Messages

16

Star Reloaders / Re: new owner ... lots to learn

« on: June 21, 2010, 12:00:31 am »

I'm with Mike on the freeloader w/ the same reasoning. I use pdr slides drilled for bushings and prefe to keep a small yogurts plastic cup for draining pdr...a reservoir for spilling into!

ron

17

Star Reloaders / Re: Hulme Case Feeder Instructions/Troubleshooting

« on: June 20, 2010, 11:49:16 pm »

Does anyone have instructions or troubleshooting tips on the Hulme case feeder assembly? I am starting to have 45 acp cases that don't always snap completely into the shellholder. This happens intermittently now but never did it before. The feeder bar seems to move pretty freely. How do you take this apart? I have been unable to find any instructions on it.
Dale

Check the actuating cam position. If it has slipped a bit the unit will be "shortstroking"-not giving the full cycle needed. If this appears is so  adjust he securing nut as needed.

ron

18

Star Reloaders / Re: Different Saftey Cam

« on: April 05, 2010, 12:41:45 pm »

It looks like the standard safety cam might be modified to do the same job?

Jerry & RB what do you think?

I modified my machine using SS wheelchair spokes as "guides", 1 to hold the case in position [no e-mail]@ TC, the other to eject it.

But I would like to have the safety  part.

Thanks, Ron

19

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

« on: March 21, 2010, 06:38:09 pm »

I found myself short 1 item, a lathe.

Ron

20

Star History / Re: Star or Not??

« on: March 20, 2010, 08:12:03 pm »

NYKenn, you mention the brass pdr hsg...note it's home mfg, the threaded ring for it's pdr reservoir is soldered  in place, also note the rough edges on the base flange holding the pdr measure assy in place, different screw locations etc. Possibly missing parts from long ago & some one re mfg'd  the top hsg & pdr slide housing?

Ron

21

Star History / Re: Star or Not??

« on: March 20, 2010, 08:04:47 pm »

The top housing (square/rectangular) certainly looks strange! A replacement for a cracked or broken housing installed by the user after hard use? It looks as if this machine has had some "misfortunes" w/ the rivets etc. Looks like a homemade casfeeder was used. It would be interesting to hear the history of this machine!

As far as the identity, isn't the lettering "Pat Pending" on the base a dead giveaway? Star.

Ron

22

Star History / Re: Last two Stars Produced?

« on: March 20, 2010, 07:45:23 pm »

Somebody posted prices from the different era's. Are there liat prices for the last production?

Ron

23

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

« on: March 20, 2010, 07:40:37 pm »

Ken W. I think, wrote "wasn't that the idea behind the CPM"? That pretty well sums it up. I heard Bill Detloff (CPM owner) say on sev occasions a loader could be built better & cheaper than Stars. He built a good machine w/some of the improvements listed. Price was virtually the same as Star. I have never been able to find out any approximation of the no's he sold. Possibly a CPM employee or accountant could shed light.

3 loader businesses , Star, Phelps, & CPM, folded after the primary person involved became inactive. Viability of this business must ave been in question then (20+ yrs ago?) or one of the 3 would have at least given production a serious attempt.

When I started pistol competition there was one game, Bullseye, and 1 progressive loader, Star. Today there are several games and sev progressives. I did not have the $$ for a Star, 2 of us split one. Today we w/ have ea prob bought a cheaper loader.

This is what the prospective businessman is up against.

Ron

24

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

« on: March 20, 2010, 06:59:26 pm »

Like 333OKH my 9mm shellpate had a larger OD than base ID. From that it would seem all 38 plates have a smaller OD as I use my Universal plate on the Prog. I use it as the Prog was an old , very dirty nmachine I found and with a plate was so stained I hated to have it on my bench.
Ron

25

Star Reloaders / Re: freeloader repair

« on: February 07, 2010, 06:08:09 pm »

Here's a bit of the lighter side......Some yrs ago a couple of us made  freeloaders for use on our stars. Many yrs later, after the other shooter had died another shooter volunteered to assist his widow in pricing & disposing of his equipment. He found his laoder & sizer sitting there ready to go 5 or so yrs after his demise. His widow, upon looking at the loader exclaimed " There's Jimmy's cereal bowl! I never could understand what could have happened to it!" Jimmy, a son, is long grown thus giving indication to the time interval.

26

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

« on: February 07, 2010, 05:52:58 pm »

Bill Detoff, the designer & producer of the CPM, was positive he could beat Star's price building & selling his machine. At least that's what he said before he got them into production.

A considerable amount of costwork should be done in advance.

The gentleman's comment re the 1050 should be considered as very good advice. I've been in Bullseye shooting since '68 & he is the 2nd person I have heard having a 1050. The point here being that beating their price will be tough & how large a market is there for that price machine. Especially when Dillon has a rep for replacing those plastic parts etc for little or nothing.

With all that being said I am a dedicated Star owner & user.

My list for this dream machine:
7/8-14 dies
Choice of adjustable pdr bar or drilled for Hornady bushings
Auto Indexing
Hulme
Finished Rd Ejection

27

Star Reloaders / Re: Problem w/ Primer Transfer Bar, Primer Punch, & Bushing

« on: February 07, 2010, 05:35:20 pm »

I've been offline for a time so here is a belated thanks for those who imparted their experiences.

28

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

« on: December 27, 2009, 05:19:32 pm »

I would rather this deal had the shellplate than the head. In other words w/ dies & shellplate you can load. W/o the shellplate you have spent almost $500 and can't load anything!

One of our contrbuters i smaking shellplates....Bruce is that you? One of th4 die makers offers star dies from time to time. I would investigate this alterantive too.

Ron

29

Star History / Re: Factory returns ?

« on: December 18, 2009, 12:48:17 pm »

Kenn,
An interesting comment. One of Dillon's big claims is their warranty. I don't recall it ever being mentioned in regard to Star. I'm like you, never heard of anything that didn't work or broke. The usual comment was that after securing the machine to a bench adding powder & primers the handle was pulled and from the 1st stroke good ammo was being produced.

A couple of yrs ago I set up a Dillon w/ all the bells & whistles. Took 2 sessions after being bolted to the bench. Our 1st attempt produced hit & miss primimg, even a sideways inserted primer! Called Dillon and as good as their word had him send it back. They only had it a couple of days & when it was returned it worked fine.

BUT it is an interesting contrast.

Ron

30

Star Reloaders / Problem w/ Primer Transfer Bar, Primer Punch, & Bushing

« on: December 17, 2009, 05:45:43 pm »

I recently had jams caused by the primer bar being stopped by a primer punch bushing that was not seated properly.

I stoned the bushing top & bottom. The circumference of the punch head showed some marking but no scratches or burrs. neither had the top or bottom. When slid in & out it did not move freely. I spun it in a hand drill against a stone until it was
free. I cleaned the area w/ a small brush & air. Since this I have loaded 230 rds of 45 acp, the round which gave the problem. These little frustrations are occurring more often as the yrs & round count accumulates.

All this being said the condition of the various parts & the operation of the machine is a tribute to the designer & builders! I wonder if 50-60 yrs down the road the plastic & stamped parts in use for the new machines will allow the same to be said

Ron