Messages

151

Star Reloaders / Re: Are Star Heads Specific to Cal.?

« on: August 16, 2007, 10:17:02 am »

Curt,

Yes you can switch dies & shellplate. Most of the heads have the star proprietary threads so star dies are needed. There is a seller on ebay who recuts threads on 7/8-14 dies for use in the star. In the case you don't have the star dies contact me and I'll try to find his e-mail. Seems that dies & plates go quite high on ebay which is about the only place I'm aware of that you see star parts.
Good Luck!
Ron H

152

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Star Sizer needs adjusted flowing lube?

« on: July 13, 2007, 02:47:48 pm »

We used the blue lube also and it worked quite well. I used a light bulb for my maual Star in winter, moving it or switching it off as needed.  It is a mess when things are not aligned as 2150 described how to correct and if too hot a real mess. Later we had a motor driven Star and used the same lube. We used a heater on it which was as I recall hard to reg. In the summer we placed sev sticks on the hood of the car to warm 1st. This worked pretty well as being powered it ran close to 50 bullets a min. Heat was important w/ the hard lube. The prewarming let us run w/o the heater until it got a little hard. Running it manually you would feel it easily.
All this stuff w/ heat is seat of the pants. Hang in there, you'll get it right. Just set it up as 2150 instructed.
Ron

153

Star Reloaders / Re: Star Machine Works web page

« on: June 19, 2007, 03:04:26 pm »

Hi,

Some time ago I advised I could load & refresh the website....someone suggested I had synchronized it. You were right as when I rechecked I couldn't access the site. Too bad the owner doesn't offer what ever he has plus the rights for sale.

I apologize for for erroneous onfo!

Ron H

154

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: VitaV Powder Data

« on: May 24, 2007, 02:00:45 pm »

Excuse the delay in response. Hadn't checked this part of the forum lately. I use, and 75-100 shooters in my area have used the following load since around 1980.  4.2 Bullseye w/ a 160 gr SWC in 45 1911's w/ slide mounted dots. These guys are all Bullseye shooters & shoot a lot.

 Of the initial loads from a new 4# can of BE (100 rd trial run) 2 of the 1st 20 cycled.  Reliability came with 4.5 gr.  The loads are very smoky w/ a pungeunt odor frequently commented on by other shooters. It was so noticeable I checked the clean brass for a sawdust/trash spill.

 Alliant was most helpful. I am totally ignorant of pdr & reloading & that I & the other shooters mentioned prev are using an inadequate pdr chg & shouldn't expect it to work. Also, a .3 gr variation in lots is within their spec. The strange smell & large amt of smoke is due to an inadequate pdr chg. In the past I have noticed variation in wt to volume (less han.1 gr) but never reliability prolems.

Solution: 3.9 gr Clays w/ the prev mentioned bullet.  3.8 Clays is a bit weak but very accurate in my 2 guns.

155

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: HELP!!!!! WITH STAR RELOADER

« on: May 24, 2007, 01:03:05 pm »

Hi,

By 3-4 I presume you mean 3-4 bullets? If the the grooves aren't filled out either pressure or heat is needed. If the op handle & pres handle offers a lot of resistance the lube is prob too cold. If after setting a few mins 3 or 4 more bullets fill out, the heater is not be doing the job. Another pos is air pockets in the reservoir. This is usually accompanied by pops & spurts of lube when additional pres is applied & occurs after a lube refill then goes away.

I no longer run a luber-sizer & didn't have a heater so no exp w/ them. Except in hot summer weather a light bulb placed near the lube res was needed.  Once the the right heat is found you should get a good feel for it & operation should be trouble free. 

Lube type is a factor. The old formula soft lubes will get almost runny when overheated. The newer hard lubes common today and require more heat to soften enough to flow.

My last exp was prob 10 yrs ago but  remember what I used to do. Just can't remember what I did lately!

Good Luck!!

Ron H

156

Star Reloaders / Re: Star Machine Works web page

« on: May 23, 2007, 04:27:05 pm »

Loads OK and does so when I try "refresh". Again I haven't tried to make a contact w/ them.

157

Star Reloaders / Re: Star Machine Works web page

« on: May 16, 2007, 04:21:20 pm »

Try that web site again    www.starmachineworks.com    loads ok for me today...can't vouch for response...anyone else had a recent exp, especially delivery of an order?

Ron H

158

Star Reloaders / Re: Change 38 SPL to 357

« on: March 18, 2007, 02:56:47 pm »

Hi.... 1.Loosen the locknut on the belling plug. 2.Using a screwdriver back the plug up until it just reaches the 357 case (toolhead must be lowered) 3.Raise head slightly & turn the plug down until it gives a satisfactory bell. (Test by lowereing head on a case)l. 4. Retighten the locknut taking care plug setting doesn't chg. 5. Loosen the seater die locknut and move the die up until the head can be lowerd onto a 357 case w/o excess crimp. 6. Retighten locknut holding die in position by gripping the knurled portion of the die. The previous assumes using the same bullet as used for 38 sp. If not prior to loosening the seater loosen the plug in the seater and back it out enough to allow clearing the new bullet. Then adjust it down until desired seat depth is achieved & lock in plase again taking care not to chg adj when tightening. Pdr chg: Depending on the system in place on your machine it will req a chg unless the same ammo perf as 38 is desired. Orig equip will require a dif "bar" be put in place. You will see 2 screws on the pdr slide cover which can be removed allowing access to the pdr bar.

