Messages

196

Star Reloaders / Re: Another Homemade Star type reloader

« on: November 20, 2016, 02:35:10 pm »

Went to a gun show this weekend and saw this Star inspired reloader.  It was stamped "Country Gunsmith"  "1991"

It did not come home with me.   The Star next to it was Universal in 9MM, but all of the dies were turned down RCBS & Lee Dies, so I left that one on the table too.

197

Star Reloaders / Re: Adjusting Locator Straps

« on: November 02, 2016, 09:28:49 pm »

Kenn,  As I said above, the diameters of the different caliber shell plates are different.   Some are pretty close to one another.  Some are quite different, by much more than 0.01"   The specs are generally +/- .001".  The specs for the shell plates are proprietary so I'm not going to go into details.

If you are saying that all of your shell plates fit on a Universal, that would be normal.   If you are saying they all fit on a Progressive, then that is not normal and it's likely that either the Progressive of the shell plates have been modified.

Bruce

198

Star Reloaders / Re: Adjusting Locator Straps

« on: November 01, 2016, 10:21:59 pm »

The quote from Dave pretty much covers the issue, but I'll repeat just in case it's not clear.  The shell locator straps should be adjusted every time you change calibers.   Shell plates for each caliber have a different diameter.  The best way to adjust the shell locator straps to the proper position is to turn the shell plate so that the shell locator straps are not opposite a shell opening, or as Dave suggests, so the detent ball is in one of the shell openings rather than in a dowel pin indexing holes.  Then adjust the shell locator strap so it just clears the shell plate.  Turn the shell plate to make certain it doesn't bind on any of the shell locator straps.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works

199

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTS: Tool head (3 station star thread)

« on: October 30, 2016, 09:59:15 am »

I'm pretty sure this is not the right place for this discussion, but...

I'm guessing advertised tool head is a bare tool head with no dies, but if it were a 38 Special tool head it may or may not have a different Angel Lever Cam.   Progressives use the #49 Angle Lever Cam, and Universals use the #49U.    However, you can load 38 Special on a Universal as well as a Progressive.

When purchasing a tool head, it is important to know if it came from a Universal of a Progressive.   A tool head from a Progressive will not work on a Universal unless you change the Angle Lever Cam to a #49U.   If the tool head has dies and they are anything other than 38 Special, then it's a pretty good bet it has a 49U.  If it is 38 Special tool head, it could go either way.

200

Star Reloaders / Re: I did it again - Just bought a couple more Stars

« on: October 17, 2016, 12:43:24 am »

I can tell you it is not a Brewster, Hoyer, O'Niel or Moon indexer.   It very well could be a home made one, but it looks like they did a nice job.

201

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Powder Bushings

« on: October 14, 2016, 11:33:46 am »

I make custom powder bushings for "0", "00" 1/2" and 5/8" powder slides.   In each case the bushings are 1/2" in diameter.   I also offer the powder slides that use the bushings.

Hornady used to produce "Pistol Powder Bushings" in 22 different sizes.  These bushings were also 1/2" in diameter and required a 1/2" powder slide.   You can still find some of them around, but the last time I checked they had disappeared from retail outlets.

Bruce Williams

202

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Bullet Pushback 45 ACP

« on: September 30, 2016, 11:13:25 pm »

I believe Dave mentioned it above, the Lifetyme 2 stage carbide sizing die was designed for thin brass like Remington.   They are quite hard to come by, but I have one in stock.   I mentioned that in an earlier email.   Of course you could switch to another brass or another bullet.

Of course there is the possibility that your sizing die is oversized.  If you send me some of your brass and bullets I can test it with a standard sizing die and with the two stage die.

Bruce

203

Star Reloaders / Re: Decapping Pin Assembly

« on: September 24, 2016, 08:45:24 am »

To be honest, I have seen them both ways, so I really can't say what the OEM method may have been.   When I reassemble them I usually use two set screws.  My theory is the it keeps the crud out of the open hole.   I also add a drop of oil to the hole before installing the set screws.  That way when your grand children want to replace the decapping pin it's less likely it will be rusted in place.  We have to think about future generations that will be using our Stars.

Bruce Williams

204

Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Bullet Pushback 45 ACP

« on: September 20, 2016, 04:51:09 pm »

Yes,  I have several at .449.   Some that are even smaller.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works

205

Star Reloaders / Re: Lifetyme Sizing Dies

« on: September 13, 2016, 09:18:58 am »

I have not seen the die myself, but I'm going to bet that it is a carbide die.   

Because 9MM is a tapered case, the sizing ring is quiet long, (the full length of the case) so it doesn't look like the standard sizing ring in a carbide die.   Also, (and I have seen this on several 9MM Lifetyme dies that I have) the satin chrome plating on the die can cover the intersection of the steel and the carbide ring at the mouth of the die making it difficult to determine that it has a carbide ring.

Bruce

206

Star Reloaders / Re: Lifetyme Sizing Dies

« on: September 12, 2016, 11:59:26 pm »

Carbide Die Service started producing Lifetyme carbide dies not long after WWII.   Carbide Die Service was the name of the company, and Lifetyme was their brand name for Carbide sizing dies.   Seems unlikely that Carbide Die Service would have produced a Steel die, and if they did, it wouldn't have been called Lifetyme.

I know they applied for a Patent, as I have seen Lifetyme dies with a Pat. Pending stamp.   I have never seen one with a patent number, and a patent search came up empty, so someone else must have come up with the idea first, but maybe didn't commercialize it.

207

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: dies and shell plate

« on: September 02, 2016, 09:25:23 pm »

Star did not make dies for this caliber.  The only way to load 357 Sig on a Star would be to use a tool head for 7/8" Dies.   Use 7/8" Dies for Sizing, Bullet Seating and Taper Crimp.   Use a Star expander for 9MM.  Use a Shell Plate for 40 S&W.  You would probably need to make a few other modifications as well.

Bruce Williams

208

Star Reloaders / Re: Which auto eject is this??

« on: September 01, 2016, 08:17:33 am »

I thought I had seen them all, but that's a new one on me.  Home made?

It looks as though it functions in a similar manner as the very rare Star Auto Eject Safety Cam.  (ie the case coming out of the case feeder actuates the ejection.)

209

Star Reloaders / Re: stiff shell plate

« on: August 22, 2016, 04:56:26 pm »

It your machine has been sitting unused for that period of time, the first thing I would do is take it apart and give it a good cleaning and lubrication.   Use some cleaning patches or rags dampened with oil to get off all of the dirt, dust and rust.  Some "0000" steel wool dampened with light oil can be use to remove light rust and will leave most of the bluing in tact. Then remove the excess oil with a clean rag.

Check the shell locator straps to make certain they are not interfering with rotation of the shell plate.   Check the detent ball to make sure it moves freely.   If not, remove the brass ball plug in the base, remove the spring and ball and give them a good cleaning.

Let us know how you make out.

Bruce Williams

210

Star Reloaders / Re: Need to Pull Bullets from 300 rounds

« on: August 11, 2016, 05:22:18 pm »

If I had a nickel for every time someone told me "mine doesn't have a powder baffle"..........................

I'm quite certain it does, it's just not what you were expecting to see.  The powder baffle is the aluminum disk that sits on top of the brass (sometimes zinc) powder magazine base.  When you look inside your anodize aluminum powder magazine, what you see is the aluminum powder baffle.

See attached pictures;

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works