Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - rbwillnj

406
Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: newbie, ordered delux lubesizer
« on: June 01, 2013, 05:16:23 pm »
I'm sure you will be very happy with your Lubesizer.   They can be a little tricky to get adjusted just right but once you find the sweet spot (temperature & pressure) you can size a lot of bullets fast. 

Down the road you might want to consider the air feed for the lube.  I found it to be a great accessory.

I didn't realize that Magma offered the longer lube reservoir.  I have heard of Stars with that option, but they are pretty rare.


407
Star Reloaders / Re: bullet feeder for star
« on: June 01, 2013, 01:59:38 pm »
There is a seller on eBay, "couragecara" who sells a kit to adapt the Lee Bullet feeder to the Star.  It does not include the Lee Bullet Feeder.  He has one listed right now.  

Please don't take this a recommendation as I have no idea how well it works.

408
I have one for you.   I'll send you an email.

409
Star History / Pictures from the Past
« on: May 27, 2013, 07:07:40 pm »
The attached pictures are courtesy of member ar dick harris.   All were taken in 1969/70 time frame.

The first one is Elard Mock assembling Stars in the shop area in 1969.  The first picture I have ever seen of the inside of Star Machine Works.

The next picture is of Ira Wilkerson and Dick Harris outside Star Machine Works in 1969.   Ira worked in the office and handled incoming phone calls.

The third picture is of John Hulme outside of his garage work shop.  According to Dick Harris, John produced the Hulme Case Feeders in a 10ft X 10ft corner of the garage.

Lastly, Elard Mock's business card.

Thank you to A R "Dick" Harris for sharing.

410
Star Reloaders / Re: Star sizer and loader at work in 1936
« on: May 09, 2013, 04:43:27 pm »
So I went back and tried to take a close look of the bullet sizer in the video.   It's only visible for moment, and its not very clear, but the aluminum base appears to have the same shape as the early model discussed in an earlier thread, and it seems to have the cast iron Pressure Screw Nut on top.

http://www.starreloaders.com/forum/index.php?topic=1699.0

Clarence Peterson applied for the Lubesizer patent in August of 1934, and Patient 2,019,795 was granted in November of 1935.

It's really amazing that these two very early Star machines were captured in motion pictures.   Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Now if we could just find some pictures of the Star Machine Works.  (inside and outside)   They must exist somewhere.

411
Star Reloaders / Re: Star sizer and loader at work in 1936
« on: May 06, 2013, 02:02:07 pm »
American Rifleman had a review article about the Star "Progressive" in May 1934, so it was certainly commercial by that date.   Clarence Peterson applied for the "Star" patent in July of 1933, and Patent 2,031,850 was granted on Feb 25th 1934.

The Star in the video has the Pat. Pending aluminum base, so it was most probably produced before May of 1934.   The very earliest machines had cast iron bases.  Slightly later they had the aluminum base, but had a brass powder slide housing which the machine in the video does not have. 

I think it is safe to say that the LAPD was a very early adopter of the Star reloader.

The attached picture is courtesy of member Larry Lawson

412
Star Reloaders / Re: Star sizer and loader at work in 1936
« on: May 03, 2013, 09:18:39 am »
Where do we find the movie?

413
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Expander plug depth
« on: April 21, 2013, 08:37:54 pm »
Run it as deep as you need in order to get the desired flair on the case mouth so you don't shave lead.  Less is better because you are working the case less and the cases will last longer.  Some bullets like the Remington Hollow Base Wadcutters require a lot of flair in the case mouth, but they are great bullets so its worth it.

414
Star Reloaders / Re: MA Systems Instructions?
« on: April 20, 2013, 06:27:44 pm »
Thanks to Tony Barone, I now have the instructions for the MA Systems bullet feeder.

Dave,  I will scan them and email a PDF. 

415
Star Reloaders / Re: MA Systems Instructions?
« on: April 19, 2013, 04:06:55 pm »
Thanks to Dave Wilson, I now have instructions for everything except the Bullet Feeder.

Anyone have a set of instructions for the MA Systems Bullet Feeder?

Bruce

416
Star Reloaders / MA Systems Instructions?
« on: April 19, 2013, 08:55:29 am »
I recently picked up a number of MA Systems products including, the case feeder, bullet feeder, indexer and auto eject.   I have no instructions, and I don't know if what I have is complete or missing parts.   

Does anyone have instructions for these products?

Bruce

417
Star Reloaders / Re: Another new guy with a couple questions
« on: April 04, 2013, 08:51:53 pm »
I can help you with the powder magazine and the primer follower.

http://www.starreloaders.com/forum/index.php?board=3.0

418
Star Reloaders / Re: Another new guy with a couple questions
« on: April 04, 2013, 03:02:59 pm »
Looks like you have a very nice machine in great condition.   You have a separate taper crimp die installed, which is great, but you can't use a safety cam when a taper crimp die is installed.   I'm sure that's why it was removed.   

The safety cam helps to prevent double charges.  If you are loading a caliber without a separate taper crimp die, the safety cam prevents the tool head from being fully lowered if the shell plate has not been indexed.

You should lower the dowel pin so the top is flush with the top surface of the tool head. 

419
Star Reloaders / Re: Phelps indexer
« on: April 04, 2013, 02:49:16 pm »
So far as I know, Phelps never made an indexer.  However, there was one type of indexer that could be used on a Phelps, so I'm guessing that's what you have.   I believe the manufacturer might have been Capital as I have some correspondence from Phelps that recommends that indexer. 

The one that I'm speaking of has a couple of wheels and a braided wire cable.   It mounts on the back of the machine using the threaded hole in powder slide cam and the safety cam standard.  I have several of them that I'm not using.

420
Star Reloaders / Re: Homemade "Star"
« on: April 04, 2013, 09:54:06 am »
The pictured reloader was built by Ben Schrier, a machinist who worked for Bethlehem Steel.  Ben built at least four of these in the 80's.  Sadly, Ben is no longer with us.

Ben was a shooter, and a member of the Lehigh Valley Police Revolver League which is believed to be the oldest continuously operating Bullseye League in the country.  In 2012 we celebrated our 75th anniversary.