Star Progressive Reloader Reloading Press

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tony Z

Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2002
Messages
92
Location
Washington State
Can anyone give me some information on the Star Universal Progressive Reloader set up for .44 Magnum or .44 Special. I have heard that these are great reloaders, but I have never seen one. Also if you know about what its worth I would appreciate it.:D


Thanks,

Tony
 
Star Reloaders

Tony Z: I have owned one for about 30 Years. They made a standard in .38 or .45. They made a Universal which I have. You can change the head which holds the dies out in about 3 minutes. I have a .44 head, a .38 head, and a .45 acp head. You must also change out the powder slides which are made of hard brass. The slide sits in a cast aluminum housing which is sized for the various slides depending on caliber and powder. You must also change out the primer feed tube and the primer seater depending on the caliber. They are tool room precision. They are expensive or they where. I don't know if you can get them anymore unless you find a used one. They will last for at least 2 million rounds they claim untill they need work. You used to be able to get a Hulme Case feeder for them. They are definitely worth it if you can find one. They also made an indexer which I don't think you need. A Hulme Bullet feeder was also made but I never got that either. I heard they had a little trouble with the bullet feeder. I have the case feeder on mine and it works fine. They throw very accurate and consistent powder charges. You can screw things up on them but if you pay attention it is easy to do it right. There is a Star reloaders forum some where but I don't have it. Try google. Star used to be in San Diego. They were sold. Pause please...gotta eat supper, will get back.
 
Star Reloader

I am back. I man by the Name of Bill Cunningham from Pioneer, California bought the Tooling and stuff for the Star Press. The last Phone Number I had for him was (209) 295-5185 for his home and (209) 295- 5000 for his shop. That was a couple of years ago. I don't know if he still is in to the press or not. Magma Engineering in Queen Creek, Arizona handles the Star Luber and resizer. They are very nice. There number was (480) 987-3301. Hope this all helps. any other questions...holler.
 
Star

Tony,
I have had a Star Reloader for about 30 years also and think that it is the standard to which all other progressive reloaders must be compared. One of the moderators for this list is Paul (Fitz) Jones who probably knows more about Stars than anybody on the planet, having sold,operated and designed improvements for Stars for many years. He even has a web page and list just for Star owners and users. I would address any questions about Stars to him. Quantrill
 
Thanks,

Barney and Quantrill

I might have an oppertunity to buy a like new Star Universal press. But the owner is not sure what it is worth and nether do I. I could not find out much about the Star Press on the internet.
I sure did like the press but would want to be able to buy parts , dies and the such.

Tony
 
Star Universal reloaders answer

I am a one of the moderators of this reloading section. I am the retired owner of the San Diego Star Company authorized Reloader Reconditioning Center in the 1970s I reconditioned machines to like new with Star supplied paint, parts and even Star Decals if needed.

I retired when severely injured in 1979 placing new in the box inventory in storage til last spring selling most of it off on the shooting lists and I formed the Star Reloaders Discussion and Support group last September.

There are at least a thousand Star reloaders still being used and since elderly owners are passing on, Stars are appearing at swap meets and inherited by grandchildren who need instruction as to how to operate and care for them. That is why my list was formed specifically for Star Reloader and Luber customers. We are a sociable and helpful group sharing our knowledge swapping, trading and loaning items to each other. There are very knowledgeable members who are commercial reloaders, bulletcasters, competitorsand even a well known gunsmith united in using their Stars.

New Star owners and anyone with unwanted Star machines, parts and acessories are welcome to contact me for assistance.

I have only small supply of original Star parts only as long as they last. I am not in business and cannot restock anything as I am elderly and in not the best health.

Regards Paul Jones
 
Last edited:
MODERATOR EDIT:
In the interests of fairness, this post is deleted. It contained explanatory material not relevant to this thread.

Johnny Guest
Moderator
H&R Forum
 
Last edited:
MODERATOR EDIT:
This post removed for violation of forum policies.

Personal disputes between members should be addressed by other means--E-mail or otherwise.

E-mails sent.

Johnny Guest
H&R Moderator
 
Last edited:
All rightee, then - - -

Minor difficulties smoothed out. This thread is still open--Some good information to be exchanged on the topic.

Best,
Johnny
 
It is my understandng that Star Loaders are no longer made, however I could be wrong.

People used to refer to them as the "ne plus ultra" of loaders, with good reason, from what I've heard. Originally designed for loading handgun carytridges, I believe they had a model rated for bottle neck rifle cases to.

In case anyone is interested in history, the company that made the Star Press was a brass fabricator, their business being irrigation sprinklers, or so the story went. They sort of "wandered" into reloading.
 
