Starsizer questions

[Billme]

Seriously considering getting the Starsizer. Just trying to get through the cost justification period.:confused:

Will my Lyman heater work with it?
Do the Lyman dies fit it?

[Glooooock]

Most any heater will work , even a light aimed down at it .
Star Dies are specific to the sizer , Aprox . $20 - $40 each ( used / new ).
Its really the best tool for the job.

[Shadowdog500]

I just got a star and the lyman dies will not fit.

I use a spotlight for a heater so I don't know on the heater.

The star is much quicker than the lyman so I plan on using it to do lots of 45s I will prpbably keep the lyman for smaller runs like 9mm and 44 mag since I allready have the dies. If you cast a bunch of one caliber you might want to get one in that caliber to give it a try.

Chris

[Billme]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably get it setup for 9. I did a batch on the Lyman and it was a frikkin mess. The 45s I run through it weren't as messy.

[Glooooock]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably get it setup for 9. I did a batch on the Lyman and it was a frikkin mess. The 45s I run through it weren't as messy.

It all depends on the type of lube and set up / temp of the sizer. Hard lubes may not fill the grooves at first . Soft lube can end up on either end of the sizer bullet , till your depth is set up .

[cohutt]

For dies a lot of folks buy from Lathesmith @ cast boolits and they seem pleased. Cheaper too

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=34499

[Pitmaster]

For dies a lot of folks buy from Lathesmith @ cast boolits and they seem pleased. Cheaper too

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=34499


I've bought all my dies from Lathesmith. Good price, service, and turn around.

[cohutt]

I've bought all my dies from Lathesmith. Good price, service, and turn around.

Did you get the hardened steel ones or the regular ones?

[AdamN]

Ive had great results with the Magma dies, bullets come out with a mirror finish....

http://www.glockpost.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=30&pictureid=133

http://www.glockpost.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=30&pictureid=142

[cohutt]

Adam, were the top bullets cast big? That's a lot of shiny sized surface. do tell.

[MakeMineaP99]

I am now in possession of the mould those bullets came from as well as the sizing dies. With my alloy, 50/50 WW/pure, they come out around 360 thousandths, and I size them from 356-358 thousandths.

When you size them down to 356 thousandths, they get nice and shiney.

You want some Brother Hutt? I'm sending Blueline some next time I get home and have time to do something other than sleep.

[AdamN]

Yea what he said, there about 150gr 9mm

[cohutt]

That's what i figured.

Thanks for the offer but i have lead 9mm's coming out my nostrils right now, including the RCBS 147g ones that weight out 152-153.

[Billme]

Now that's what I want my bullets to look like, instead of a gummy mess.

What lube is that, Lars Red?

Anybody try the BAC?

[Pitmaster]

Did you get the hardened steel ones or the regular ones?

More than likely the regular ones. Dan's seen them. I don't recall anything special about the order. I don't have the sizes etched in my memory yet but I bought 1 each for .38 sp, 9mm, .45 acp, and 45-70. I'm hoping to cast some bullets this upcoming week. Weather is looking cooperative. But first I want to shoot some stuff Monday and/or Tuesday.

[AdamN]

Yea thats Lars red. Havent tried the BAC yet but there are lots of good lubes

[blueline541]

I have a bunch of questions about lube/sizers but I'm so ignorant of the whole process I don't even know what to ask. I do like the speed factor of the Star but I have no knowledge about it beyond that.

[MakeMineaP99]

Fire away, Blueline. You're amongest friends.

[cohutt]

I have been using an RCBS LAMII but bought a used star recently. For grins i cast about 500 45 200g FP saturday and ran them through the star. Fast. - much more so that.

Going to keep LAM for now though.

Drive down to Rome one evening or weekend and work with both some to get a feel if you want. I had 2 friends stop by today, one wanted to check out casting, the other wanted to look up close and personal at 550 and 650, looking at buying first progressive press.

[blueline541]

Do I need to buy all the accessories available for the Star to lube bullets or will the $250 unit do it alone? Without the extras how much slower is it? Hard lubes, soft lubes, dies?

I need to find a good link for "lube/sizing for dummies".

[MakeMineaP99]

General overview of lube and sizers:

There's two schools of thought on what lube does. The first school of thought is the lube is stripped (or more correctly sheared) from the lube groove(s) and provides a layer between steel and lead for the bullet to glide on and the bullet seals the bore the instant of gas cloud hits it.

The other school of thought is the lube is blown from the lube groove(s) forward of the bullet, before the bullet seals the bore, providing the same effect as above.

Based on what I've seen, I don't believe either is correct. I believe there is a middle ground between the two to what actually happens. Before you ask, I don't have an empirical data to prove or disprove anything, just my opinion.

It has been noted several different materials make better lubes than others, there's opinions on whether to use soft lubes (ALOX, Beeswax), hard lubes and whatnot. I've run a few different lubes and have come to the conclusion, use what works for your firearm, there is no magic wonder lube. You have to develop loads, play with alloying, sizing and the other variables to get your firearm to run cast, this isn't jacketed where one size fits all.

Regarding sizers, the Lyman 450 and RCBS LAM2 use interchangable dies and top punches and can be found new for $100 to $150, respecitively, used slightly less. The biggest problem with either is the bullet must be placed in the sizer, sized and then removed, where as with the Star you simply place the bullet and pull the handle.

Honestly, Blueline, for as much as you shoot, buy the Star and do it right the first time. If you were running a ton of magnum handguns, gas checking and such, the LAM2 would probably make sense. Knowing that you mostly shoot handgun rounds in common service calibers that don't require gas checking, the Star makes the most sense, especially when you're running several thousand rounds/month.

Regarding accessories, here's what you need to get started, the Star, sizing die(s), a piece of Aluminum and an iron (like for clothes). Drill and tap the Aluminum to fit the Star and use the iron as your heat source. If you need someone to hook you up with such, just say the word and I'll get one on your door step.

[AdamN]

It works fine as is, I used mine like that for a good while.

Here is a video of the base model that Freak put up. Every 30 or 40 bullets or so you just turn the pressure screw down a couple turns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCtLi8i7tMg

[MakeMineaP99]

More than likely the regular ones. Dan's seen them. I don't recall anything special about the order. I don't have the sizes etched in my memory yet but I bought 1 each for .38 sp, 9mm, .45 acp, and 45-70. I'm hoping to cast some bullets this upcoming week. Weather is looking cooperative. But first I want to shoot some stuff Monday and/or Tuesday.

I couldn't tell you from casual inspection what you had were. I'd have to Rockwell test them to determine.

[blueline541]

Regarding accessories, here's what you need to get started, the Star, sizing die(s), a piece of Aluminum and an iron (like for clothes). Drill and tap the Aluminum to fit the Star and use the iron as your heat source. If you need someone to hook you up with such, just say the word and I'll get one on your door step.



Thanks very much for the offer. A guy from work is getting some aluminum for me from a friend of his who owns a machine shop.

His machine shop friend just finished duplicating a set of Dillon strong mounts for my friends latest 550. Fantastic looking copies.