Messages

1

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.

2

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

3

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.

4

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

5

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

6

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.

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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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

Star History / Re: Star Branding Through the Years

« on: July 17, 2025, 08:15:27 am »

Had to do a second post to get them all in.

12

Star History / Star Branding Through the Years

« on: July 17, 2025, 08:10:11 am »

Below are the various ways Star branded their machines throughout their production history.   On very early Pat. Pending machines Star Machine Works was incorporated into the cast iron base.   Next came the brass plaque on the tool head followed by the decal we are most familiar with.   There are some slight variations in the decal font over the years, but it remained pretty much unchanged for many years.

The yellow decal came next.   Don't know when they started using this, but based on the recent post about a "New in the Box" machine, it was in use in 1987.

The yellow decal was followed by the silver sticker.   I have a Rifle machine with this sticker which I know was produced in 1990.

The sliver sticker was followed by the gold metallic sticker.   Star was using this at the end.

The Star Machine Works - Pioneer California is the sticker that Bill Cunningham used.   He assembled some machines from parts and also sold tool heads with this label.

The last one is the decal that I use on the machines that I rebuild.   The field is gold rather than the mustardy color in the original Star decals.   I don't sell them.  They are used exclusively on the machines that I rebuild, so please don't ask.    I hate to disappoint.


Bruce Williams

13

Survey Says... / Re: New to me star

« on: July 15, 2025, 09:19:12 pm »

Feel free to give me a call and I can walk you through it.

Bruce Williams

14

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Star Reloader Value

« on: June 23, 2025, 08:47:27 am »

So back to the original question.    Looks like a brand new Universal in 38 Special machine made in 1987.  The packing newspaper is usually a reliable way to  date a new in the box Star reloader.   The machine also has a few design features that would date it after 1982.   These include the wider cut outs for the shell locator straps and the Rocker Arm Screw locking Screw.   

I have seen the yellow label on a number of both reloaders and Lubricator Sizers.   It contains the San Diego zip code.   I don't know when Star started using the yellow label, but it was long after 1963 when Zip codes started.   One of these days I will post pictures of the various labels Star used over the years.

Anyway, a new Star Universal in 38 Special without a case feeder and without a taper crimp die should sell for about $700.   Not sure if you will get that as there is limited interest in 38 Special machines.

Bruce Williams

15

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Clear Tubes for Hume Case Feeder

« on: June 17, 2025, 08:39:48 am »

If you are loading 41 Magnum or smaller cartridges, you can use polycarbonate tube with an OD of 5/8" and an ID of 1/2".  I purchase it from McMaster Carr in 8ft lengths.
McMaster part#   8585K106.  You can probably get it from any plastic supplier.   If you want to load 44 Magnum, 45 Colt of 45 AR it's more complicated.  You can buy acrylic tube with an ID of 14MM and an OD of 18mm, but I have only been able to find it in 1ft or shorter lengths.   It's on Amazon.

I have not been able to find anything equivalent to the original Hulme tube.  Maybe someone else has had better luck.