StarReloaders.com Discussion Forum

Star Reloaders Discussion Forums => Star Reloaders => Topic started by: askimball (Doc) on September 13, 2011, 09:59:02 pm

Title: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: askimball (Doc) on September 13, 2011, 09:59:02 pm
Several mornings ago, I spoke with a gentleman from California, Don't recall his name ( Please email me your info
{askimball(at)comcast(dot)net}) He told me he was in contact with Bill Cunningham about setting up with a machinist
in CA that would machine parts for him..... :D ;D

VERY POSSIBLY A GOOD SIGN ::) :o
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: fc60 on September 14, 2011, 06:16:43 pm
Greetings,

Excellent news. Hopefully the workmanship will equal the original Star parts from San Diego.

Cheers,

Dave
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: Kenneth L. Walters on September 14, 2011, 06:50:55 pm
In my view, Bill Cunningham was the worst thing that even happened to the Star.  After years of neglect, Cummingham has all but kill this grand old machine off.  Who cares what he does next! 
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: maurilew on September 15, 2011, 12:35:09 am
Certainly have been numerous comlpaints about Bill Cunningham on the forum.Someday l would like to meet a person who by making any attempt, however so slight,raises so much ire. Guess some just sit back and rest on their laurels of their past,bad mouth someone who steps up and attempts to do what he has called for years.

All you fellas who are trying to keep the Stars from becoming extinct, no matter how small,KEEP IT UP !!!!!!!!

Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: tony barone on September 15, 2011, 10:38:08 pm
Any time that I have called Bill he has replied and supplied the needed parts.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: askimball (Doc) on September 15, 2011, 10:47:41 pm
I've also had success in mailing him orders and receiving them........... :D  He at the time of my first order called me
and talked briefly... ;D
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: Hugh Tyer on September 16, 2011, 05:07:03 am
I have bought parts from Bill on several occasions. I always deal with him by email. His response has been prompt, his prices fair, and his parts have been what I needed and delivered in a reasonable time.
Hugh
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: askimball (Doc) on September 18, 2011, 03:21:35 pm
NOW, NOW KLW, Be Nice, He's trying.............!
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: tguntrader on January 25, 2012, 08:06:47 pm
As of today, I have 4 machines up and running,These was old machines that needed a lot of parts,  Bill had all the parts that I needed , Rich has a lot of the parts, Also Dave made me a set of 38 Super dies for one of them,  And Bruce redone my powder tubes, all  did great work guy,s Keep up the good work to keep us going.

                         Thanks Tguntrader

       
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: cc656d on January 25, 2012, 08:18:02 pm
Mr Waters
Each time that I have inquired availabity of parts , Mr Cunningham has been most prompt in answering and parts were available. ( Looked like old Star prices ) The worst thing that happened to Star was the association with Dillon.
By the way if you need a new in the box Star, I might be able to arrange it.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: Kenneth L. Walters on January 29, 2012, 11:07:43 am
Unfortunately, I think, Star's have had their day.  Certainly there is absolutely nothing wrong with the current RCBS Pro 2000 or the Dillon 550 and they are far more versatile, cost less and parts and factory service are readily available.  I loved the Star.  Think that I had at least one of every model they made.  But time has, unfortunately, just past them by.

I doubt that the brand can be saved and the current owner certainly hasn't helped.  If someone like Magma took them over that would be the best thing that could happen.

The relationship will Dillon was an interesting one but, ultimately, it resulted in two products that didn't do all that well, the Super Star Kit and the RL1000.  True this got Dillon started but he almost went bankrupt.  If he hadn't thought of the design of the RL300 Dillon precision would have folded years ago.

The Dillon design was a far better machine but I don't think Dillon killed off Star.  Star never advertised and when the original owners died things just fell apart.  I really wish that Star had passed to someone really interested in preserving the company and the quality but that just didn't happen.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: tony barone on January 29, 2012, 02:28:21 pm
Dillon took reloading to another level with the 1050. However MA Systems made the Star load at the same rate as it but the Star lacked the safety features of the 1050.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: cc656d on January 29, 2012, 04:41:47 pm
If speed is the important factor you need a Camdex.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: tony barone on January 29, 2012, 08:13:00 pm
I can load 1000 rnds. an hour on my Star that's fast enough for me.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: rangedog on January 30, 2012, 07:23:41 am
I've owned and loaded many rounds on a Dillon 550 and 1050, maybe 300000/400000 rounds or so between the two.
I now have 2 Stars and I've loaded maybe 6000 rounds one one of them(the other is NIB and will stay that way).
It's been a frustrating journey to get the feeding right with a Dillon case feeder for high volume loading in 38 super but I have it pretty much sorted now.
I could have bought a brand new 1050 for what it cost me to set up this Star....maybe I should have....but I wouldn't sit back from my loading bench after(or before) a loading session and look with admiration at a 1050 the way I do with the Star.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: askimball (Doc) on January 30, 2012, 02:55:03 pm
Right rangedog, I have the old version of the 1050 and 5 Stars & 1 Phelps.............I also loaded 10 to 20
thousand on a Star for the Police Pistol team..............I could load 500 in a half hour and could probably
do it blind folded...............Not with the 1050.............
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: Kenneth L. Walters on January 31, 2012, 11:10:17 am
I had an early RL 1000.  Never liked it.  Didn't like the primer pocket swage.  And thought that the machine was just difficult to use compared to a Star.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: xring2245 on January 31, 2012, 09:48:29 pm
Five Stars and one Phelps...  I'm a happy camper.

James
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: tguntrader on February 02, 2012, 07:16:06 pm
Ok Guy,s 
             The only test I could think of was this.I was at he range yesterday, Took along the Armand Swenson custom 45 If you don,t know what this is read Mar, 2011, starting on page 58 of the American Rifle Mazg. Also a ransom rest, we was shooting 185 Gr, sw cutters . we loaded 15 on a dillon 550 that my partner has , I loaded 15 on my star . we match the bullets as best we could to weight. THe end result was on the star the group was 1/2 less.I think because the dies with 11/64 may make a better bullets
                               Tguntrader
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: rangedog on February 03, 2012, 08:04:07 am
Hello Tguntrader,

So the star group was half the size of the 550 group?
Can you let us know what the actual group sizes were and distance fired over?

Interesting....

Thank you.
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: tguntrader on February 03, 2012, 03:08:38 pm
Rangedog,
             The group with the  star was 1 1/4", with the dillon it was
              1 3/4 ". also I made a mistake it the post. I said the die size was 11/64 I think the die size is  11/16 x 24. Is that right ( dave) should had caught this.
                      Thanks tguntrader
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: LeupoldMRK4 on February 05, 2012, 09:05:44 am
Just tried calling Bill Cunningham and no answer with the answering machine messages full.  Cant leave a message even if I wanted too.

Business must be so good he cant keep up with parts requests? ???

Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: tguntrader on February 06, 2012, 06:28:47 pm
Leupoldmrk4


            Try to email him on his web sight, He goes out of town fishing, and goes to see his grand kids. I think he will answer you.

       Tguntrader
Title: Re: NEW PARTS SOURCE FOR STAR MACHINE WORKS
Post by: askimball (Doc) on February 06, 2012, 07:27:04 pm
Emailing him is the BEST WAY.......... ;D