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Messages - ARTINCT

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91
Star Reloaders / Re: Random Thoughts on the Star Powder Tube Magazine
« on: September 03, 2009, 07:26:31 pm »
Thanks Ron, that is good to know.  Somehow my machines lost theirs along the way to me.
Art

92
Star Reloaders / Re: moon unit indexer
« on: September 03, 2009, 12:04:36 pm »
Hi Gang:
I have just installed both the Moon Unit Indexer and the Moon Unit Case Kicker from Ray Brandes.

To say I am highly pleased with these two products from Ray is a gross understatement.  First off, the web site Ray has fashioned is top notch.  Ray has some Utube videos for each tool.  The case kicker video is top notch and shows installation and adjustment techniques.  The indexer video just shows the indexer at work.  I hope some day Ray can do a full length video of installation and adjustment for that product as well.

The case kicker installed quickly and worked flawlessly almost from the get go on my 45 ACP Star Universal.  A really nice product with a wonderful matte finish in a gray parkerized type patina.

The indexer is just slightly more complex to install and adjust but is well worth the effort.  The index bar only touches or presses against/upon the cartridge case and thus will NOT cause any undo wear or harm to the shell plate.  I just had to adjust the indexer to fully push the case from the resize station to the prime station and this adjustment was rather simple to effect.  The indexer also is finished in the gray matte parkerized finish.  

The only downside of the indexer would possibly be that it would have to be loosened up, taken off and readjusted if you changed machine heads or shell plates or required a major cleaning.  But then that is not really any big deal to be honest with you and it would allow you to clean and lube the indexer.  I now have about 500 rounds of 45 ACP loaded using the indexer and cannot see why I would want to run a Star without one.

I have ordered two more complete systems indexer/kicker systems from Ray for my 9mm and 38 special Stars.

A tip of the old hat to Ray for providing such fine machine tools.  The case kicker is a marvel to watch and the spring mechanism is perfect and ingenious.

Thanks Ray!

93
Star Reloaders / Re: Random Thoughts on the Star Powder Tube Magazine
« on: September 03, 2009, 09:52:55 am »
Hi Bruce:

So then it appears that the powder baffle, if present in a Star Powder tube, is or was a retrofit item provided by the owner and or could have been provided by Star?

Regarding benchrest powder throws... most reloading (decapping, shoulder bumping and slight neck sizing, powder charging and bullet seating) is done at the range, outdoors, usually under a covered shed on picnic type tables or similar type tables in a designated reloading area.  

Due to wind and weather, this does not allow for weight measurments of any accurate manner.  The typical benchrest shooter uses a micrometer type powder measure, such as a modern Harrell measure or an older Culver or Jones measure (among others).  These measures have an audible "Click" type ball detent micrometer for setting charges.   Usually for a specific bullet and gun and set of cases, a consistant powder throw is achieved at the range without any weight measurment but rather a volumetric measurement.  

At home in a controlled environment, you can weigh the click load to define the weight but when discussing powder charges, powder type, lot number and click number information is exchanged.  On certain days when the weather is hotter or cooler, the clicks may be added on to or reduced by +/- one or two clicks.

In any case I find the Star powder dispenser to be quite accurate for my purposes with or without a baffle as long as you keep the powder column in the powder magazine as close to the same level within reason.  I suspect that throws with only 1/2 inch of powder in the magazine would differ in weight vs throws with a full magazine of powder.  That would stand to reason.

Thanks for the inputs on this guys...

94
Star Reloaders / Re: Random Thoughts on the Star Powder Tube Magazine
« on: September 03, 2009, 07:37:15 am »
Well this feedback is quite informative.  I have three Star machines at the moment and none of them had a powder baffle in the powder magazine other than my first Star (which I retrofitted with a baffle).   

I am not the original or first owner on any of my machines so I cannot say, if along the way, my powder magazines have had baffles removed or lost when the magazines were restored.

So did Star provide a perforated powder baffle as standard equipment in the powder magazine?


95
Star Reloaders / Random Thoughts on the Star Powder Tube Magazine
« on: September 02, 2009, 06:18:20 pm »
As a long time modern Benchrest rifle shooter I am quite familiar with much of the current equipment associated with that exacting sport as it relates to reloading and powder charge throwing.

If one examines the typical Star powder tube magazine, be it plastic or metal, one thing that is present in most all benchrest powder measures is missing from the Star.  The part that is missing is the single perferation isolation baffle.

The typical benchrest "click" type of micrometer powder measure has an internal reservoir chamber that is separated from the "bottle" or powder magazine by a metalic baffle that has a single hole about the size of a pencil or felt tip pen body.

