Messages

121

Star Reloaders / Re: Need to Pull Bullets from 300 rounds

« on: August 11, 2016, 11:37:22 am »

Greetings,

Genuine Star Powder Hoppers have a powder baffle built in.

It is the Aluminum piece just above the brass taper threaded part. Assuming, of course, you have the clear plastic tube.

Cheers,

Dave

122

Star Reloaders / Re: Need to Pull Bullets from 300 rounds

« on: August 10, 2016, 10:54:15 am »

Greetings,

I have used WST ever since it replaced 452AA.

Never had any issues with metering. Actually, it meters very well. I load the 32 S&W Long with 1.62 grains. 38 Special gets 2.8 grains. the 45 ACP uses 4.3 grains. Again, never had a problem.

I always remove the powder from the hopper when I am done loading.

Cheers,

Dave

123

Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader

« on: June 29, 2016, 12:31:07 pm »

Greetings Chris,

What a great contribution you can offer!

Hopefully you might be able to fill in the gaps and other questions with your knowledge and maybe some photos?

With kind regards,

Dave Wilson

124

Star Reloaders / Re: New member/new to me Universal

« on: May 30, 2016, 12:19:41 pm »

Greetings,

Purging a muffle furnace with gas sounds good; but, does not work.

The stainless heat treat foil is your better choice. Place a small piece of brown lunch bag inside the bag to burn off any excess Oxygen.

Cheers,

Dave

125

Star Reloaders / Re: New member/new to me Universal

« on: May 29, 2016, 12:26:04 pm »

Greetings,

You are fortunate that the head is already cut for the 11/16-24 dies.

Yes, either a Taper Crimp or Roll Crimp die is added to the last station for a final crimp.

The rimmed cases, 32 S&W Long and 38 Special, can be crimped at the seating station and after indexing, the finished round falls through the base into a collection box. This was very popular with the Police Departments loading large volumes.

Most of us use the Star for accuracy, rather than volume. So, a better approach to loading is to crimp at a separate station.

Remove the hollow bushing and replace it with a piece of soft steel 0.750" diameter, 1.062" long, and with a 0.220" hole in the middle when you get the additional die.

Actually, making your first die would be a good exercise! The Taper Crimp die is 2.00" long with a 0.360" honed hole through the middle. The angle per side for the taper is 4 degrees. Polish the inside with 240 grit > 400 grit > 500 grit paper with Kerosene lubricant. Assuming you used A-2, vacuum heat treat the die, glass bead the exterior and polish the inside with 500 grit and Kerosene. Remember to dial the die in true prior to the final polish.

Use the SAMMI drawings for the die cavity dimensions.

Cheers,

Dave

126

Star Reloaders / Re: New member/new to me Universal

« on: May 27, 2016, 11:37:28 am »

Greetings,

Long ago, I did modify 7/8-14 dies to fit the Star. The thread is 11/16-24. The 7/8-14 dies are case hardened. You need to grind off the threads as much as possible prior to profiling them in the lathe.

Lee Carbide sizing dies are your best choice for turning down to 11/16-24. The die bodies are a free machining steel.

The decapping rod on a Star is 7/16-27 for 38 caliber and smaller. 1/2-27 for the larger. Taps are available from McMaster Carr. Or, you can single point the thread for a one off.

For the seating and crimping dies it is easier to machine them from scratch with A-2, O-1, or similar tool steel. Heat treat and temper for maximum hardness.

The Star 45ACP seating die has an internal 3/8-24 thread.

Oh yes, the expander plug is threaded 1/2-27 also. Again, choose a tool steel that can be hardened to 60+ HRC.

Shell plates are a time consuming process. I used to do them on a rotary table with my manual mill. I now do them on a CNC mill and it is still time consuming. So many features have to be cut "just right" or they will not interchange. Be aware that the indexing of the shell plate is offset from the shell openings. subtle; but, very noticeable if you forget. The machine will jam up and you will be sad. I prefer to machine them out of air hardening tool steel and rotary grind the top and bottom after heat treat. Grinding on a flat surface grinder is not original and looks "cheesy". Also, the rotary grind was the original Star method.

In conclusion, I have tossed all the dies I converted from 7/8-14 as they look like "crap" as compared to the genuine Star dies.

Cheers,

Dave

127

Star Reloaders / Re: New member/new to me Universal

« on: May 26, 2016, 11:52:46 am »

Greetings,

I sent you an email with the die prices.

I do not discuss money on the Forum.

Your best bet is to watch eBay for a tool head with 45 ACP. They run from $250.00 - $450.00. Sometimes folks list them as "Buy It Now" at an attractive price.

Avoid, if possible, buying a Phelps. While they do work, they do not fit as well as the original Star parts.

Also, check with Bruce Williams of StarMachineWorks. He has quite a few dies and parts ready to ship.

www.starmachineworks.com

Cheers,

Dave

128

Star Reloaders / Re: New member/new to me Universal

« on: May 25, 2016, 11:20:43 am »

Greetings,

From your posts, I would suggest selling the Star and purchasing a Dillon. The Dillon uses 7/8-14 dies.

Cheers,

Dave

129

Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders

« on: May 13, 2016, 11:49:50 am »

Greetings Humbo,

Your comment about volume loading on a Dillon 1050 made me snicker.

I have a friend that uses a Dillon 1050 for volume loading of "practice" ammo.

For his "Match" ammo, he loads on the Star.

Congratulations on the purchase of three nice Star machines.

Cheers,

Dave

130

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB STAR Universal Press for .32 S&W Long Cartridge

« on: May 01, 2016, 11:39:13 am »

Greetings,

Thanks for the photo. I have never seen a Perfection die in 32 S&W.

Cheers,

Dave

131

Star Reloaders / Re: Tool head die holes Question??

« on: February 25, 2016, 11:04:16 am »

Greetings,

If you need a progressive machine that uses the 7/8-14 dies, there are plenty on the market to choose from.

No need to ruin a classic piece of equipment.

Cheers,

Dave

132

Star Reloaders / Re: Tool head die holes Question??

« on: February 18, 2016, 12:03:13 pm »

Greetings,

I have a CPM progressive machine (Sort of a Star Clone) that was originally created with the 7/8-14 threads.

Since it gathers dust, I could be motivated into selling/trading it.

It has the 45 ACP shell plate and 38 Special shell plate.

Not sure; but, I think there is clearance for the adjustable seating die.

Cheers,

Dave

133

Star Reloaders / Re: Need help with identifying parts and pricing, Please

« on: February 11, 2016, 11:11:50 am »

Greetings,

The last photo shows parts from a Star Greaser machine. When that tool surfaces, it should bring $200 + on eBay.

Cheers,

Dave

134

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star Universal 4 sale

« on: February 06, 2016, 06:28:41 pm »

I re-formatted the doc file as a PDF.

Hopefully, it is readable by all.

Cheers,

Dave

135

Star Reloaders / CPM Collectors

« on: January 31, 2016, 06:58:02 pm »

Greetings,

Nice to see another CPM machine out there. I have one with the 38 Special and 45 ACP shell plates. Also, a Chevron Case Master. Interesting to note that the Chevron frame is unique to the CPM as a Star does not fit.

Cheers,

Dave