Two questions from a wannabe boolit caster

[straightshooter1]

Okay-:-D :( I bought a Star luber, like new, haven't actually got it yet, but will in a few days. Paid a bit more than a new Magma, but really cheaper because of the incredible amount of shipping they charge:( . (They quote, on Ebay, over $100 to ship a Master Caster to me!)

Now that I have bought the luber, I realize I didn't ask this question:

Does it seat gas checks like the Lyman and RCBS? I can't imagine it doesn't, but....

Second question-the Lyman 314299 is said to be just a bigger 311299 casting approx .314 (this seems accurate as I have searched and read about it on this forum).

So, can't I just use it either as cast for .314 or size it to as small as .310? Like .314 for my Russian, .312 for my Argy, .310 for my Krag. All I need are different Star sizing dies, right?

Thanks,

Bob

[NVcurmudgeon]

Bob, I have no Star luber experience, so will defer to somebody who knows what he is talking about, though I would be amazed if Star lubers did not seat gas checks.

Regarding the 314299 boolit. I use mine sized .314" for my No. 4 Enfield, .312" in the 1891 Argentine Mauser, and .310" for both the .30/06 Springfield and .30/40 Krag. Alll four deliver excellent accuracy. There is a lot of bologna written about over sizing cast boolits. The late writer, Bob Milek, sized .44 cast bullets to .41 cal. and .41 cal. cast boolits to .357 with good results.

[straightshooter1]

Thanks for the info on the sizing. I was pretty sure I could do it that way, but I have been buying my boolits for several years-just getting set up to cast my own-so I wanted to make sure.

Bob

[454PB]

Yes, the Star luber seats gas checks just fine. One trick I learned is that if the check is a little tight and doesn't sit squarely on the base, use the punch to give it a light tap just before pushing the boolit through.

[straightshooter1]

Thanks for the tip.

Bob

[bobthenailer]

ive lubed & gas checked at least 25,000 bullets on my stars ! and i size /lube and install gas checks in one operation with the bullet nose first. bob

[straightshooter1]

Thanks, Bob, don't know if I'll ever do that many, but I am conviced I got the right machine for my needs.

Bob