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Messages - rbwillnj

826
Star Reloaders / Re: moon unit indexer
« on: May 14, 2009, 07:14:14 am »
Kenn & Ron,

I think when ever you change something in your set up, you have to relearn the feel of he equipment and adjust your techniques.  Point in case;

I recently switched from a Star Safety Cam/Case Ejector to Ray's case ejector on my 45 ACP machine.   With the Star unit I used to have to tap the case in the taper crimp station to make sure it was fully seated in the shell plate before pulling the handle.  It was a motion that became second nature.  With Ray's unit, I don't have to do that motion, the case is always fully seated in the shell plate. 

However, the Star ejector is actuated by a case coming out of the Hulme case feeder.  If the case doesn't come out, no case is ejected from the taper crimp station.  I had gotten to where I would listen for the finished round ejecting, and if I didn't hear it, I would check to see if the case feeder had jammed.  With Ray's unit, I often find that there is no case in the sizing station after I pull the handle.  I no longer have to tap the round in the taper crimp station, but I have to check that I have a case in the sizing station before I pull the handle.

827
Star Reloaders / Re: moon unit indexer
« on: May 13, 2009, 08:35:53 am »
I regularly do 400 rounds/hour without an indexer.   I have never put an indexer on one of my machines because I never saw the need to go any faster.  Also, I like to be able to feel whats going on when I reload, and I was concerned that the indexer would detract from the "feel".

Below is a picture of a Star Universal base that was used with an indexer.   Now I'm guessing this unit was used by a commercial reloader and for all I know may have loaded millions of rounds.  So for the average reloader, damage like this is probably something you don't have to worry about.......unless you are in the market for a new reloader, in which case, you should take a look under the shell plate before you buy.   

828
Star Reloaders / Re: Help me identify these
« on: May 03, 2009, 10:04:59 pm »
They are combination primer pickup/primer feed tubes.   Several manufactures use a similar design.  I had a Lyman turret press that used tubes that were very similar.  Anyway, not Star.

829
Star Reloaders / Re: Star/Dillon adaptation?
« on: April 24, 2009, 05:11:52 pm »
You can buy the parts separately from Midway (and probably elsewhere) Buy the large pistol casefeeder assembly and the Collator.  Together they cost about $27.   Then you just need to make something to bolt the case feeder to (brass part in my picture) and a piece plastic tube to go from the Lee Case Feeder to the Hulme case feeder.   I used a section of original Hulme tube.


http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=300548

http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?brandId=1262&refineSearchKeyword=Collator&Click+to+begin+refined+search.x=7&Click+to+begin+refined+search.y=14

830
Star Reloaders / Re: Star/Dillon adaptation?
« on: April 24, 2009, 09:10:23 am »
Before I bought my first Star Reloader, I had a Lee Loadmaster.  It was a terrible reloading press which left me sorting through bins of loaded rounds looking for the ones with no primers, upsidedown primers, and primers inserted sideways.  The one thing that I really liked about the Lee Loadmaster was the case feeder assembly.   

After trying the Hulme case feeder with a single tube, then a Freeloader, I adapted all three of my Star Universals to use the Lee case feeder and collator pictured below.   The cost is very low, it can be used with any caliber if you have the proper top plate for your Hulme.   It holds about a 100 45 ACP cases.  As the feed tube gets low, just rotate the turret to drop another 20 cases.   You can drop hadfulls of cases in the collator, give it a little shake and they all turn bottom side down and drop down the tubes.

831
Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Brand new Star Sizer?
« on: April 16, 2009, 03:19:13 pm »
In short, the air cylinder replaces the lube reservoir pressure spring and screw.  With the air cylinder, you don't have to turn the screw to maintain pressure on the lube.  Constant pressure is maintained by the air cylinder (which has a pressure regulator).   You need an supply of pressurized air, either a compressor, or charged air cylinder.

I don't have one yet, but I have heard many say that it's a worthwhile add on for a Star Lubesizer.

832
Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: lub for sizers
« on: April 15, 2009, 09:31:18 pm »
Personally, I use a hard wax lube from Magma Engineering.   I was paying $9/lb.  A pound of Magma lube is nine sticks.   I think it has gone up since the last time I bought it.  I believe they also sell a softer lube.  Don't know the price.   

You might also check on the Cast Boolets forum  http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php?  I think there are some guys who sell lube on that forum, as well as a number of recipes for making your own lube.

