First Reloading Setup - Star Machine Works

6

6290999

New Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2021
Messages
6
Location
Wake Forest
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I just bought all of this from a family member. I found a machining company that does a .38 to 9mm conversion on the .38 press parts. I’m selling 12,000 of the LPP’s on Gun Broker to help fund what I’ll need to start reloading 9mm. Keeping 2,000 of the LPP’s for myself. I have around 8,000 wadcutter .45 projectiles that I’m working on trading with a guy I know locally for 9mm projectiles...hopefully that doesn’t fall through. Same with the .38 & .45 brass, trading with a guy locally.

I’ve read the powder I have isn’t right for 9mm, is that accurate? It’s Bullseye. If so what is the best powders you guys have used for 9mm target loads?


I have manuals and books that I’ve been reading. I’ve been watching the videos.

Anything I’m forgetting?

23545580-C349-4FC8-BE9B-ADA2A26F17AD.jpegF3365B87-E6C7-4EBE-B7B9-C74CA32EFED4.jpeg
D2483C17-038B-4174-883D-75A177AD29E6.jpeg
 
What do your several reloading manuals list as loads for 9mm using Bullseye?

You do have a few different manuals don't you?

I just checked one of my older manuals I keep handy for quick reference here on my desk,, and it lists Bullseye as a powder you can use.
 
That machine is possibly/probably one of the best reloaders ever made. A close friend of mine has 2 and has been loading on them since the early 70's I believe. No telling how many rounds has been loaded by him as he was a very competitive shooter. I went with Dillon's machines, as parts would be easier to obtain and resources to go with them. I loved watching that machine work, amazing. Parts replacement would be my only concern, as my friend has had a few broken parts custom made to replace items over the years. As far as powder, he loaded many powders on his machines, Bullseye being one along with W231. Now he is mostly using Titegroup. Good luck with your machine, it is nice!
 
contender said:
What do your several reloading manuals list as loads for 9mm using Bullseye?

You do have a few different manuals don't you?

I just checked one of my older manuals I keep handy for quick reference here on my desk,, and it lists Bullseye as a powder you can use.
Click to expand...
The manuals I have are what my family member had and it’s only for large pistol target and competition loading. You recommend any manuals for small pistol rounds or a good universal manual.
 
Reagan98 said:
That machine is possibly/probably one of the best reloaders ever made. A close friend of mine has 2 and has been loading on them since the early 70's I believe. No telling how many rounds has been loaded by him as he was a very competitive shooter. I went with Dillon's machines, as parts would be easier to obtain and resources to go with them. I loved watching that machine work, amazing. Parts replacement would be my only concern, as my friend has had a few broken parts custom made to replace items over the years. As far as powder, he loaded many powders on his machines, Bullseye being one along with W231. Now he is mostly using Titegroup. Good luck with your machine, it is nice!
Click to expand...
It’s an amazing machine. I wish I could figure out how old it is.
 
6290999 said:
The manuals I have are what my family member had and it’s only for large pistol target and competition loading. You recommend any manuals for small pistol rounds or a good universal manual.
Click to expand...
Here's a list thats supposed to be the best 5

www.ammoland.com

The are the 5 most essential books for reloaders

The 5 reloading manuals presented here will cover virtually all of the ammunition reloading that most folks will ever do
www.ammoland.com www.ammoland.com
 
The Star is reportedly a fine machine, they have a loyal following, but then so do Fords and Chevys.

I think you’re probably wasting a ton of money, time and effort converting it to load 9mm. I’d sell it to someone that wants to load 38 and 45 and get yourself a modern press. For loading a single caliber the Dillon SDB is hard to beat IMHO.

You can load 9mm with Bullseye, take a look at any recent loading manual, you can browse for free at most stores.

I’m interested in the 38 and 45 brass and bullets if you are willing to ship. Can also trade you some SPPs that you’ll need for 9mm. Would even buy the press to load 38 wadcutters.
 
JimB said:
The Star is reportedly a fine machine, they have a loyal following, but then so do Fords and Chevys.

