Messages

781

Star Reloaders / Re: 223 Rem die planned by CH Tool and Die

« on: November 20, 2009, 09:33:16 pm »

I don't know what they will sell a .223 die for, but in the past CH has sold sizing and seating dies with the Star thread for about $75 each.   I contacted them a while back to say I'd be interested in a .223 die set when they make them.   They said they didn't know when they would be making them, but they would contact me when they did,

782

Star Reloaders / Re: Help me understand my 'STAR' Universal please?

« on: November 14, 2009, 01:26:14 pm »

Phil,

It looks like you have an older, but very nice Star Universal machine in 38 Special.   By changing shell plates and dies, a "Universal" machine can load and handgun caliber.   Star also made a "Progressive" reloader which looks very similar, but was designed to load 38 Special only.   

The shell plate on Star reloaders are advanced manually.  With the addition of a case Feeder (which I don't see in the pictures) you can probably load around 400 rounds per hour, so manual advancement of the shell plate is not a big issue.   However, there are after market indexers available, and many on this forum swear by them.   Do a search for Moon Indexer on this forum and you will find several threads discussing them.

The Star dies have a 11/16-24 thread which is unique to Star (so far as I know) it is not the same as the Lyman 310 dies.

From the pictures, is looks like your sizing die might be steel rather than carbide.  If that's the case you should probably keep an eye out for a Lifetyme or RLS Precision carbide sizing.   It shouldn't be too difficult to find one in 38 Special.

783

Survey Says... / Re: New member intro

« on: November 08, 2009, 08:58:55 am »

Lots of good folks here happy to help out with any questions you have. 
I Hope you enjoy your Star as much as the rest of us have.

784

Star Reloaders / Re: manual

« on: September 25, 2009, 09:38:16 pm »

The PDF's of the Star Instruction Manuel and Parts List can be found at this link, http://www.starreloaders.com/manuals/manuals.html#Downloads   which is a sister site of this forum.   I have posted these links several times in the past.

I also have a set of Phelps setup instructions (not that there is any difference) and I will scan and post them when I get a chance.

785

Star Reloaders / Re: Looking for Paul Jones, Star Loading enthusiast

« on: September 13, 2009, 11:48:41 pm »

I'm not taking the bate, I' keeping quiet on this one......for a change.

786

Star Reloaders / Re: Safety Lock

« on: September 13, 2009, 11:45:04 pm »

I think you must be referring to the Safety Cam.   Take a look at the attached parts list to confirm.

http://www.starreloaders.com/manuals/Star%20Illustration%20and%20Parts%20List.pdf

I used to have a bunch of them, but have sold or used them all.   It seems that every Star reloader I buy is missing its safety cam.   Somewhere there must be a big pile of them.

Although it's nice to have, stickily speaking its not necessary for the operation of the press.   In fact, if you have a separate taper crimp die in the last position, you can't use the safety cam.

787

Star Reloaders / Re: Cover for the Star Reloader?

« on: September 11, 2009, 01:03:05 pm »

I use old pillow cases

788

Star Reloaders / Re: Looking for Paul Jones, Star Loading enthusiast

« on: September 06, 2009, 10:36:53 pm »

You are not likely to find him here, but he does sell items on EBay under the name star0saeco0fitz0grips.   You can try contacting him via EBay.

789

Star Reloaders / Re: Dies for the Star - Longevity by Brand?

« on: September 06, 2009, 06:44:34 pm »

When CH Tool and Die made their run a year or so ago, they did make dies for 32 S&W Long, but they made a limited number of sets and I think they have long since sold out.   I think you just need to contact them from time to time to express interest and see when they will be running more.   As for Lee, I have no idea.  

32 S&W long is probably the most difficult set of Star dies to find.   I paid a hefty price for the set that I have, though no where near as much as the set in the eBay Stores.

790

Star Reloaders / Re: Case feeder I D ?

« on: September 05, 2009, 12:38:35 pm »

Looks like an M-A Systems Easy Case Feeder.   Last I heard, they are still in business in Pryor, OK.  I have one of their brochures, but have never purchased anything from them.  their main product seems to be collators for different applications (similar to the Chevron Collator).  They also make case feeders, case ejectors, indexers, and bullet feeders.  (918) 824-3705

791

Star Reloaders / Re: Random Thoughts on the Star Powder Tube Magazine

« on: September 03, 2009, 08:18:47 pm »

OK Art ,  you got me curious, so I did a little, maybe unscientific test. 