833
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: .45 G.A.P. on the Star??
« on: March 26, 2009, 12:29:15 pm »
As I recall, the 45 GAP case is about the same length as a 9mm or 40 S&W case.   As you indicated, I think the only problem will be the taper crimp, and that will depend on the particular taper crimp die.   

I have purchased several of the C-H Tool and Die 45 ACP taper crimp dies for machines I have reconditioned.  Although the quality is very good, I think they are either shorter, or the working part of the die is futher up in the die.  As a result, I've had to screw them down so that the top of the die is flush with the top of the tool head.   That's fine for 45 ACP, but might not give you enough to work with for 45 GAP.   I have an original Star taper crimp die in the machine I use for Bullseye loads, and that die still has quite a few threads showing above the top of the tool head.   I think that die could be adjusted down enough to handle 45 GAP

834
Star History / Re: Method of payment
« on: March 24, 2009, 05:59:07 pm »
ChawkI44   I sent you a Private message.   I'd be happy to post pictures for you.

835
Rock,  I sent you a PM

836
Star Reloaders / Re: Chevron case feeder??
« on: March 20, 2009, 12:44:31 pm »
I have seen Stars with Dillon Case Feeders attached.   Haven't seen them in action, but don't know why they wouldn't work just fine.   To me, it seems like an expensive solution to a simple problem.   I have adapted Lee case feeders with Lee Colators to all of my Stars.   It's kind of like a Freeloader but with multiple tubes.   I've been thinking of fabricating and selling a unit using the same principals, but made a bit more rugged than the Lee unit.  It works for all calibers as long as you have the proper top plate for your Hulme.

So many projects, so little time.

837
Star History / Re: Star Price History
« on: February 23, 2009, 12:11:10 am »
I picked up a few more original price lists, so I have updated my previous list/

For a Universal Reloader, I can share the following price history;

December 1, 1945........$ 120.00     (no mention of carbide sizing dies)
December 1, 1958........$ 190.00     (with carbide sizing die option)
April 1, 1966................$ 248.00    (with carbide sizing die option)
March 1, 1968.............$ 248.00    (with carbide sizing die option)
Dec 1, 1968................$ 262.50    (with carbide sizing die option. data from Jet22)
July 15, 1970...............$ 287.50    (with carbide sizing die option. data from Jet22)
November 1, 1975.........$ 450.00    (Carbide Dies are Standard
February 1, 1977..........$ 525.00    (from Kenneth L. Walters)
March 1, 1979..............$ 760.00   
March 1, 1980..............$ 925.00    (from Kenneth L. Walters
April 1, 1981................$1110.00    (pricing for "Progressive" Reloader no longer given)
April 1, 1988.................$ 925.00    (Says New Lower Prices!)
September 1, 1991........$ 925.00
May 1, 1997.................$ 925.00    (looks like an original Star price list, but maybe from Bill Cunningham?)





838
Star Reloaders / Re: seating die
« on: February 20, 2009, 07:38:23 pm »
Ron,   I agree that your suggestion is better than putting all the pressure on the nose of the bullet, and given the chances of actually finding a seating stem that matches the Star bullet, it might be the most practical option. However, the Star swagged bullets are VERY soft and easily deformed, so I still think the optimum solution is to have a seating stem that exactly matches the bullet.   

As mentioned before, I shoot hard cast bullets (that I cast myself) and I don't think it really matters if the seating stem exactly matches the bullet as long as it centers the bullet and pushes it straight in.  I like round nose seating stems for this purpose.  My bullets are hard enough that they don't get deformed.

839
Star Reloaders / Re: seating die
« on: February 20, 2009, 01:10:55 am »
Back to your original question.   For best results, the seating stem should exactly match the shape of your bullet.  This is particularly important for a swagged bullet like the Star hollow point that is very very soft because its basically pure lead.   Finding an original Star seating stem to match a Star (no relation) hollow point is probably next to impossible.   I would check with CH Tool and Die http://www.ch4d.com/ and see if they can make one for you.  You might be able to send one of your bullets to them so they can craft a seating stem to fit.

I use hard cast bullets for Bullseye.  I have several semi-wadcutter seating stems, but I generally use a round nose seating stem to seat my semi-wadcutters because it seems to do a nice job of centering the bullet, and doesn't deform the bullet.

840
Star History / Re: Star or Not??
« on: February 07, 2009, 07:33:07 pm »
Below is Figure 1 from C.F. Peterson's patent of what we know now as the Star Reloading Machine.