Messages

1

Star Reloaders / Re: Automatic cartridge ejector

« on: February 08, 2016, 11:03:59 pm »

That is a design that I am not familiar with, almost looks like it could be home made?  When you said that you had a lot of extra parts, did any of them look like they were not "factory" parts, or any things that were hard to identify?  This could be the work of an enterprising machinist from the past.  Might be tough to track this down, good luck!

2

Star Reloaders / Re: primer magazine?

« on: June 21, 2015, 11:17:40 pm »

I believe that Brewster made these (the same folks that made the indexer).  I have one, picked it up as a curiosity to check out, but have never used it (don't intend to either).  They made ones for small and large primers.  I would not feel safe with that many primers unguarded within an arms length of my face.  I am just not in that big of a hurry anyhow.  The reason they stopped making them may be related to liability or low demand.  I cant imagine they sold many of them. 

3

Star Reloaders / Re: Base dimensions

« on: June 07, 2015, 12:29:58 pm »

That is a nice looking first press (nice grouping too).  My first was a beat up Phelps in 45 LC.  It was great as a way to get started though, and get acquainted with the machine.  Several have followed but I think I have it under control now. 

4

Star History / Re: Star Machine Works, the Next Chapter

« on: January 18, 2015, 09:00:29 pm »

Very nice!  I would like to see the progress/result if you get a chance to work on these and get them back together.  Pics are always great, especially for restorations of loaders that I am unlikely to see in person in my lifetime.  I keep looking however, so far my best score was a rifle machine that was left in a barn. 

5

Star History / Re: Star Machine Works, the Next Chapter

« on: November 16, 2014, 08:57:09 pm »

This is great news for all Star owners!  Congrats on your new endeavor Bruce, I wish you the best and I think the Star "brand" is in the best of hands.  I have always appreciated your input and knowledge to this forum, you have been a big help to me.  You will have to elaborate a bit if you are doing this as a hobby by yourself, or if you have larger plans (hiring additional help, etc).  I know you said that you will not manufacture new machines, do you also plan to produce accessories (aftermarket) that are difficult to find? 

6

Star Reloaders / Re: What Plastic Was Used on the Casefeeder Tubes?

« on: November 05, 2014, 07:44:58 pm »

Another source for tubing is just using ebay.  I looked all over locally for what I wanted and then finally did a search on line.  You can buy clear 1/2" ID  polycarbonate tubing for a reasonable price.  I think it was about $1.50 or less a foot.  Problem is there is a minimum order size (6 foot lengths as I recall).  The Lee tubing works also, but the polycarbonate is much more tough and rigid. I think the old Star tubing was probably clear polyester or a PVC product. Good luck

7

Star Reloaders / Re: Anyone know what flavor of feeder this is?

« on: April 13, 2014, 12:37:48 pm »

Never saw one like it, and I have seen a few variants.  I would suspect this could be a home made job from a Star owner.  It looks to have too many parts to be a successful commercial unit.  Course I could be all wet on this. 

8

Star Reloaders / Re: Indexer

« on: February 05, 2014, 09:17:17 pm »

The indexer subject does seem to come up and circle around every year or so.  I have a Phelps machine set up in 45 ACP that had been ridden really hard before I got it.  The wear was similar to what Bruce showed in his "before" picture above.  It came with what was left of a Brewster type indexer.  I think that machine made me a little hypersensitive to the indexer subject.  Of course it was obvious that the loader had never really been taken care of either.  

I ended up buying a Moon unit type indexer for another machine and never got it installed yet.  I guess one reason is that I am usually not in that big of a hurry.  It was just another gadget to try out.  Sometimes the tweaking, adjusting and the process are the entertainment, and yes it is fun!  (and I still don't know if I really like indexers)

9

Star Reloaders / Re: Video of Star universal operating with Bulletfeeder/casefeeder/indexer

« on: December 22, 2013, 02:48:06 pm »

Nice video, glad that you took the time and trouble to make it.  There are not too many youtube videos of the Star out there, certainly not many with all the automation accessories that you have incorporated.  I really like the MA systems add ons.  Makes me want to get motivated to "tune up" the presses a bit.  I think you need to tell the dog to just relax a little more. Thanks a lot!

10

Star Reloaders / Re: Reloading 223

« on: July 23, 2013, 07:45:03 pm »

I guess that I am not that surprised about the selling price.  The press looked really clean and everything was there.  You just don't see many of these showing up for sale, at least I have not seen many.  I looked for a long time and just found a rifle machine by accident a couple of years ago.  Plus, it did not look like this one.  It had been sitting in a barn for years, was covered with dirt and bird poop and was rusted solid.  Hopefully this one will perform well for the new owner.   

11

Star Reloaders / Re: Reloading 223

« on: July 08, 2013, 10:15:00 pm »

Wow, Talk about timing.  Right after I say this will be really hard to find, then one shows up on Ebay.  Guess I know why I dont gamble much.  I put it on the watch list because I am curious to see how much it will go for.  Having the extra long size case feeder is a nice plus.  Do you mostly use H334 in your conversion Bruce?  That is what I ended up using in my 223 machine. 
John

12

Star Reloaders / Re: Reloading 223

« on: July 07, 2013, 11:48:47 am »

I do not think you can load .223 on a universal without some serious conversion factors.  One of these is the powder throw capacity.  There used to be a Super Star conversion kit (Mike Dillon maybe?) that had longer pivot swing arms to provide the greater length of travel for the tool head, but these are not common to find.  To do these mods yourself would require some significant machine work.  The best way is to find a Star rifle machine, but those are about as scarce as hens teeth. 

13

Star History / Re: Pictures from the Past

« on: May 27, 2013, 09:36:33 pm »

Thanks for sharing the pictures Bruce, I have often heard the names of these folks but had no idea what any of them looked like.  That shop sure had a lot of reloading history attached to it.  It would have been fun to talk to those guys about the business.  I got into using Stars only a few years ago, quite a while after I started handloading. 

14

Star Reloaders / Re: Star sizer and loader at work in 1936

« on: May 13, 2013, 09:34:11 pm »

This is a great video and a real time capsule.  I have a couple of old handgun shooting books by Charles Askins, in them he talked about some of the great bullseye shooting individuals and teams of the time.  Some of them included teams from the LAPD and Orange county, along with teams from the Detroit PD.  I would swear some of those guys in the film look like some of the guys in photos in the books.  I just about dropped out of my chair when I saw the guy get the pieces of chalk shot out of his ears.  Talk about confidence in your fellow shooter! 
On the subject of machines, I found the name of a New Jersey PD scratched on the bottom of a Hulme feeder on a 38 progressive machine of mine.  That was kind of neat.  It was set up for large batch work with an oversize powder reservoir, case feeder, roller handle and so on.   

15

Star Reloaders / Re: Another new guy with a couple questions

« on: April 04, 2013, 07:46:31 pm »

Nice score on a late model Star with the taper crimp addition.  The loader looks to be in good condition.  Small parts can be found on this site or on Ebay.  Just post a wanted comment in the sales section here.  The powder reservoir may have to be replaced if you want it to be clear again.  At least I have not heard of a way to "clean" one that is badly discolored.  Double base powders with a high nitroglycerin content like bullseye are notorius for rapidly etching and darkening certain types of plastics.  You can make up a little gauge using a wire going through the top hole to measure powder level if you cannot see the powder height.  Welcome to the forum.