I think you’re probably wasting a ton of money, time and effort converting it to load 9mm. I’d sell it to someone that wants to load 38 and 45 and get yourself a modern press. For loading a single caliber the Dillon SDB is hard to beat IMHO.

You can load 9mm with Bullseye, take a look at any recent loading manual, you can browse for free at most stores.

I’m interested in the 38 and 45 brass and bullets if you are willing to ship. Can also trade you some SPPs that you’ll need for 9mm. Would even buy the press to load 38 wadcutters.
Click to expand...
I’ve been thinking about just selling to invest in a different press.
 
It appears you are new to handloading.
I mentioned manuals.
GET NEW ONES! Old ones left by family are most likely out of date.

Currently,, I'd say that Hornady, Lyman, Speer, & Hodgdon, are the top ones,, followed by Nosler, Barnes, which focus on their products.
Get the most recently published ones.
 
contender said:
It appears you are new to handloading.
I mentioned manuals.
GET NEW ONES! Old ones left by family are most likely out of date.

Currently,, I'd say that Hornady, Lyman, Speer, & Hodgdon, are the top ones,, followed by Nosler, Barnes, which focus on their products.
Get the most recently published ones.
Click to expand...
Manuals are your friend, I like to try and cross reference things, you can learn alot from being able to peruse data, hard data, in your hands.
 
I have several Star loaders and they're great. I'm surprised to find another user here! They are fantastically over-engineered and pieces of industrial art. They also make handgun ammo precisely and rapidly. You have a Star Universal. I paid a gentleman from the Star Reloader forum to make me a 9mm die set. Not only are they too , works of art, but he sent them to me on approval. "Use them and make sure you're happy with them, then send me payment".

Let me know if you have any questions on that machine, though I'm not an expert, I know people who are, and I've probably loaded 5,000 each of 9mm and 45. There's nothing unique about this press that makes it hard to learn on any more so than ANY progressive press is more difficult to learn on, than a single stage.

Titegroup, 231, Bullseye, Unique, all can be used with 9. You'll need the powder bar inserts (or an adjustable powder slide) and I can point you to a source for those too.
 
Last edited:
frakncylons said:
I’ve never seen that press, but it looks like it’s ready to work.
Click to expand...

They were made from the 30's to the early 90's in San Diego by a gentleman named Elard Mock. They remained the most expensive reloading press available for most of that time. All parts (bronze, cast iron) were cast in his location near the waterfront in Sandy Eggo.
The main business there was casting and machining bronze sprinkler heads for the ag industry in So Cal.

Once the bulldozing of that industry was complete, the focus changed to reloading equipment.

If you scan to about 13:00 in this, you'll see Star equipment in use--- first the lubesizer (still the best you can buy) and finally the reloader itself cranking out ammo.



(There's also some fun safe shooting demonstrations!). Mike Dillon's first product was an accessory for the Star Universal (the "SuperStar")
 
Last edited:
Here's another more modern vid of a Star in action (with a finished case kicker)

 
One other option. Lee USED to provide dies machined to the Star thread. That might be an option as well.

Star Press Dies
Posted by on 20 October 2011 08:09 AM
Star press die bodies are available with 11/16 x 24 thread.

Available for the STAR loading machine press in the following calibers:

•44 Mag
•38 Special
•38 Super
•9mm
•45 Colt
•30 M1 Carbine
•380 ACP
•40 S&W
•45 ACP
•41 Mag
•32 S&W

Dies cost $30.00 each and do not have a designated part number. These do not include the Decapping Rod and we do not have the Decappers available for them. The parts we carry for our standard dies will not work in the STAR dies.

Please call us at (262) 673-3075 if you would like to place an order.

Lee Precision
4275 Hwy U
Hartford WI 53027
 
Last edited:
JohnFreeman said:
One other option. Lee USED to provide dies machined to the Star thread. That might be an option as well.
Click to expand...
Is there any reason why the Star could not have the die stations drilled out and tapped to the larger 1-1/4" thread? You could then use either the Hornady inserts, or the Lee Breechlock inserts, which would allow use of any normal dies, and also allow quick changing of calibers.
 
I suppose you could, with the caveat that it's easier to replace dies than to replace a tool head.

Not sure about the hole diameters, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom