Messages

16

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB 9MM SHELL PLATE

« on: August 06, 2024, 04:05:43 pm »

Greetings,

Yours are not necessarily junk.

Just check the critical dimensions prior to use.

I have not seen any finished Berdon plates and they may be case hardened.

Cheers,

Dave

17

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB 9MM SHELL PLATE

« on: August 05, 2024, 11:15:35 am »

Greetings,

I have a plastic tub full of Berdon roughed out shell plates.

Yes, they appear to be mild steel, as analyzed via XRF scanner.

The center holes (1 1/4") are much larger than the Star.

Also, double check the hole indexing of the plates. The Star plates are not indexed 30 degrees to the shell slots.

Berdon made some interesting stuff. He was local and I saw him at the Goon Shows.

Cheers,

Dave

18

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB 9MM SHELL PLATE

« on: August 01, 2024, 12:12:32 pm »

Greetings,

Look closely at the shell plate,

It was manufactured by Bubba Engineering.

Not an original Star.

Cheers,

Dave

19

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Bullet Feeder Question...

« on: July 22, 2024, 03:53:25 pm »

Grrreetings Humbo,

Many thanks!!!

Now to take inventory of the parts in the bag.

Cheers,

Dave

20

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Bullet Feeder Question...

« on: July 22, 2024, 11:19:30 am »

Greetings,

I have a Bullet Feeder for the Star greaser.

Might be manufactured by Magma.

Does anyone have a Magma Owner's Manual so I can verify if all the pieces are present?

I have no use for it and need more room in the Mann Kave.

Cheers,

Dave

21

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Primer Choice in Star Progressive

« on: May 01, 2024, 08:35:04 pm »

Greetings,

On rare occasion, a lot of primers will be slightly larger in diameter and not flow through the feed tube without sticking.

I have had this happen with all the major brands.

Might soak a Q-Tip in 99% Isopropyl alcohol and push it through the feed tube to clean up any possible dirt/fouling.

You can use the Primer Follower Rod to push the Q-Tip through.

Be sure to send a dry Q-Tip through at the end of the cleaning.

Cheers,

Dave

22

Star History / Re: No more Star Greasers....

« on: March 02, 2024, 08:15:37 pm »

What about dies, is there someone who makes dies for the Star sizers?

Greetings,

Original Star dies are made of Tool Steel, hardened, outside ground, inside honed, and the leade polished.

Not to mention the holes on the side to grease the bullet....

Also note the profile of the entry hole of the die. It is a slightly larger diameter followed by a taper.

They look simple; but, are a precision tool.

Lots of folks are making dies made on a lathe with no heat treat.

Only a small piece of grit will scratch/score the inside of the die and your bullets will now have a scratch on the outside.

If you mistakenly press a slightly oversize die (the 0.7500" diameter) into your press, all your original Star dies may start to leak lube at the top and bottom because the hole in the Greaser was swaged larger in diameter.

Machining a die properly is not difficult; yet, it is time consuming to do right. Especially one die at a time. Doing ten identical dies would make it less tedious.

I do not envy your quest for aftermarket dies.

Cheers,

Dave

23

Star History / No more Star Greasers....

« on: February 09, 2024, 08:34:15 pm »

Greetings,

When Star of San Diego closed, Magma Engineering purchased the Greaser tooling and parts.

I have now learned that two weeks from today, 09FEB2024, the assets of Magma Engineering will be auctioned off.

Mr. Clausing said that sourcing of castings and other material along with not being able to find skilled conventional Machinists led to his decision to close shop.

No one has come forward to purchase the company.

So, if you want a Star Greaser, now is the time to buy.

Hopefully, we will not see Star Greasers of Communist China on the horizon.

Good news, taken care of, the Greasers will outlast the owner.

Cheers,

Dave

24

Star Reloaders / Re: Glass Powder Hopper

« on: February 01, 2024, 11:44:19 am »

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I have not used mine yet. I need to trim the cut off slide so it fits the machine.

What other issues should I watch for?

Cheers,

Dave

25

Star Reloaders / Re: Glass Powder Hopper

« on: January 24, 2024, 01:42:21 pm »

Greetings,

I was able to cut the thread to the proper Star Tapered 9/16-27.

So, I install it on my machine and, grrrrr, when you push the slide in to stop the powder and try to unscrew the hopper the slide is too long and binds on the tool head.

So sad. A nicely machined part that does not work.

Cheers,

Dave

26

Star Reloaders / Re: Glass Powder Hopper

« on: January 11, 2024, 07:59:27 pm »

Greetings,

Good point. I believe Star would not endorse shut off devices on the hopper.

For me, I would be lost without a hopper with a shutoff.

I am constantly changing powders and weights to support my testing needs.

Cheers,

Dave

27

Star Reloaders / Glass Powder Hopper

« on: January 11, 2024, 04:15:15 pm »

Greetings,

I purchased a new Glass Powder Hopper with shutoff slide via eBay.

Very nicely machined.

However, the mounting thread is WRONG.

As supplied, it is a 9/16-27 STRAIGHT thread and does not fit the powder housing correctly.

I notified the Seller; but, no response.

I plan to chuck the offending part in my lathe and machine the CORRECT TAPERED THREAD when it warms up a bit.

Cheers,

Dave

28

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Cam over

« on: December 05, 2023, 07:59:10 pm »

Greetings,

With 7/8-14 dies and bottle neck rifle cases, "camming over" ensures the case is forced into the die for proper head space.

The Star is designed for Pistol cases and, as such, camming over is not needed nor desired.

If the face of the Carbide sizing die contacts the shell plate and you "cam it over" you risk fracturing the Carbide ring.

To adjust the Carbide Sizing die, back it off and cycle the press down where it is at "bottom dead center". Hold the handle with one hand and screw the die down until it just touches the shell plate. Nip the lock nut to hold the die in position and cycle the press fully to ensure that the die is not being forced into the shell plate.

Cheers,

Dave

29

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star/Phelps or Phelps 45 acp reloading pres

« on: November 09, 2023, 06:17:17 pm »

Greetings,

The extra die is likely the Taper Crimp die.

The 3/8" mounting post is the early version.

Cheers,

Dave

30

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: FOR SALE --- Star Universal Loader

« on: September 21, 2023, 04:48:31 pm »

Greetings,

Updated text to include "45 ACP".

Cheers,

Dave