Messages

211

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

« on: August 11, 2016, 12:32:28 pm »

Even the anodized aluminum powder magazines (and even earlier nickel plated brass) have the built in powder baffle.  The baffle was a very early improvement.   I have two early "Pat. Pending" Progressives.  The earliest one does not have the baffle, but the slightly later one does.

Bruce Williams

212

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

« on: August 11, 2016, 10:07:23 am »

wv109323

Although WST is not one of my Go-To powders, I have used it a number of times and haven't had any problems with metering.  In fact I would say it metered very well.

My reloading area tends to be cool and dry thanks in part to being located in the basement, and to my wife's love of air conditioning.   You didn't say where you are located, but if you are in an area of high humidity I could see where you might get some "glumps"  (technical term) in your powder, especially if it's allowed to sit in your powder magazine for an extended period.

The only time I ever experienced bridging with a Star was in trying to use Varget to load .223 in a Dillon Super Star conversion.   It just wouldn't go through the very very narrow powder spout.

Bruce Williams

213

Star Reloaders / Re: Shell Expander Plug Modifications

« on: August 07, 2016, 12:56:44 pm »

Expanders are very hard, and they are case hardened not hardened all the way through.  You would have a very difficult time turning one down on a lathe, and you would probably would not be happy with the finish.  You could grind one down with a tool post grinder, but then you may go through the case hardened surface and you would have to re-case harden it.

By the way, I have 9MM shell expanders in stock.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works

214

Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader

« on: July 26, 2016, 04:16:00 pm »

Ken,

Sorry for the late reply.  Somehow I missed your post.

I'm afraid I really don't know much about this machine.   I seem to recall eaglemike saying that he modified it to use RCBS shell holders, but this was not one of eaglemike's machines.   Eaglemike worked at Star in the mid-70's and again in the mid-80's so it's possible he may have done the modification even if it wasn't his personal machine.

215

Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader

« on: June 30, 2016, 02:29:04 pm »

I believe this is the same press described in a post by eaglemike a while back.  He describes it as a multi-station press designed to be less expensive than the Progressive and indicates that only a dozen or so were made.   I know of six including mine.     Some believe the Inline predates the "Progressive".  I'm told that the 1937 Phil Sharps book "Complete guide to Handloading" has a picture of the Inline but makes no mention of the Progressive. Of course we know the patent for the "Progressive was filed in 1933 and granted in 1936.   

Since this post is active again I thought I would add some additional information.   Apparently the multi-station press that eaglemike was referring to was not the Inline but a press similar to the one pictured below.  The pictured press belongs to CHAWKI44 who's stepfather got the press from Elard Mock.

216

Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader

« on: June 30, 2016, 02:22:39 pm »

Chris,

I'd love to trade notes with you.  I never met your great uncle, but I have talked to a few people who knew him well. I'm sure they would be happy to talk to you.

Bruce Williams

217

Star Reloaders / Re: "Bushing" Inserts at Sizing & Seating Stations

« on: May 18, 2016, 04:14:34 pm »

I have seen worse.

Bruce

218

Star Reloaders / Re: "Bushing" Inserts at Sizing & Seating Stations

« on: May 16, 2016, 07:05:39 pm »

It is a hardened insert to prevent wear.   I have replacement "wear bushings" , but you would have to send your reloader back to me for the repair.  It requires a fair amount of fitting to do the job right.

Bruce Williams

PS, No offense, but did you pull that out of a pond?

219

Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders

« on: May 14, 2016, 07:20:56 pm »

Message sent.   It's best to contact me by email.  My mail box on the forum fills up quickly and I loose track of conversations.

220

Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders

« on: May 13, 2016, 04:11:10 pm »

Humbo,

Before you worry about bullet feeders, the first option you will want to add is a Hulme type case feeder.   I can help you out with that.

The best bullet feeder for the Star was the MA Systems unit that Tony mentioned.  Unfortunately they are out of production and difficult to find.

Bruce

221

Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders

« on: May 12, 2016, 11:10:44 am »

I did find a Willy Klette invoice, but not for your reloader.   You should ask the owner if he has any of the original paperwork.   I would love to lock down the dates the gold metallic stickers was in use.   Unfortunately I only have copies of invoices for 1993-1997.

My assumption that your machine was made sometime after 1993 is because I know Star was using a Silver metallic sticker in 1990, and it was still in use in 1993.  I have only seen a couple of Gold Stickers and I know they were newer machines.   Also, your machine has a retaining screw for the Rocker Arm Screw and that feature did not come into use until about 1988.

The machines you are looking to purchase look to be in very good condition.   These machines were made to load millions of rounds, so unless they were used for commercial loading, I doubt if anything is worn out.   Look underneath the shell plates to see if there is a lot of wear on the steel base.   Sometimes machines that have been used with indexers by commercial loaders have a wear groove in the steel base.

222

Star Reloaders / Re: About to purchase my first Star reloaders

« on: May 12, 2016, 09:25:03 am »

That's not a bad price for one machine, especially in Norway.   The machine on the right is a very late model, towards the end of production.  The metallic gold sticker came into use sometime after 1993.  The Last Star reloaders produced in San Diego were made in 1996 or 1997.

I will have to see if I have a copy of the original invoice for that machine.   If I knew the name of the owner it would help me find it.   They are filed alphabetically.

Looks like you are in pretty good shape, but if you need any parts I can help.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works

223

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Looking for new #22 Primer slide ( Both)

« on: April 24, 2016, 08:44:57 am »

I have new primer slides in stock.

Bruce

224

Star Reloaders / Re: Removal of #46 Rocker Arm Tappet & #75 the Brass Primer Slide Housing

« on: March 10, 2016, 05:09:20 pm »

You must remove #80 Column Nut to remove the aluminum base.   You might want to give it a good soak with WD-40 or Kroil ahead of time to soften up rust or any varnished oil.   To remove the column nut, I put a taper pin in the taper pin hole in the column then hold the column in a vice between some SOFT jaws, using the taper pin to prevent the column from rotating.  For most Stars you need a 1 7/16" socket.  For some you need a 1 1/2" Socket.   It is likely to take considerable force, but there is no particular torque spec that I know of.

If you don't have a good vice with SOFT jaws don't attempt to remove the nut.  You are sure to bugger up the column

Almost all Stars have a dowel pin that goes through the aluminum base into the steel base.  This assures proper alignment. 

Bruce Williams

225

Star Reloaders / Re: Removal of #46 Rocker Arm Tappet & #75 the Brass Primer Slide Housing

« on: March 10, 2016, 12:54:52 am »

On most machines, you do have to remove the aluminum base in order to remove the Rocker arm tappet.  When you reinstall the Rocker arm tappet, put some grease on the large diameter edge and on the bottom where it contacts the rocker arm.

Yes, you can remove the #75 brass primer casting and reinstall it on the same machine.  The screw with the rounded head goes on the right.   When reinstalling the rocker arm, the pointier end goes under the primer punch.   If you reverse it, the primer punch will protrude above the primer punch bushing.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works.