Messages

1

Star Reloaders / Re: Freeloader

« on: December 21, 2006, 10:33:27 pm »

You can easily make a homemade version of the Freeloader. It was simply made using what appeared to be a ceramic cereal type bowl  ( smooth inside with no ridges ) with a hole drilled in the bottom center of it. The bowl had a plastic funnel glued to the bottom of it. The exit hole of the funnel  spout should be large enough to allow a .45 to slide thru. You then need to apply a clear plastic tube to the funnel. You may have to attach a coupler between the funnel end and the tube , which would  then extend down into your Hulme ( or other brand ) case feeder. Adding the "wiggle string" to keep the funnel  moving will help keep the cases dropping down thru the cereal bowl, thru the funnel , thru the plastic tube and into the case feeder. I bought one years ago thru Gil Hebard.. It cost about $30.00 around 1980. It was a real profit maker for the builder, as it was a very simple device to assemble, and only used low grade items. I was not real impressed with it back then. If I remember correctly, the case tube may have extended thru the bottom of the funnel, and extended up to contact the bottom of the cereal bowl. I seem to remember a thick wall metal washer on the bottom side of the cereal bowl, which probably acted as a guide to center the case tube. It was all glued together. Possibly a heat glue gun make do the trick for you. So eat your Wheaties and don't use a plastic tupperware bowl for the case feeder.

2

Star Reloaders / Re: How do you tell a Star from a copy?

« on: September 15, 2006, 11:14:55 pm »

Berdon also made a copy of the Hulme case feeder.  I have a number of them, some unfinished. Again, not of high quality materials.  I spoke with one former Berdon owner, and he had 2 Berdons. He had poor luck with each of them. One previous owner I spoke with, loaded 1000 rounds of 30-30 rifle with his Berdon. He went thru 2 shell plates loading those 1000 rounds. One guy I spoke with who bought a new Berdon, had a terrible experinece with it. He sent it back and demanded his money back. You might ask, "how do you load rifle on a Berdon?". Well, one thing the Berdon was designed to do, was give a longer stroke to it's cycle. That is the reason for the "long arms" extending outward on the head. It is also the reason for the 7/8" dies, again to allow for rifle and standard dies. I would not advise trying to put an incomplete Berdon together by purchasing Star parts. They would most likely not fit properly. Berdon original parts like the primer feeder bar,etc, differ in appearance especially concerning a quality or manufacture. I have a number of spare Berdon parts, just little time to dig thru them. If you were sold the Berdon, and told  that it was a Star, I would go back to the seller and get your money back. If that is not possible, then I hope you did not have to pay much for it. Like the saying goes " You pay for your education".

3

Star Reloaders / Re: How do you tell a Star from a copy?

« on: September 12, 2006, 10:42:03 pm »

Of the Berdon shell plates that I have, non are hardened. Many of the Berdon parts were made by college students as part of an engineering/machinist program as told to me by the Berdon owners son. I don't think the manufacturer of the Berdon had enough knowledge of proper metals, or hardening etc. He may have used close grain cast iron, in the head for example, but it does not seem up to the grade of the Star. I was offered a chance to purchase the remaining Berdon parts, most unfinished. After obtaining and closely examining a finished Berdon machine, still new and unused, I decided to decline the offer to buy the remaining parts. I never regretted it. I spoke with several previous owners of Berdons. I never heard a good word from any of them regarding the Berdon. Parts wore out quickly.  Complaints were numerous and a number of lawsuits were threatened I was told. Comparing a Berdon to a Star, is like comparing a Yugo to a BMW. Every Berdon head I have seen was painted a dark blue in color. The original decal ( actually a sticker) was a silver/chrome colored, with black letters. They came off easily. They were all threaded to 7/8" to accept standard dies. Star and Berdon,,,,, Like the difference between a Rolex and Timex.

4

Star Reloaders / Re: How do you tell a Star from a copy?

« on: September 07, 2006, 10:11:56 pm »

That is a Berdon reloader. They were a far cry from a Star. Probably one of the worst, if not THE Worst copy of a Star. The metal was inferior, nothing hardened properly. It has a home made appearance. I have one that is brand new. I only own it as a conversation piece, and to show the unknowing how much better the Star was made