I have been loading 38 Special Wadcutters using ~2.6 grains of 700X.   I let the powder level in my 12" powder magazine get down to where it was only 1/2" above the aluminum baffle (way lower than I would normally allow).  I dropped 10 charges and weighed them.

2.62, 2.60, 2.64, 2.60, 2.62, 2.60, 2.56, 2.60, 2.62, 2.64    Spread = 0.08 grains, Average = 2.61

Then I filled the powder magazine to the top and did the same thing again.

2.58, 2.54, 2.62, 2.66, 2.56, 2.56, 2.56, 2.62, 2.52, 2.62      Spread = 0.14 grains, Average = 2.58

Now it has been my experience that with a freshly filled powder magazine, it takes a while for the powder to settle and get consistent weights, so just for the heck of it I dropped another 10 charges.

2.60, 2.66, 2.70, 2.70, 2.66, 2.64, 2.62, 2.68, 2.66, 2.70   Spread = 0.10 grains  Average = 2.664

So I guess you are right Art, there is a difference, and a full powder magazine seems to give slightly higher drop weights.

792

Star Reloaders / Re: Random Thoughts on the Star Powder Tube Magazine

« on: September 03, 2009, 07:56:52 pm »

Art,  I think there is some confusion about just what each of us is calling a baffle.   The Universal machine that I sold to you has its original factory baffle, the aluminum disk above the brass base.  Star did not offer any other baffle to my knowledge.

Bruce

793

Star Reloaders / Re: Random Thoughts on the Star Powder Tube Magazine

« on: September 03, 2009, 08:14:43 am »

The Star powder magazine has a powder baffle, it's maybe just not up to the standards that you are familiar with from your Bench Rest rifle experience.   The aluminum disk on top of the brass base acts as a baffle.  Most of the weight from the column of powder is distributed over the aluminum disk, so it tends to keep the charge weights pretty consistent as the volume in the powder magazine decreases.   However, a baffle like the one in the PDF that distributes the weight of the powder column off to the side, and not directly over the powder exit hole would be an improvement over the Star system, and no, Star did not provide such a baffle.

Quite a number of us on this forum are Bullseye pistol shooters, a sport that requires a fair degree of accuracy from a handgun.   Personally I've been very satisfied with the consistency in drop weights because of the results I get both in group size and in chronograph results.   Now if I were a silhouette shooter I might be looking for even better results.

I thought the Bench Rest guys weighed out individual charges.

794

Star Reloaders / Re: Random Thoughts on the Star Powder Tube Magazine

« on: September 02, 2009, 09:46:12 pm »

Actually, I've been amazed at how consistant powder drop weights are with a Star.  I think the internal baffle and the vibrations caused by the notches in the powder slide cam are the main reason.   I have a Sartorius laboratory scale that measures +/- .01 grain.  When ever I check charge weights they seem to be with in +/- .05 grains.

But I guess there is always room for improvement.   Maybe this design from one of our other members is what your looking for http://www.ray-vin.com/tech/hack/baffle.pdf

795

Star Reloaders / Re: Dies for the Star - Longevity by Brand?

« on: August 30, 2009, 09:26:14 am »

Most die sets are in fact Star, with only the sizer die being from LifeTyme of RLS.  Star started selling reloaders with carbide sizing dies as an option in the 50's, and by the mid 70's no longer offered a steel sizing die as an option.  (based on the price lists I have accumulated).

Bill Cunningham who bought the Star Reloader assets in 1993 sold parts from the Star inventory, but at some point had CH Tool and Die make some dies for him.  I believe he also had Lee make some dies for him.   That 40 S&W set that I use personally was purchased from Bill Cunningham five or six years ago.  It has a carbide sizing die marked Lee.  I have had two other 40 S&W sets pass through may hands, and both had the same unmarked carbide sizing die.   The one that I have for sale now came directly from Star San Diego, but I don't know who made the sizing die.  The rest of the dies in the set are obviously Star.

I have purchased several CH tool and Die Star type dies and they appear to be well made.   The only Lee that I have is the afore mentioned 40 S&W sizer die, that came via Bill Cunningham and I have no complaints.

Does anyone know when Lifetyme went out of business?   I have never seen a Lifetyme carbide sizing die in 40 S&W.    Did Star offer only the Lifetyme carbide sizing dies as and OEM option, or die they also sell the RLS Perfection dies as an OEM option?