Star History Wanted

I received ten Star Reloaders and Ten Lubers a month while the waiting list was two years and Ira the manager said I was part of the cause for the delay and said since I am such a handy person why don't I take some of our load off and be our Reconditioning Center to do the minor stuff of cleaning adjusting, converting calibers and replacing easily replaceable parts so we can spend more of our time trying to get caught up? So I did and stocked a large supply of parts and Ira also gave me Star paint and Star Decals. Every couple of months I would make a trip there to pick up my order and socialize.
I wish I had taken pictures and gotten to know the other employees. Ira was a very good friend and I still have christmas cards he sent me. Yes they did do other things such as sprinklers and I was shown some beautiful small brass swivels. The government made them make rifle machines during the Vietnam war for tribesmen. I have a Gi Star and loan of 223 rifle dies. They also developed a very large rifle machine for any rifle caliber that I was shown and they did not go into production with it as the owner wanted to close down and did. I know a lot having made many trips and having spent hours there but I would like to hear from anyone with knowledge about the Star company history. I heard that they started off on a local pier but not sure when. I have some files from my many hundreds of Star customers to write up and would appreciate any historical input.

The original Star company is gone and with them is their 70+ years of quality craftsmanship and quality materials. I was injured in 1979 and placed some of my monthly orders of machines and supply of parts into storage which are being used for the benefit of my Star Reloaders Group. There are machine shops that have made copies and and some shop is still making parts. I am not making any thing as am long retired and will stay that way. My Star group archives are readable by anyone but to join you need to possess or have the use of a Star Reloader. Star Luber owners can be honorary members.

Anyone with unwanted Star Reloaders, Lubers, Parts and accessories are invited to contact me for my group.

The California Saeco Bulletcasting tool company that bought out Cramer Bullet Co. about 1947 Also made fuel caps for aircraft and I also spent a lot of time there helping making up some of my mold orders.

respond to Paul Jones [email protected]
 
Buckhunter:

Re your question about Star Loader in 9mm caliber, I'm not sure if they ever made anything in that caliber, though they might have.

So far as I know or have heard, they concentrated on calibers 38 and 45. They also made some rifle caliber machines in caliber 30-06, I think.

I know a couple of shoters who own or have used Star Machines. None of the above had a bad word re these machines, insofar as I can recall.
 
Paul "Fitz" Jones :

Re Star history, as I understand, the company started as a brass foundery, making sprinkler heads. Somehow, they got involved in the design and manufacture of reloading equipment, which they did an excellent job of, as the story goes.

I've known a couple of shooters who had Star machines. None of these people had anything but high praise for Star equipment.
 
Buckhunter

Anyone know where I can buy a 9mm toolhead for a Star Universal Reloader? Also a 38 wadcutter seater.
Click to expand...
Bill, who owns Star Machine Works in Pioneer, CA is back in business. I just picked up some parts from him. You might give him a call or email him about what you need at [email protected]. His website is www.starmachineworks.com.

Re your question about Star Loader in 9mm caliber, I'm not sure if they ever made anything in that caliber, though they might have.
Click to expand...

Star made machines in .38 Special, .45 ACP, 9mm, .380, .32 ACP, 30 M1 Carbine and .223 Remington to name just a few of the calibers. For more info you can check out www.starreloaders.com where all us old Star guys get together to share info on Stars.
 
Greetings to you Mr. Paul
I'm a retired Police Captain from the Shreveport Police Department...During my time there I reloaded for the Police Pistol team. Also purchased many parts from you..
May I ask what parts you have left, example dies: (Sizer and pistol)..??
If you would so kind and email me at [email protected]
Regards
Alan 'Doc' Kimball
 
Greetings
How can I contact you to see what parts you have left..???
Alan S. Kimball Retired Shreveport Police Dept
 
Greetings
How can I contact you to get a list of parts you have left..??
Regards
Alan S. Kimball - Retired Shreveport Police Dept
 
Thanks
Sorry for repeating..........
Hard to get anybody to answer, other forums also........
 
It would be good to keep this thread open. I'm a new Star owner and it provided some good info regarding Star history and contact info. Now, if I could only find a few parts: powder slides, base plugs, .45 ACP sizing die, 9mm shellplate, etc.
 
concerning the older Star reloaders,Bullseye shooters would give their first born for one.a wonderful piece of tooling...jwr
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
Shipping reloading presses
Replies
23
Views
667
LiveLife
LiveLife
A
  • Locked
Star Progressive Reloader - Powder Charge Bars???
Replies
1
Views
587
Borg
B
E
  • Locked
Can you load .44 Magnum on .44 Special dies?
Replies
8
Views
1K
Gewehr98
G
P
  • Locked
Progressive Reloader pre survey
2
Replies
48
Views
3K
JSR
J
E
  • Locked
Tell me if this is a good deal on three Star Progressive presses.
Replies
18
Views
2K
45auto
4
Back
Top