Star Lube Die to larger size

[Swede44mag]

I have two .452 Star Dies I would like to make one of them .4595 to .460.

How would I go about making the hole larger without botching it up?

What would be the best/resonable method of measuring the ID?

Suggestions any one.

[garandsrus]

Hi,

I am not sure how you would open it up that much. I think the Star dies are hardened, so that's a lot to take off without a grinder mounted in a lathe or the equivalent. My suggestion would be to sell the die and then buy what you want from Lathesmith.

As for how to measure the ID, the least costly way is to just drive a boolit through the die and measure it. A set of pin gauges works very well also if you have them.

John

[RobS]

Another alternative is to post in the Swappin and Selling section as a trade; your .452 die for a XXX die.

[Marine Sgt 2111]

You can have the die honed to open it up. First rough within .002 and finish from there. Grinding is going to leave the inside diameter too rough. I don't know what their made to now, but when I made star dies for Ballisticast and Magma I held the I.D. finish to a 5 micro (mirror finish). John is correct, Star dies are hardened to about a 58-60 Rockwell.