Messages

91

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: need Taper Crimp Die in .44mag

« on: April 01, 2018, 12:54:52 pm »

Greetings,

The Taper Crimp die works well for light loads.

For heavy loads consider buying a second seating die to use for roll crimping at the last station.

Cheers,

Dave

92

Star Reloaders / Re: threads

« on: December 01, 2017, 09:12:51 pm »

Greetings,

Star threads are most interesting.

Dies are 11/16-24

Expander Plug is 1/2-27

Powder Hopper thread is a strange tapered 27 TPI. (I made a custom tap for Bruce Williams to clean up threads damaged with aftermarket straight threads.)

Seating die stems are 5/16-32 for 38 caliber and smaller. For the larger calibers, 3/8-24 is used.

All taps can be purchased from McMaster-Carr. With the exception of the Powder Hopper thread. Never did find one for sale via the Internet.

If you do decide to modify the tool head, make sure the die will clear the shell plate. 38 and smaller have a 5/8" die clearance while the larger ones are 3/4".

Enlarging the holes is not a job for the drill press. It needs to be done on a Bridgeport or similar machine capable of holding the hole locations.

Personally, I would not modify a Star Tool Head. I would buy a Dillon instead.

Most of the Phelps shell plates I have seen may work with 7/8-14 dies. However, the center hole is larger than the Star 1.247" diameter and may rattle around a bit on a Star machine.

Cheers,

Dave

93

Star Reloaders / Re: Help! Star Universal Loader Binding on the Shaft

« on: October 29, 2017, 12:57:09 pm »

Greetings,

Your best option is to telephone Bruce at StarMachineWorks.

 (908) 750-6312

Cheers,

Dave

94

Star Reloaders / Re: Star-made shell plates

« on: October 24, 2017, 11:37:00 am »

Greetings,

I have seen two style of shell plates.

The old original ones appear to have been sand blasted prior to grinding. This would remove any "crud" from the heat treatment and also gives the plate a nice visual appearance.

Toward the end of Star's reign in San Diego, and perhaps with the Pioneer owners, I have a plate that still retained the black appearance from the heat treatment. It was never sand blasted as the old ones.

Does this address your question?

Cheers,

Dave

95

Star Reloaders / Hulme Case Feeder

« on: October 12, 2017, 12:29:32 pm »

Greetings,

More clues...

American Rifleman, January 1951, page 79 has a Hulme Advertisement. Also says "Patent Pending".

Cheers,

Dave

96

Star Reloaders / Re: Pre Patent Star

« on: October 11, 2017, 12:02:25 pm »

Greetings,

My 1959-1960 Gil Hebard catalog lists the Hulme Case feeder for the Phelps.

Same case feeder, different machine.

Cheers,

Dave

97

Star Reloaders / Re: Star upgrades almost done

« on: September 24, 2017, 11:40:05 am »

Greetings,

Nice looking shell plate.

Did not know they came in 44-40!

Cheers,

Dave

98

Star Reloaders / Re: Backwards Primers

« on: August 25, 2017, 12:18:00 pm »

Greetings,

A handy Small Primer Tube cleaner is a 0.177 Bore Snake.

Put a little 99% Isopropyl alcohol on the snake to clean the "crud" away.

Cheers,

Dave

99

Star Reloaders / Re: Backwards Primers

« on: August 23, 2017, 11:22:38 am »

Greetings,

The only time I had primer issues was with a Phelps primer feed tube. It allowed the primer to enter sideways.

If yours is genuine Star, how the primers get upside down is a mystery to me.

Cheers,

Dave

100

Star Reloaders / Re: Universal Press Pricing Question

« on: July 03, 2017, 12:01:47 pm »

Greetings,

Go to eBay and search for Star Reloader.

Then click on the Completed Items or Sold items.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=star+-NC+-holster+-knife+-lyman+-rcbs&LH_SpecificSeller=2..couragecara%2Cspdcustomgrips%2Cbastionllc%2Csheltonsclothing%2Copticsplanet+ecop%21&_saslop=2&_sop=10&_fss=1&LH_Complete=1&_sasl=couragecara%2Cspdcustomgrips%2Cbastionllc%2Csheltonsclothing%2Copticsplanet+ecop%21&LH_Sold=1&_osacat=31823&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xstar+-NC+-holster+-knife+-lyman+-rcbs+reloader.TRS0&_nkw=star+-NC+-holster+-knife+-lyman+-rcbs+reloader&_sacat=31823

They range from $400.00 to $1000.00. Bidding fluctuated based on how much alcohol the Bidder has consumed.

Also consider add-ons such as the Hulme Case feeder.

Cheers,

Dave

101

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: 9mm star made shell plate wanted

« on: June 13, 2017, 03:41:48 pm »

Greetings,

Thanks for the "heads up".

Berdon was local. Now long gone, I suspect.

Made a variety of shooting stuff.

Sorry to read not all of it was top notch.

A lot of the "vendors" on eBay claim to make Star accessories. When I challenged them on the dimensions of some of the features, the reply was, "I have sold lots of them and they work fine."

Caveat Emptor is the term the Romans used. Not sure if Julius Caesar used a Dillon or Star...

Cheers,

Dave

Cheers,

Dave

102

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: 9mm star made shell plate wanted

« on: June 13, 2017, 11:55:36 am »

Greetings,

Another eBay horror story...

Did you return it?

If so, what was the Sellers ID. No sense any of the rest of us buying it.

I made a bunch of plates for Bruce Williams. Contact him to see if any are left.

By the way, no, I am not accepting any new work.

Cheers,

Dave

103

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Interesting press on Ebay in .223

« on: May 03, 2017, 11:55:41 am »

Greetings,

Berdon was a local fellow.

He also made 45 ACP barrels.

This was several years ago, I believe he is "resting peacefully" now.

He used to bring his wares to the local Gun Show.

Cheers,

Dave in Washington State

104

Star Reloaders / Re: Loading 44-40 W.C.F. on a Star Universal

« on: April 02, 2017, 12:44:22 pm »

Greetings Ole,

Sent you an email via the Star forum tool.

Cheers,

David

105

Star Reloaders / Re: Loading 44-40 W.C.F. on a Star Universal

« on: April 01, 2017, 10:31:13 am »

Greetings,

I recently machined a shell plate for the 44-40 WCF. It is much different than the 45 Colt. The rim thickness is not the same and the body diameter is also different.

The brass is rather thin walled and sizing is possible in the machine.

Check with Bruce Williams at Star Machine Works. He is the one I made it for.

Cheers,

Dave