Messages

1

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star Rifle Machine parts

« on: October 20, 2026, 10:34:13 pm »

Starfish,   Seriously, I don't have time to create a list just for you.  I'm busy making parts and filling orders.  I have everything that was left in Star's inventory when I purchased the company.  Because there isn't much demand for Star Rifle Machine parts, I have never done a proper inventory.  To my knowledge, Star never even assigned part numbers to Star Rifle parts so I would have to create some sort of description and numbering system to enter them into my inventory.   

I'm in the process of building a couple rifle machines and a few 223 Pistol machines from the parts I have.   When I have time, there are still some parts I will have to make to complete that project.

Give me a call and I'll see if I can help.

Bruce Williams

2

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star Rifle Machine parts

« on: October 18, 2026, 05:39:34 pm »

Although I have those parts, my current plans are to use them in other projects.

3

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star Rifle Machine parts

« on: October 15, 2026, 09:01:14 pm »

Too much to list.   You will have to be specific.   Or just give me a call.

4

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star Rifle Machine parts

« on: October 14, 2026, 01:14:40 pm »

What are you looking for?

5

Star History / New Tool Heads

« on: July 27, 2026, 11:53:53 am »

Last year the executor from an estate in New York contacted me about purchasing a few Universals and a number of other Star parts.   We were able to come to a mutually agreeable arrangement and we completed the transaction.   A couple months ago that same executor contacted me and said they had found a couple more tool heads and offered them to me at a reasonable price.   When I received them, I was surprised to see that they were brand new tool heads still wrapped in the San Diego newspaper dated December of 1981.   I just want to show them as a point of reference to how they were shipped back then.

6

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Top Punch Questions

« on: June 26, 2026, 07:57:00 am »

To determine which Lubesizer die the punch is for, you just need to measure it.   Punches are typically a few thousandths smaller than the die it's intended for.

As for the holes, never seen them before probably made by a past user for what purpose I can't say.

Actually, I really don't think those punches were made by Star.   Attached is a picture of various Star nose punches for comparison.

7

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Top Punch Questions

« on: June 24, 2026, 08:56:36 am »

When Star produced the Lubricator Sizer they manufactured bullet punches that matched the bullet nose.   When Magma too over the business, even though they got the tooling from Star to make Nose Punches, they elected to only produce flat punches for nose first sizing

8

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

« on: May 24, 2026, 08:19:00 am »

This is from a 1992 letter from Magma.    I think that by the time they closed their doors the prices were more like $100 -$120 each.

9

Survey Says... / Re: Anyone on the site any more?

« on: May 02, 2026, 09:57:34 am »

At the bottom of the Home Page, you can see how many were online today.   At this moment it says 477, so lots of folks are visiting, just not many posting.   I would encourage anyone who has questions of interesting tidbits to go ahead and post them.   I try to hold back because I don't want to be that guy who jumps in and answers every question.   Every forum has one and I think it discourages participation.   I'm here if you need me.

Bruce Williams

10

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Ball bearing

« on: March 13, 2026, 08:46:01 am »

They are a standard 1/2" ball bearing, you can probably find them in a good hardware store.   if not, I have them in stock.   I often find them rusted on the machines I rebuild so I replace all of them.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works LLC

11

Star Reloaders / Re: 3D Printed Tool Head Stands

« on: October 29, 2025, 09:57:12 am »

There was a guy selling some nice looking ones on eBay but I don't see them listed now.

12

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Casting equipment setup

« on: August 17, 2025, 12:32:03 pm »

Don,   You might have more luck posting your equipment on the Cast Boolets forum.   However, I think you have to have a certain minimum number of posts before you can post in the WTS/WTB area.

A better option might be Facebook.   There is a Facebook group entitled "Magma bullet casting equipment owners"

Bruce Williams

13

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

« on: August 10, 2025, 05:27:53 pm »

Yes, all the time.

Bruce Williams

14

Star Reloaders / Re: Universal 38 dies be adjusted to 357 shells

« on: August 04, 2025, 01:15:48 pm »

As Dave said, the 38 Special expander needs to be shortened so it won't interfere with the powder slide when you raise it up enough to load .357 Magnum.   If you don't want to do that, I have Magnum length expanders, which counter intuitively are shorter than the standard 38 Special expanders.

Most 357 Magnum charges require a 1/2" powder slide.   I have those in stock.   You will need either a 1/2" powder slide housing to accommodate the 1/2" powder slide or a set of spacers to convert a 00 powder slide housing so it can handle the 1/2" powder slide.   I have both in stock.

Bruce Williams

15

Star History / Re: Star Branding Through the Years

« on: July 19, 2025, 09:46:26 am »

In the May 1934 Issue of American Rifleman there was a review of the Star Reloader and it mentions that Star had developed a universal model for other calibers.   I did see a Universal model with an aluminum Pat. Pending base on eBay once but it had been painted red.   If it had a decal, any remnants had been destroyed with the repaint.

I do have the machine below.   It has the same style aluminum base as the Pat. Pending machines with the powder slide cam held in place with two screws and two studs, but the Pat. Pending has been removed from the base and the patent number has been stamped into the base.   Don't know when this machine was produced, but after Feb 1936 when the patent was issued, and probably before WWII.   There is no brass plaque or any sign it ever had one, but there is no guarantee the tool head is original...but it probably is as there is no patent number stamped on the tool head. 

I doubt if the chrome plating is original, but who knows.

Bruce Williams