The purpose of this baffle is to mantain a specific and consistant volume and pressure of powder above and around the dispensing orafice.  The perforated baffle isolates the larger quantity of powder (and always diminishing) from the measuring chamber. Thus as one reloads round after round the hole in the baffle allows a replenishment of powder that is being drawn from the reservoir chamber by the slide bar.   It keeps the weight and compression equal at all times on the mechanical dispenser regardless if the magazine is very full (heavy) or nearly empty (light).  As long as the internal reservoir is full, then in theory, all dispensing mechanics being equal, one has a greater chance of equal powder throws or measures.

I notice that this concept of the powder isolation baffle is pretty much missing from the typical Star powder magazine.    I have fashioned one out of aluminum and have inserted it into my Star plastic powder tube about 2 inches above the metal funnel which screws into the OO powder slide top.

The long distance black powder rifle cartridge shoots all use baffles in their ancient B&M loaders.  Baffles are present in all the Harrel's benchrest and scheuzen precision measures.  Also the coveted Jones and Culver benchrest measures employ baffles as well.

Has anyone else experimented with a single perferated baffle?

Also,  the three or four indents on the Star's vertical powder cam actually serve a major purpose as far as I can see.  If you take the powder magazine off of the magazine holder and can see the operation of the powder bar in action, the little indents on the cam actually "SHAKE" the powder slide both forward and back to achieve a "vibrational settling" of the powder.   The speed in which you operate you Star should probably be such that the vibrational settling is the same time after time if you are after consistant powder charges.

Benchrest shooters achieve vibrational settling by tapping the lever of their powder measure two to six or more times for each powder charge upstroke.  Of course there are those who only do the tap once...
But non the less, the guys at Star were onto something with those fine indents on the cam.

If you cam is so old and worn as to have the indents heavily rounded down or pretty much gone, then I would suspect your powder charge thows are not as consistant as they could be.

I welcome thoughts and comments on this.

I also welcome some of the more talented and gifted craftsment here to fashion a Star tube with at least one internal perforated baffle as part perhaps of a two part plastic and one part turned aluminum baffle into which the plastic magazine fits.

Cheers...




96
Star Reloaders / Dies for the Star - Longevity by Brand?
« on: August 30, 2009, 06:38:08 am »
Like most Star users, the dies that came with my Star's machine head(s) simply are adjusted and
sometimes cleaned, but rarely changed out for others.  In other words I do not have 2 sets of 45 ACP dies with one being Lifetyme Brand and the other set being another brand...

None the less, I am aware that there are at least four brands of dies out there for Star reloading machines.  I was just wondering what everyone's perceptions of these die brands are?  I usually refrain from the typical forum questions that are like... "WHICH IS BEST" or "9mm vs 10mm" etc.
So I am sorry in that respect of asking this question.  

However, perception based upon first hand use experience is a pretty good teacher.

So what die brand for the Star is held in the highest esteem?  Especially as lognevity is concerned given that the dies are well cared for by the user (cleaned and lightly polished).  (also which die of the set of three or four gives the most problems or issues over time?)

Lifetyme?
Perfection?
CH 4D?
Lee ?

Others?


97
Star Reloaders / Primer Catcher Idea
« on: August 30, 2009, 06:17:42 am »
Hi Guys:
I mount my Stars on directly on top of a realoading bench that has a 3/4" plywood subsurface covered with tempered bakelite.  So my Stars are bolted near the edge of the bench with four 2 inch long by 1/4" -20  machine screws, washers and nuts.  I drill 4 holes after marking them for these machine screws and also using a forstner bit I drill a 1 1/2" large hole in the area of the decapping station so that the primers can drop thru the bench.

In the past I simply put a large coffee can under the hole on the bench shelf.  However yesterday, while at my auto parts store, I noticed a Pennzoil plastic funnel for sale in 1/2 pint size or 4" across at the mouth.  The funnel has a sturdy extended handle with a hole drilled in it for display and hanging purposes.

I bought one.  Hurried home and removed the machine screw nut and washer from the one nearest the decapping die and slipped the funnel up onto the machine screw from under the bench.  I then reinstalled the nut and washer.  The funnel is now positioned under the hole that the primers drop through.  I happened to have a small plastic cap that fit the throught of the funnel and this turns the funnel into a rather large primer catcher.  I simply have to pull off the cap after placing a small container under it to empty the funnel.  A nice simple and cheap method for primer catching for those that permanently mount their Stars to the bench.

98
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: PRIMERS
« on: August 26, 2009, 09:56:55 am »
As of last week, 8/20/2009 one of the largest gun shops here in Connecticut (Hoffman's in Newington) had a massive supply of primers in every configuration.  Even Benchrest rifle in large and small were in stock. 

Just prior however, there we no primers at Hoffman's other than shotshell.  The brands were CCI, Winchester, Remington and Federal.  Hoffman's was limiting per customer sales at 2000 primers per day. 

