roysha
10-05-2017, 06:01 PM
I don't know if this qualifies as "vintage" but since it was made quite a while back and is no longer made, I thought it might fit in.
When I first became aware of the Pitzer tool it was being distributed by Brownells sometime in the 80s, perhaps before and after, but I really don't know for sure. At the time I could not afford one and when I finally could, they were no longer available. It seems the tool was made by a very small company and when the originator died, pretty much so did the business.
Anyway, after years of posting on various forums an average of twice a year, I finally found one that was virtually new. No box but had never had lube in it. The set of dies that came with it are 7mm which are totally useless to me except for having them as a pattern to make the calibers I want.
It is no better or worse than a Star except for the rather complicated die. However, there might be a slight edge on speed since the bullet is just dropped into the "trough" and then sized and lubed. Obviously, it functions horizontally rather than vertically like a Star.
It's an interesting tool from an interesting time in the gun world.
The photos show the tool with die and nose punch and the dies separately out of the tool. The black rings on the die are O-rings to seal the lube chamber. There is also a nut to lock the die in place, which I took off and laid aside when I took the photos.
When I first became aware of the Pitzer tool it was being distributed by Brownells sometime in the 80s, perhaps before and after, but I really don't know for sure. At the time I could not afford one and when I finally could, they were no longer available. It seems the tool was made by a very small company and when the originator died, pretty much so did the business.
Anyway, after years of posting on various forums an average of twice a year, I finally found one that was virtually new. No box but had never had lube in it. The set of dies that came with it are 7mm which are totally useless to me except for having them as a pattern to make the calibers I want.
It is no better or worse than a Star except for the rather complicated die. However, there might be a slight edge on speed since the bullet is just dropped into the "trough" and then sized and lubed. Obviously, it functions horizontally rather than vertically like a Star.
It's an interesting tool from an interesting time in the gun world.
The photos show the tool with die and nose punch and the dies separately out of the tool. The black rings on the die are O-rings to seal the lube chamber. There is also a nut to lock the die in place, which I took off and laid aside when I took the photos.