Messages

1

Star Reloaders / Re: 223 conversion parts

« on: December 20, 2022, 02:02:55 pm »

Greetings,

Contact Bruce at Star Machine Works.

He may have some spare parts.

Cheers,

Dave

2

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Complete Star Machine works Reloader For Sale from Estate

« on: October 14, 2022, 12:32:00 pm »

Greetings,

In the photos are several parts for the Star Bullet Greaser. However, I do not see the Greaser pictured.

Cheers,

Dave

3

Star Reloaders / Re: Text Files

« on: July 24, 2022, 03:49:07 pm »

Greetings,

This link has a lot of the European Pistols.

http://www.pistoliers.com/manuel/

Comes in handy quite often.

Cheers,

Dave

4

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: 357 Sig

« on: July 20, 2022, 07:34:38 pm »

Greetings,

Bruce Williams and I may have discussed it at one time.

Dillon, the other blue machine, used to offer a solid Carbide sizing die for their machines.

Downside... The added force to full length the cases on a Star would place increased wear and tear on it.

Personally? I would de-prime, size, and clean all the cases prior to entering the Star. Then let the machine prime, charge, seat and crimp.

7/8-14 dies are generally case hardened. One can remove the threads/case with a bench grinder. Then machine the outside true to the ID and thread 11/16-24.

It is possible to knurl the end of the die; but, the knurling tool will curse you. Best knurling tool is the scissor type that applies the pressure top and bottom.

The Carbide sizing dies are not normally hardened and it is rather easy to machine away the old threads and apply new. I have done many Lee and RCBS dies this way. With care, they last quite a while. If you have Channel Lock pliers for adjusting dies, well, a curse on you.

Almost forgot. The 357 SIG case will NEED Lanolin or case lube for sizing. Without lube you will eventually break something.

Cheers,

Dave

5

Star History / Re: Progressive NO. 54

« on: April 12, 2022, 07:15:32 pm »

Greetings,

The "tilted" powder hopper would add an extra machining operation!

I trust it is 38 Special, not 32 S&W Long?

The Sizing die appears to be hardened steel, not Carbide?

Cheers,

Dave

6

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Shipping star presses

« on: April 10, 2022, 08:58:51 pm »

Greetings,

I have only shipped three Star loaders.

I mooched a 5 gallon pail with matching lid from my local restaurant.

Star fits in well.

I remove and package all the delicate bits and the handle inside old Amazon bubble bags.

Then, I stuff the inside with, now outlawed, plastic shopping bags.

Snap the lid on and put the whole kit into a cardboard box with UP clearly marked on the box.

Personally, I hate those nasty foam peanuts.

Cheers,

Dave

7

Star Reloaders / Re: .38 seating stem thread specs

« on: March 29, 2022, 08:34:14 pm »

Greetings,

5/16-32

Cheers,

Dave

8

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: star 38 spl dies and shell plate

« on: March 29, 2022, 12:34:59 pm »

Greetings Dick,

Are the parts still for sale?

Cheers,

David

9

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB 9mm conversion for 38/357 head

« on: March 04, 2022, 04:51:20 pm »

Greetings,

You will need the following...

• Shell Plate
• Carbide Sizing Die
• Expander Plug
• Seating Die and matching bullet stem.
• Taper Crimping Die

Once you have all the bits and pieces, just merely adjust the shell straps to suit.

You might find it useful to size the cases on a single stage press beforehand. Being a tapered case, you need to use a little case lube and doing this on the press in one operation gets messy.

Cheers,

Dave

10

Star Reloaders / Re: Lifetyme Two-Stage Carbide .38 Spl Sizing Die

« on: January 31, 2022, 04:37:56 pm »

Greetings,

It has been many years, so hopefully my memory does well.

The early Remington and Western 38 cases had thin walls. (Ammo loaded for Match Shooting.)

The standard sizing die did not reduce the diameter enough to allow a friction fit with the bullet.

This was at the time where 38 Special bullets were sized from 0.354" - 0.360".

The autoloaders were common to 0.356" and smaller groove diameters. The Revolver was usually 0.358".

So, Star had some "2S" dies made up. The lower ring just sizes the case minimally. The upper ring sized the neck portion smaller to allow proper seating with the bullet.

I do not think it would offer any benefit to 357 Magnum cases.

Cheers,

Dave

11

Star Reloaders / Re: Two additional accessories for a Star - what are they?

« on: December 29, 2021, 07:54:06 pm »

Greetings,

The "tee" handle wrench is to remove the primer bushing when changing from large to small; or, vice versa.

Cheers,

Dave

12

Star Reloaders / Re: New to me 2 star reloaders and sizers

« on: November 29, 2021, 03:38:58 pm »

Greetings,

I Googled sources for Ruby bearings and was unable to find any close to what diameters we need.

The scary part is most companies ask that they be contacted for a price...

While Ruby does look pretty, I will stay with good old Carbide for the time being.

Cheers,

Dave

13

Star Reloaders / Re: Indexer-Broken Spring

« on: November 03, 2021, 07:32:07 pm »

Greetings,

A photo would help greatly.

Cheers,

Dave

14

Star Reloaders / Re: Star progressive conversion

« on: October 14, 2021, 12:06:03 pm »

Greetings,

Aluminum will work for a temporary setting.

I use a piece of 0.750" tool steel and machine it to length. No need to harden it.

Cheers,

Dave

15

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: FOR SALE --- 9mm Shell Plate

« on: October 02, 2021, 12:01:50 pm »

Sold, pending funds.

Cheers,

Dave