Messages

1

Star Reloaders / Re: Star 223 Rem rifle press

« on: March 11, 2025, 09:48:23 pm »

Looking at the machine a little closer, it looks like it doesn't have a 223 shell plate.   I might have a 380 shell plate which would hold a 223 case, but it doesn't have a recess in the top of the shell plate large enough to accommodate a 7/8 die for full length sizing.  I'm guessing a 380 shell plate.

2

Star Reloaders / Re: Star 223 Rem rifle press

« on: March 11, 2025, 01:43:37 pm »

That machine is actually a Star Rifle Machine in 223.   Star did make a machine referred to as the Star 223 Pistol Machine that for lack of a better description is a Hybrid between the Rifle Machine and a Universal.   The Rifle Machine has a 1" taller column, and a large capacity powder slide.  The rifle machine uses a tool head with a thicker flange, that is not compatible with a Universal.  Most have an adjustable powder slide, but I have seen early machines with brass powder slides.   

The 223 pistol machine has a standard Universal length column, uses a Rifle tool head and has a thinner powder slide that uses bushings.   I have only seen one 223 Pistol Machine in the wild, so I would say it is even more rare than the elusive Rifle Machine.

At $1500, the machine on eBay is priced fairly.  It is missing dies, but standard RCBS 7/8" dies fit and work well in a Rifle machine.   I can't see if it has the Star expander, but not really needed if you use a sizing die with a carbide expander ball.  If I didn't already have a couple of them, I would grab it.

Bruce Williams

3

Star Reloaders / Re: Primer feed question

« on: December 05, 2024, 09:38:01 am »

Bruce
Green paint on a Star?
Thought that was a Phelps thing.

You might be thinking of CPM.  I have never seen a Phelps in anything but blue.

4

Star Reloaders / Re: Primer feed question

« on: December 02, 2024, 02:33:17 pm »

Bruce
Green paint on a Star?
Thought that was a Phelps thing.

It's a very early machine.  There is a lighter green primer under the green paint, so I'm pretty sure the green is original.    I have another Star with a cast iron base and that one is Blue, but I can see traces of black paint under the blue on all three of the painted parts.   Black, like the picture from American Rifleman is what I would have expected for this time period.

Although according to the 1934 American Rifleman article the Universal model was available at that time, the Universal base on this machine is a later addition.   I can't tell if it was an original Universal with a newer Universal base or if it was originally a Progressive.

Notice that they have already moved away from the Pipe T used for the crankshaft assembly.

5

Star Reloaders / Re: Primer feed question

« on: December 01, 2024, 05:48:52 pm »

The Star Progressives/Universals "always" had the primer feed.  It's shown on their patent application.   Below is a picture of Star Progressive #54 (the only one I have ever seen with a "serial" number), and another picture from the review in the May 1934 American Rifleman. 

No54 is even older than the American Rifleman version.   Notice the absence of link stops to prevent over rotation of the crankshaft.

John Hulme made the Hulme case feeders and use to supply a kit to locate, drill and tap the hole for mounting his case feeder.   It was such a popular accessory that Star started to factory drill & tap the base for the Hulme case feeder.   Best I can figure is they started to do that in about 1959.

Bruce Williams

PS   I have never seen plastic primer feed tubes.  Doesn't mean it didn't happen, but I have never seen one.   With a 60+ year production history, two words that should be avoided when discussing Star reloaders are Always and Never.   And I just broke my own rule.

6

Star Reloaders / Re: Need Help Identifying a Part

« on: November 07, 2024, 07:40:44 am »

It is not a part that I recognize as belonging to either a Star reloader or Lubricator Sizer.

7

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB - Star Universal Reloader

« on: September 24, 2024, 09:08:00 pm »

I can build a Star Universal in 32 ACP for you.

8

Star Reloaders / Re: Picked up a couple presses

« on: August 30, 2024, 10:33:24 pm »

Won’t load pics 🙄

Probably too big.  Individual pictures can be a max of 198Kb.    Use photo editing software to save to a lower resolution, or change the image size.

9

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

« on: August 09, 2024, 07:19:59 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

Berdon shell plates are not hardened and they are pretty sloppy too.    I have several of the machines as well as some parts.   None of the shell plates I have encountered are hardened.   I have a Berdon 9MM shell plate, but I wouldn't trust it to hold a 9MM case.   The sizing die would probably pull the case right through the shell plate.   I recently sold a Berdon 223 shell plate that worked better for 9MM than 223.   I sold it as a stop gap until I have new 9MM shell plates.

Bruce Williams

10

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: FS Star Machine works Case Feeder ( Hulme)

« on: July 26, 2024, 10:48:36 am »

Yes, it has the slot but you will also need an M3A top plate it will handle 45 Colt.   I have some in stock.

Bruce Williams

11

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

« on: July 22, 2024, 04:29:15 pm »

The two pieces that have multiple part numbers are caliber specific.

12

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTS Lee Case Feeders with Adapter to Mount on a Star Reloader

« on: July 11, 2024, 09:55:35 am »

Bump

13

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Rebuilt Powder Magazines

« on: June 09, 2024, 08:13:17 pm »

Bump

14

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTS Primer Magazines, Primer Pickups and Follower Rods

« on: June 09, 2024, 08:10:44 pm »

Bump

15

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTS Hulme Top Plates M3, M3A and 9MM, .380, 32 S&W Long, 40 S&W

« on: June 09, 2024, 08:06:39 pm »

Bump