So I suspect that the supply "may" have hopefully increased and that with the local amount of primers in stock that the demand will be quenched.

We can only hope....

99
Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Getting Ready to Buy My First
« on: August 26, 2009, 06:57:44 am »
The Previous reply is quite interesting...??

In any case,  For either the Magma or the Star Lubrisizer I would suggest three options.... if conditions warrant....

1) If you are using hard wax based lubricants as is typical in pistol shooting, then the Magma Heated base is the best choice.  It has a rehostat for heat control and a little light that comes on when the heating element is activated and goes of when inactive.

2) The Magma bullet feeder (which is best mounted on their heated base just discussed is a wonderful addition to the lubrisizer and you should consider it.

3) The D or Shovel Handle is a nice option to have when doing as you mention 3000 bullets per month.

I hope this helps you out.  I have two lubrisizers, one is always set up for 45 ACP and the other gets changed to what ever I need to lube at the time.

Cheers

100
Star Reloaders / Re: Hornady powder bushings in Star Machine
« on: August 25, 2009, 10:10:40 am »
Bruce (RBWILLNJ) does have these powder slides with bushings available.  I have just ordered one last week from him (8/19/2009).  This set up is very similar to the native powder bushing system on my CH4D Autochampion progressive presses.

On the CH press, as I needed a particular bushing for something "custom" I would just take a spare bushing (good to have some small diameter spares on hand) and chuck it up in my drill press vice.  Then with the appropriate size drill and some cutting oil you can custom make a bushing via trial and measure/weigh for a particular powder.  Once set I etch the grains and powder type in the outside edge of the bushing.  After a few years of doing this I have a library of bushings and very rarely need to modify any.

Cheers

101
Hi Guys:
I am quite new to the Star Forum.  However, I have had a Star Universal for a very long time.
So I am a Long Time / First Time User/Forum member.

That all said, I have my Star permanently set up on my reloading bench with 38 Special wadcutter for my S&W 52.2 target pistol.

I have always been in a quandry as to what is exactly the best way or method to empty the Star machine's powder magazine tube when my reloading done for an expected extended period?  I keep my powder tube very full as I find that the powder drop is more consistant when at least filled at greater than 50% or more.

Can any of you perhaps share, in a step by step manner, how you accomplish emptying your powder Tube?

I noticed someone has sort of invented a nifty one-off powder shut off that requires a modification of the charge bar holder.... this was posted somewhere here in the forum with pictures....

All ears and eager to learn any tricks you all may have developed.

Thanks in Advance....
Art In CT

102
Survey Says... / I just Joined Too
« on: August 21, 2009, 01:12:04 pm »
I have just joined the Star Forum as well, August 20, 2009.

I am a long time reloader and have had my first Star Universal with two heads (38 Special and 45 ACP) and shell plates since 1973.  I now have two other Stars Universals,  one is set up as 45 ACP and the other as 9mm Luger.
Two of the Stars have Hulme case feeders and the other has a Rich Daniels case feeder.  All three are equipped with Ray Brandes' Moon Unit indexers as well as his case flippers.  Also all three now have MA Lewis's find powder drain 00 attachment for quick powder dumping from the powder magazine.  I have retrofitted a 6 tube CH4D AutoChampion rotary case magazine to my 45 ACP Star with Hulme case feeder.   This is a nice setup and works with the Star quite well. Additionally, I have a spare machine head, shell plate and LifeTyme dies for 40 S&W which typically goes on the 38 Special Star.

I used to run 3 other progressives for pistol calibers.... they are all CH 4D AutoChampion Mark V's in 9mm,  38 Special and 40 S&W and 45 ACP, all with CH4D die sets, and these units are for sale if anyone is interested in them.

I also reload for accuracy in the area of modern benchrest rifle shooting and black powder cartridge shooting with custom H presses and should bump/decapping presses.  No progressives are used in my rifle reloading.

I am a avid lead bullet caster in the cooler winter months, and collect Hensley & Gibbs molds and use either of 2 Star Lubrisizers and bullet feeders for lubing my cast bullets.

I live in Southern Connecticut and for the most part shoot at the Ansonia Rod & Gun Club and the Bridgeport Rifle Club.


Cheers

Art

103
Star Reloaders / Re: New Dies
« on: August 21, 2009, 10:03:52 am »
Am I to understand that Dave at CH 4D Tool is making or is able to make reloading dies for the Star Reloader!?  If so then WOW that is wonderful.  I have 4 CH4D AutoChamps and can attest that CH 4D dies are just super pieces of art and function.  I know for a fact that Dave fashioned seating dies for my 9mm in both flat and round nose and included both with a recently ordered 9mm set.

So please can someone let me know if this good news is true?

Thanks from A new Member,  ARTinCT

Art

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