star used the U on their parts list to designate parts that were unique to Universal machines.   I have compared the shell plates stamped with the U and could not find any difference between them and the unmarked 38 Special shell plates.  Having said all of that, I have never taken a shell plate from a Progressive and tried to use it on a Universal.

dverna,

333OKH is the guy to contact regarding converting a Progressive to 9mm.    I know he was in the process of doing it, but don't know if he finished or how it worked out.   I made a base plug for him so he could use a taper crimp die in the last station.  The hole in the Progressive is much smaller than the one in the Universal.   I know George also mentioned something about machining the 9mm shell plate so it would fit a Progressive.

Bruce

768

Star Reloaders / Re: Dimensions For a Genuine Star 45 Colt Seating Die

« on: February 11, 2010, 07:58:42 am »

Dave,    

My Star 45 LC seating die measures 0.93" from the mouth to the start of the roll crimp.

Bruce



Edited to correct the dimension.   Sorry Dave.

769

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Expander Die Diameter for the .45 ACP

« on: January 18, 2010, 07:31:32 am »

I get .4516 with mine.  The measurement was taken just below the belling portion of the expander.   Note that the expander is slighly tapered, so the reslults of the measurement will depend upon exactly where it is taken.  

770

Star Reloaders / Re: STAR progressive press powder bar questions ?

« on: December 31, 2009, 06:23:44 pm »

The 1/4" bar is a "0" size powder bar, and the others are "00" powder bars.   Early Star Progressives had "0" size powder slide housings which Star later discontinued in favor of the "00" size powder slide housings.  The size should be cast into the side of the housing...though very early models may not have a designation.   Star offered spacers to convert "0" housings to "00" housings, as well as spacers to convert "00" housings to 1/2" and 5/8" housings.

771

Star Reloaders / Re: New star owner - Universal 38 special

« on: December 30, 2009, 09:21:04 pm »

I think Freeloaders were originally put together with silicon, and I have had several that suffered from the same condition as yours.   I repaired them with silicon.

772

Star Reloaders / Re: CHANCE TO BUY A 9MM TOOL HEAD

« on: December 27, 2009, 05:56:20 pm »

Rich Daniels (barreltester) is the one you want for shell plates.  I think he was selling them for about $100 each, but others would know better.  I've never had the need to buy a shell plate from Mr. Daniels.

 

773

Star Reloaders / Re: Storage of Star Machine Heads

« on: December 15, 2009, 11:54:28 pm »

Art,

I would think that plastic rod would work great and you wouldn't have to worry about moisture transfer. It might be a bit more expensive than wood.  I used 1 1/4" Oak dowel from Home Depot, cut in 5 1/4" sections.  I turned down the top 2 1/2" inches to 1.16"  (about 1 5/32") so it would fit inside the tool head.

Ron,

Sorry, I apologize.

But Ron, your a Master, and I'm a lowly Expert.....and you have your distinguished badge too.  Talk about showin off!!

774

Star Reloaders / Re: I know this might be blasphmey here but how does a Phelps differ from Star ?

« on: December 14, 2009, 11:24:28 am »

Oh I don't think you will get struck by Lightning for asking that question,  I'm sure there are plenty of Phelps users who visit the forum.   By the way, Welcome to the forum.

I have had four Phelps reloaders pass through my hands.  Of the various Star copies, the Phelps is the truest.  Nearly every part on a Phelps is interchangeable with a Star, and except for the resale price, the differences are mostly cosmetic (and I say this as a devout Star user).   

Phelps made a number small design changes in an effort to reduce machining costs.  Of the four Phelps I have owned, no two were exactly alike, but the changes were not material to the function of the machine.   Phelps made his dies on a screw machine, and the dies don't have the same quality machined appearance as Star Dies, but I haven't loaded enough rounds on a Phelps to say there is any difference in how the dies function.   Phelps also made his own carbide sizing dies.  As to the quality of the Phelps reloaders, I would say they are very close to the Stars, but some that I have owned were maybe not quite as tight as the Stars I have owned.   Whether this was due to manufacturing tolerances or ware, I can't say for sure.

Phelps reloaders typically sell for 1/2 to 2/3rds to price of a Star in comparable condition.

775

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Question: Amount of Taper Crimp for .45 ACP Bullseye Load?

« on: December 11, 2009, 10:12:38 am »

I taper crimp my 45 ACP rounds to .469 at the case mouth.   My bullet is a cast lead semi-wadcutter sized to .452 in a Star lubesizer, and I use mostly Federal, and sometimes Winchester cases.

Now I have never tested to see if a tighter crimp would give better results, but I get consistant sub 2" groups at 50 yards with my load, so I'd rather spend my time shooting.

The Gill Hebard sheet recommends .460 to .463 and that seems really extreme.   I have never tried it, but I think it would take a lot of force to get that sort of crimp using hard cast bullets.  Maybe Hebard was using swagged bullets.

776

Star History / Re: Star on Ebay.

« on: December 08, 2009, 11:24:48 pm »

Looks like a good winter project.  I'll see if I can put together a prototype after the holidays.  I like the design of this powder shutoff better than others I have seen.   

777

Star Reloaders / Re: Storage of Star Machine Heads

« on: December 08, 2009, 11:17:38 am »

Just remember to do a good job of sealing the wood.  Otherwise moisture in the wood could cause you some problems.  I used several coats of polyurethane and haven't had any problems with rust.

Bruce

778

Star Reloaders / Re: Storage of Star Machine Heads

« on: December 07, 2009, 04:51:00 pm »

I made up these stands for mine a while back.  Holds the tool head as well as the shell plate.

779

Star History / Re: Star on Ebay.

« on: December 04, 2009, 09:24:59 am »

The powder shut off on that machine is very nice, and should be pretty easy to make.  Does anyone know if this was offered for commercial sale by someone or is it a one off.

PS,  This machine is actually a Phelps with a Star tool Head

780

Star History / Re: Star on Ebay.

« on: December 04, 2009, 09:15:26 am »

OK, Here it is,   But that's a really heavy taper crimp, I don't know that I agree.