Messages

811

Star History / Re: Star Price History

« on: August 03, 2009, 05:00:54 pm »

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, 1973........$ 450.00    (Carbide Dies are Standard)
November 1, 1975.........$ 450.00    (Carbide Dies are Standard
February 1, 1977..........$ 525.00    (from Kenneth L. Walters)
March 1, 1978..............$ 660.00  
March 1, 1979..............$ 760.00    
March 1, 1980..............$ 925.00    (from Kenneth L. Walters
April 1, 1981................$1110.00    (pricing for "Progressive" Reloader no longer given)
January 10, 1983.........$  925.00    (Says New Lower Prices)
April 1, 1988.................$ 925.00    (Says New Lower Prices!)
May 1, 1990.................$ 925.00
September 1, 1991........$ 925.00
May 1, 1997.................$ 925.00    (looks like an original Star price list, but maybe from Bill Cunningham?)

812

Survey Says... / Re: Camp Perry

« on: July 28, 2009, 10:47:48 pm »

Ross,

Initially, I too was put off by the idea of Stars being parted out, but then I realized that one Star parted out can bring many others back to life.   If there was a ready source of original parts there wouldn't be a market for parted out Stars.

813

Survey Says... / Re: Camp Perry

« on: July 28, 2009, 08:02:20 am »

Last year was my first and only time to shoot at Camp Perry.  I hope to make it back sometime in the future.   On several occasions I have visited Camp Perry during the pistol championships just to take advantage of commercial row.   I lived in the Cleveland area for 20 years before moving back east.   We still travel back to see friends, and I usually try to time the trips to coincide with the pistol championships.

814

Star Reloaders / Re: rounds per hour

« on: July 27, 2009, 09:07:13 pm »

Hey, it was late......just an opinion.

815

Star Reloaders / Re: rounds per hour

« on: July 25, 2009, 12:33:04 am »

A Star without a case feeder is like a 1911 without a magazine.  You can still use it, but it kind of misses the whole point.   With a case feeder, 300-500 rounds per hour would be typical depending on the individual.  I'm in the middle of that range.   Without a case feeder.....who knows, never tried it.

Sorry, its late, I couldn't resist.

816

Star Reloaders / Re: woff primers

« on: July 16, 2009, 02:13:39 pm »

Sorry, can't help, I have never used a Wolf primer in any reloader.   

On the positive side, I have recently been able to buy case quantities of Winchester large pistol primers.   I have also been able to buy Winchester small pistol primers, but my supplier is still limiting customers to 1000 primers per trip.

817

Star Reloaders / Re: 45 ACP Expander Die Pic Needed

« on: July 07, 2009, 11:45:38 pm »

Actually, neither.

Attached is a picture of a full set of 45 ACP dies.  The expander is the second from the left.  It is installed in a hole in the tool head above the primer station.   The thread is 1/2-27

818

Star Reloaders / Re: Hornady powder bushings in Star Machine

« on: July 05, 2009, 01:34:15 pm »

I made up a dozen or so 1/2" Powder bars which accept the Hornady bushings.  I sold them along with spacers to convert "00" powder slide housings to 1/2" Powder slide housings.   I sold all that I had and I purchased stock to make more, but I just haven't had time to get it done.  However, I am planning to make some more, and I will post a message when they are ready.   

You might check with Swanee.   I know that he had some Berdon 0 and 00 powder slides that use bushings.  I like them as well, but there are no commercially available bushings that I know of.

819

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Used Star Lube/sizer Received

« on: June 26, 2009, 09:03:11 am »

Have you shot other (commercial) cast bullets from this gun?  Do they lead?

In my experience, leading comes from either the barrel (some barrels just seem to lead up) the load, or the size of the bullet (too small or too big).   Some say the lubricant can also have an effect, but I haven't experimented enough with lubes to say one way or another.

As for the hardness of the alloy, yes, I think it matters, but only in the sense that the size of the bullet and the load have to be matched to the alloy you use.   I have never tested the hardness of my alloy (range scrap plus linotype).  It is hard, but you can still mark it with a fingernail (that's my test).   However, I also shoot swagged hollowbase wadcutters in my 38 Specials, and I don't get any leading.  The swagged bullets are very very soft.

This is just a guess, but if you are getting leading the full length of the barrel, I would say that your bullet is undersized, and that its skidding over the rifling,  A hot load would exacerbate the problem.    Have you slugged the barrel?

820

Star Reloaders / Re: Reloading bench ideas?

« on: June 22, 2009, 01:59:53 pm »

Thanks Kenn,

Actually just finger joints.   Dovetails are still a little beyound me.

821

Star Reloaders / Re: Reloading bench ideas?

« on: June 22, 2009, 09:09:09 am »

I didn't have any work bench to spare, so before I got my first Star I started using Midway loading pedestals.   They have interchangeable plastic tops which can be drilled to mount various reloaders.  They even include templates for drilling the holes...  I found the Midway pedestals to be a little too light, so I filled the bases with concrete.

When I got my first Star, I went to work in the wood shop and built a "box" on which to mount the Star, and mounted the box on the Midway pedestal table.   Now I have three of these setups.   Attached is an older picture.

822

Star Reloaders / Re: Thread Size of Star Reloading Press Dies

« on: June 18, 2009, 04:05:41 pm »

11/16-24 is Correct

823

Star Reloaders / Re: Selling Star reloaders

« on: June 16, 2009, 01:53:31 pm »

Brand New Star sizers made by Magma Engineering are still available.   I believe the current price is $250 which does not include any dies or punches.   Dies sell new for $40, punches for around $18.   So it really just comes down to how close to new your sizer is and how many dies and punches are included.   With one die and punch, they routinely sell on eBay for $175-$250...some original Stars in "new" condition sell for even more than a new Magma.

824

Star Reloaders / Re: How to adjust Shell Plate Dowel Pin

« on: June 16, 2009, 01:47:18 pm »

Sounds like you have a bent dowel pin.   I have encountered several of them and I have yet to figure out a way to straighten them out.   The Stars are made with such close tolerances that if the rod is bent even slightly, it will bind in the base.   The only solution I have found is to make new ones from 3/8" drill rod.

825

Star Lubricator & Resizers / Re: Can I minimize or eliminate die adjustment?

« on: May 24, 2009, 08:51:51 pm »

I think that you can probably order dies from Magma Engineering with the spacing between holes that you want, and with only the number of holes that you want.   You will probably have a bit of a wait as your not asking for something that would be on the shelf.  Call Magma and talk to the very nice lady. 

Most of us do nose first sizing now, which works fine for both gas check and non-gas check bullets.  You might want to pick up a flat punch or two from Magma Engineering.   It's good if the punch pretty closely matches the diameter of the bullet, especially if you are doing gas check bullets.