Were Star's every made in 32 S&W Long or 38 S&W?

[Kenneth L. Walters]

I should know the answer to this but, well, I am getting up there is years.

[fc60]

Greetings,

32 S&W Long, yes. Bruce Williams sent me a photo of one he is refinishing.

Something I would love to add to my collection.

Cheers,

Dave

[cc656d]

Probably the rarest .  I have a complete one with taper crimp and case feeder, also a complete die  /shellplate set with charge bar . Steel parts are sealed in plastic with oil .

[NYKenn]

I have seen a 32 S&W long, I have yet to see a 38 S&W that was original Star.

[rbwillnj]

Several years ago I purchased a collection of reloaders that included a Universal in 38 Smith & Wesson.   If even included a Lifetyme carbide sizing die marked 38 S&W.   The rest of the dies were made by Star.

When I was putting together my collection, 32 S&WL was the most difficult caliber to find.   It was certainly a caliber that Star produced, but I think there just weren't that many Stars sold in that caliber, so fewer were in circulation.   Since buying Star, I have rebuilt and configured quite a few machines in 32 S&W Long.  It's a relatively popluar caliber among Bullseye shooteres these days.


Bruce Williams

[NYKenn]

Form a 2005 post by Bruce.

1.)   32 Long, 32 Mangnum
2.)   32 ACP
3.)   30 Carbine (same as 32 ACP)
4.)   .380, .223 (also the same as 38 Super Comp.)
5.)   9mm, 38 ACP, 38 Super, 40 S&W
6.)   38 Special, 357 Magnum
7.)   41 Magnum
8.)   44 Special, 44 Magnum
9.)   45 ACP
10.)  45 Auto Rim
11.)  45 Long Colt

In reading through the additional posts and comments, there were also references made to:
475 Wildey, .25 acp, & 30 Mauser (comments from Ken Walters & others)
and can also add 38 S&W now thanks to Bruce.

[FOR_Star]

From Bruce's recent post regarding shell plates:

NYKenn's list above is correct except that 40 S&W does not always fit in a 9MM/38 ACP Shell Plate.   For years I used a 9MM shell plate for 40 S&W, but I have since encountered a number of 9MM/38 ACP shell plates that would not work with 40 S&W.  The specs for the two shell plates ARE slightly different and Star did make separate 10 MM shell plate.

Add #12, a separate 10 MM shell plate to the list.

[fc60]

Greetings,

I think a custom 44-40 plate has been made, also.

Cheers,

Dave

[rbwillnj]

Of Course, Star also made shell plates for the Rifle Machines Including;

22 Hornet
223
30-30
30-06
7.62 x 39
45-70
300 Win Mag


Probably others, but those are what I have seen

[Green Frog]

Bruce, just trying to catch up after being distracted by life for a while...

Have you standardized a conversion for the Star Progressive to 32 S&W L, or is creating that shell plate too much of a problem?  I seem to recall that in a previous exchange you mentioned that this was the primary difficulty in such a conversion, but can't remember whether you had cracked the code or not.  It looks like I'm getting more and more 32s around here and fewer 38s, so my poor old Progressive is starting to feel neglected.   

Froggie

[fc60]

Greetings,

The diameter of a 32 S&W Long shell plate is smaller than the 38 Special.

You can fit a 32 Long shell plate to a Progressive; but, the cases will not stay aligned with the loading stations as the shell plate is rotated. (The cases will move outward and eventually lowering the tool head will crunch something.)

My friend modified a Progressive by milling slots to use the Universal adjustment straps.

Now, he can load either 32 Long, 32 ACP, or 38 Special by swapping shell plates and adjusting the straps accordingly.

Note: The diameter of the 32 Long and 32 ACP plates are the same. However, they are not interchangeable between calibers.

Cheers,

Dave

[Green Frog]

Thanks for your response, Dave. I guess in the long run it would make more sense for me to try and locate an affordable Universal and get a caliber set built for it in 32 S&W L than to bumble along having the extensive work done necessary to convert my long suffering Progressive.  Oh well I guess my K-38 will continue to be well fed!

Froggie