Topics

1

Star History / Star Branding Through the Years

« on: July 17, 2025, 08:10:11 am »

Below are the various ways Star branded their machines throughout their production history.   On very early Pat. Pending machines Star Machine Works was incorporated into the cast iron base.   Next came the brass plaque on the tool head followed by the decal we are most familiar with.   There are some slight variations in the decal font over the years, but it remained pretty much unchanged for many years.

The yellow decal came next.   Don't know when they started using this, but based on the recent post about a "New in the Box" machine, it was in use in 1987.

The yellow decal was followed by the silver sticker.   I have a Rifle machine with this sticker which I know was produced in 1990.

The sliver sticker was followed by the gold metallic sticker.   Star was using this at the end.

The Star Machine Works - Pioneer California is the sticker that Bill Cunningham used.   He assembled some machines from parts and also sold tool heads with this label.

The last one is the decal that I use on the machines that I rebuild.   The field is gold rather than the mustardy color in the original Star decals.   I don't sell them.  They are used exclusively on the machines that I rebuild, so please don't ask.    I hate to disappoint.


Bruce Williams

2

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Good Bullseye Load for W231 for 45 ACP

« on: February 13, 2023, 09:54:54 am »

I have a customer with good supply of W231 that he would like to use for 45 ACP, both 200 gr SWC and 230 gr FMJRN.   I have used 231 for other calibers, but I don't have experience with that powder for 45 ACP.   Can anyone suggest some good Bullseye loads for W231.

Bruce Williams

3

Star History / Progressive NO. 54

« on: April 12, 2022, 04:13:53 pm »

I have added to my collection of Pat. Pending Stars with the oldest one yet.     It's hard to see but stamped on the base is NO. 54, so maybe the 54th machine Star produced?  It has obviously been re-blued by a previous owner and It's green.   At first, I though it must be a re-paint, but the more I look at it, the more I think it is original paint.   There is a light green primer on the underside of the base and that same primer can be seen peeking through the green topcoat.   The angle lever is not original, and I think original the powder slide was probably brass.

The last picture is from a review of the Star Reloader that appeared in the May 1934 issue of American Rifleman.   There are a few differences between that machine and this that make me think that NO.54 is actually older.

Bruce Williams

4

Star Reloaders / Parted out Machines on eBay - Buyer Beware!

« on: January 09, 2021, 12:09:13 pm »

Once again I see that there is a seller on eBay parting out Star reloaders.   Of particular concern is are the Crank Shaft Bearing Assembly, and the Bronze Primer Casting.   Both of these parts are matched to their original counterparts.   

The Crank Shaft assembly is matched to the original column during final assembly.  Even if you can insert the taper pin all the way, which is rare, there is a good chance the link arms won't be square with the tool head.  There is maybe a 5-10% chance that the Crank Shaft Bearing assembly will function on a different column.

The chance that you will be able to use the #75 bronze primer casting on any machine but the one it came from is not much greater than 0%, so don't waist your money.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works LLC

5

Star Reloaders / Moon Indexer Instructions

« on: September 17, 2020, 10:30:55 am »

Does anyone have a set of instructions for the Ray-Vin Moon Indexer.   I had a set but I forgot to make a copy before I sold the unit.

Bruce Williams

6

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / WTS 44 Magnum Shell Plate and Dies

« on: July 07, 2020, 12:36:21 pm »

WTS 44 Magnum Shell Plate and Dies

This is a very lightly used Star Shell Plate and a new set of CH4D dies.   These came along with a large estate purchase I made last year.

Price is $325 shipping included.

7

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / WTS 45 Colt Dies and Shell Plate - Sold

« on: July 07, 2020, 11:05:15 am »

WTS 45 Colt Shell Plate and Die Set

This is a RDM (Rich Daniels) Shell Plate and a Set of CH4D Dies.   Both are new.   I picked them up from and estate last year.

Price is $300 for the set, shipping included.

8

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / WTS 38 Super Dies and Shell Plate - SOLD

« on: July 07, 2020, 11:04:22 am »

WTS 38 Super Shell Plate and Die Set   - SOLD

This is a RDM (Rich Daniels) Shell Plate and a Set of CH4D Dies.   Both are new.   I picked them up from and estate last year.

Price is $300 for the set, shipping included.

9

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / WTS 40 S&W Shell Plate and Die Set- Sold

« on: July 07, 2020, 11:01:40 am »

WTS 40 S&W Shell Plate and Die Set

This is a RDM (Rich Daniels) Shell Plate and a Set of CH4D Dies.   Both are new.   I picked them up from and estate last year.

Price is $300

10

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / WTS 30 Carbine Dies and Shell Plate

« on: July 07, 2020, 10:59:36 am »

WTS 30 Carbine Shell Plate and Dies

This is a RDM (Rich Daniels) Shell Plate and a Set of CH4D Dies.   Both are new.   I picked them up from and estate last year.

Price is $300 for the set, shipping Included.

11

Star Reloaders / New Bullseye Powder VMD

« on: March 13, 2020, 11:24:33 am »

As many of you know, I offer powder slides that accept interchangeable bushings, and I make custom bushings for the charge of your choice.   I calculate the hole size based on the published VMD data, (essentially the powder density).   Of course powders do vary from lot to lot, so the published VMD for a given powder may not match the VMD for your particular lot.  Usually it comes out pretty darn close, generally +/- 0.1 grains.  Some powders seem to vary more than others, but Bullseye has been pretty consistent.

A while back, I did  a test with a 00 bushing I had made to drop 2.7 grains of Bullseye.   I used three different lots with very different production dates (three different labels) and with the three lots I got charges of 2.65, 2.70, and 2.75 grains.

I was recently contacted by a customer who was using a bushing for 4.0 grains of Bullseye, and with his previous lot of Bullseye he was getting powder drops very close to the target charge.   However, with the newest version of Bullseye, he was getting 3.6 grains.    There can be a number of explanations for this, but I was wondering if anyone else was seeing a significant difference with charge weights for the latest version of Bullseye.

12

Star Reloaders / Hoyer Indexer Instructions

« on: March 01, 2020, 04:47:18 pm »

Does anyone have a set of instructions for a Hoyer Indexer?   Trying to help out a customer.   I have the patent, but not the instructions.

Bruce Williams

13

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / WTS Rebult Star Universal in 45 ACP - Sold

« on: July 05, 2019, 04:52:29 pm »

Sold

Want to Sell a fully rebuilt/refinished Star Universal in 45 ACP.   Your choice of powder charge and bullet seating stem.  Includes Hulme case feeder, separate taper crimp die and one primer pickup.

$900 plus shipping.


Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works

14

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / WTS Adjustable Powder Slides

« on: April 17, 2019, 11:27:39 am »

I have a bunch of adjustable powder slides from various makers available for sale.   Some from Rich Daniels, some from JA Hoag, and one from an unknown maker.   Your choice $125 shipped.   Please contact me directly by phone or email.

Bruce Williams

15

Star Lubricator & Resizers / MOVED: Star sizer

« on: April 10, 2019, 09:38:54 pm »

This topic has been move to Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy.

https://starreloaders.com/forum/index.php?topic=2495.0