Star lubing rate?

[Mike W1]

Tried searching but I'm not very adept at it. Once you get the Star sizer/luber set up and running properly (I get the idea it takes some fine tuning) what's a rough estimate of bullets processed per hour? I can get around 500 run through my RCBS per hour but I'm looking at about 20K of bullets sitting on the shelf to do and that's 40 hours any way you look at it. My time IS worth something to me and I like new toys!

[Springfield]

Depends on whether you have the bullet feeder or not. 1000 an hour for hard lube smokeless bullets is not too hard. I do BP bullets and so have to put them all in styrofoam trays and I can do 750 without too much problem. I could never do anything like 500 an hour with my Lyman.

[FN in MT]

Springfield hit on a good point; HARD LUBE. When I was using the last of my supply of ALOX and had to place each .44 in a box.....maybe 500-600 per hour...MAYBE. then I switched to the red harder lube and could let them drop into a box. WOW! Supersonic, near Warp speed vs the ALOX.
I was lubing 20+ a minute when II checked to see my max speed...... but probably on average 15 slugs per min is far more accurate. I sped through all of my .38's ....probably 3K or more, in a relaxing, two cigar evening.
You will find many more here that are FAR better versed on the STAR....I'm a relative virgin....just finally got mine up and running without making a mess.

FN in MT

[bobthenailer]

i have 2 stars , i only use hard lube with a heater , ive been useing them for 30 years , you can easily lube 1000 per hr even with slightly oversized bullets no bullet feeder or air pressure. if you are just barely sizing as in the case of bullets the same dia as being sized , i once sized 1000 bullets in 35 min as a test to see how fast i could go.

[targetshootr]

1000 an hour isn't hard but you have to stop to add lube and give your arms a break every so often.

[lathesmith]

If you can do 500 per hour with a Lyman, 1,000 per hour would be a cinch with the Star. Personally, I find my Star at least 3-4x faster than a Lyman, because I have far less wasted motion with the Star vs. the Lyman. This is with pistol bullets; rifle bullets, especially big, long and/or heavy ones, the Star speed advantage diminishes somewhat. Spend your money, and time, and make your choice...
lathesmith

[HeavyMetal]

Anybody that can get 500 an hour out of the RCBS or Lyman sizer needs to be dealin cards in a casino!

I have always said the Star is about 3 times as fast as the RCBS or Lyman type sizer, you may do a bunch better!

[Mike W1]

I think you guys have just talked me into buying a Star. I have hit as high as 600 but I don't stack my bullets either. They go into bulk wood boxes that hold about 800 45 bullets and obviously I can't hit those rates for real long periods either. I appreciate all the input!