9
« on: October 16, 2023, 09:03:27 am »
Just got back from vacation, so let me add my two cents. Yes, the safety cam is not compatible with taper crimp dies. That's a big reason why you see so many machines with the safety cam removed, even though Star supplied them on every machine. There is a relatively rare Auto Eject Safety Cam that is compatible with some taper crimp dies if there is sufficient clearance between the bottom of the taper crimp die and the shell plate.
I don't think it can be said that the safety cam is compatible with rimmed cases and not compatible with rimless cases. I think that JW4570 might have the same problem loading 45 Colt as 45 ACP as there is just not enough clearance to remove a rimless case or let a rimmed case drop out the bottom.
While personally, I recommend using a taper crimp die with rimless cases, strictly speaking it's not required. There are a ton of 45 ACP machines out there with no taper crimp die and as I recall, Star didn't offer any Taper Crimp dies until the early 80's.
JW4570, to get your safety cam to work with 45 ACP, you will need to grind the side of the safety cam that contacts the case sufficiently to allow you to remove the loaded round.
It looks like your machine is Phelps. I can't say if your safety cam is exactly the same as a Star, but they are probably pretty close.