You may have to clean the seater die. Lube has a tendencey to "stick" everything together. Pass a small wire thru the seater plug's vent hole to clear it.    Ron H

159

Star Reloaders / Re: Universal vs Progessive Identification

« on: January 19, 2007, 01:24:57 pm »

Thanks for the information!

The machine I secured is a progessive....in spite of long neglect, after thorough cleaning, it is producing ammo again. It required 3 replacements, all springs, either worn out, replaced incorrectly, or abused.

Thanks again for the help!

Ron

160

Star Reloaders / Universal vs Progessive Identification

« on: January 11, 2007, 04:07:01 pm »

What features can be readily observed to distinguish the 2 versions? Were the Progessive's only made for 38 & perhaps 45? I have read on ebay, by a regular seller, that the ID of the 2 versions are not easily deterimined.

I recently obtained what I judge to be an older machine in 38. Although horribly dirty, it had no serious rust, the machine cleaned up well. I ran sev cases thru it adjusting the dies and all is in order. The owner apparently believed in the use of lubrication which helped preserve it.  There are minor differences from my 70's produced Universal (purchased new) so I have a  machine for comparison.

The survivability of these machines is quite remarkable. I recently helped a new shooter set up a "blue" machine w/ all the options. After more set up time (2 working) , than it took to tear down, cleanup, & reassmble the old Star, it was returned for troubleshooting while the Star is ready to produce amunition. Setup for my original Star was securing to the bench, adding powder & primers, then adjusting bullet seating depth.

Thanks for information any of you provide.

161

Star Reloaders / Re: Phelps indexer?

« on: January 06, 2007, 03:10:17 pm »

I have 1 of 6 indexers a friend made copying an old unit. Excellent quality. Speeds up operation 25-30% but, how much speed or work is desirable? I usually load 300 rds per session. When using the indexer it's convenient to load 500. My opinion is rds per hour  reported loaded w/ a grain of salt. Pulling that handle a dozen or so times a min becomes work after just a few mins! I only use it for 45's [no e-mail]@ present as I have an unresolved small primer feed problem. Clearing problems w/ the indexer installed is inconvenient. To aid in this, and emptying the pdr res, I mounted the indexer w/ T-Nuts & SHC screws. A spin of a T-wrench pivots it out of the way or allows removal. The unit only contacts the case so additional mach wear is non exisatant.

Mr. Walter's comment "the indexer answers a non existant problem" is a good point. Of several additions/modifications to my machine it is the least advantageous. As a side note it has a Hulme, a homemade "freeloader", a counter, it has been modified for loaded rd ejection, homemade pdr bushings, an extra thicker bar to acccept Hornady bushings, a longer operating handle, & has been modified to allow removal of cases for inspection at the sizing station. Any comments from others as to their chg's additions would be of interest!

162

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / VitaV Powder Data

« on: December 26, 2006, 09:45:45 pm »

Can anyone advise starting data for V V N310 pdr for the 45 ACP 185 and/ or 38 spec 148 WC? Would also be interested in any info regarding which bushings to use.  i.e.   converting from Bullseye to N310. I currently use 4.4 BE for the 45ACP w/ a 160 gr & 2.9 for the 38 spec w/a 148 gr.

Have exp'd lot to lot variation in bullseye recently. I have used BE since 1970 and this was never an issue in the past. I have also encountered pdr bridging when left idle for a short period of time (2 to 2.5 hrs). Shooters using other pdrs tell me they never have this problem. Would be interested in any data and/or comments.

Thanks!

163

Star Reloaders / Home Made Freeloader

« on: December 03, 2006, 04:16:39 pm »

Use a funnel with a large enough outlet to be clamped onto a shortened tube. The funnel may have to be shortened and/or split.  Cement a flat piece of plastic a couple inches from the top of the funnel. Cut a round hole in the center of this piece. Dia large enough to let a 45 case drop thru easily. The tube should reach the bottom of this plastic. A gasket or spacer may be required to fit the funnel to the tube.I drilled & tipped the lever and fastened a silver soldered  SS loop to give the assembly enough movement for the cases to drop.

This setup works fine for 38, 357, & 45ACP assuming you have the proper blocks for the Hulme.

Star73

164

Star Reloaders / Re: Ebay, Loaders & Parts For Sale

« on: July 05, 2006, 01:08:12 pm »

Thanks for the info regarding this ebay seller. Just after the post above I rec'd a respnse from Jones regarding a question about a possible purchase which was a rather disjointed rant about conmputers, eventually getting his price etc. It was a month after the inquiry was made. We are indeed a captive market.

165

Star Reloaders / Ebay, Loaders & Parts For Sale

« on: July 03, 2006, 02:24:47 pm »

I recently have been watching ebay for Star related items. There is a seller there who offers "original Star parts & machines" stating he is disposing of his "remaining original" stock explaining it's superior quality in great detail.

Note that even though he is disposing of these original parts etc he is also a bidder on certain Star parts.


---- NOTE FROM THE MODERATOR ----? The above post is informational, faciliating replies and discussion. The WBT/WTS forum posts must contain an advertisment of desire to purchase or sell an item.?The post was moved to this discussion forum.