gussiegoins2
01-29-2014, 01:16 AM
Just receive my fourth LS today and I couldn't be happier. Normally I am in favor of supporting the original manufacturer because I appreciate them offering quality merchandise to a niche. I know their profit margin is higher on their parts and consumables than the original product. I don't have a problem with that, I don't work for nothing and I don't expect anyone else to either. Heck, I started out with two magma dies when I ordered my Star luber sizer.
I know the LS die is $10 cheaper but for me that's not the important point. When I ordered the Magma Star I had them add on two dis for 44 and 357. They went through the trouble of asking me the number of lube grooves. I said one, all I want is one row of holes. Got the dies and it was three rows of holes, three holes in each row. They said that's what the bird shot is for. Okay fine. Industry wanted to start lubing and sizing. Dies were a little finicky but they worked.
I decided to try LS dies on a differ caliber. Then I saw the light. Got the one row of holes like I asked for it more importantly there was five holes in that row, not three. Huge difference. They were much easier to use. I was able to get full fill out of lube groove at a lower air pressure with fewer rejects due to small gaps. With the Magma dies I had to operate in that much narrower range of too much heat/pressure with bullet nose lube glob versus too little heat/pressure lube groove not filling out completely. Five holes vs. three holes was much easier for me, no fiddling. Plus no more small indentation on the bottom of my44 bullets from the too small one size fits all Magma punch. LS fitted punches with locking hex screw makes switching calibers faster. I switch calibers a lot so to me it is worth the extra money.
I know the LS die is $10 cheaper but for me that's not the important point. When I ordered the Magma Star I had them add on two dis for 44 and 357. They went through the trouble of asking me the number of lube grooves. I said one, all I want is one row of holes. Got the dies and it was three rows of holes, three holes in each row. They said that's what the bird shot is for. Okay fine. Industry wanted to start lubing and sizing. Dies were a little finicky but they worked.
I decided to try LS dies on a differ caliber. Then I saw the light. Got the one row of holes like I asked for it more importantly there was five holes in that row, not three. Huge difference. They were much easier to use. I was able to get full fill out of lube groove at a lower air pressure with fewer rejects due to small gaps. With the Magma dies I had to operate in that much narrower range of too much heat/pressure with bullet nose lube glob versus too little heat/pressure lube groove not filling out completely. Five holes vs. three holes was much easier for me, no fiddling. Plus no more small indentation on the bottom of my44 bullets from the too small one size fits all Magma punch. LS fitted punches with locking hex screw makes switching calibers faster. I switch calibers a lot so to me it is worth the extra money.