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Thread: Newbie,to a star

  1. #1
    Boolit Master

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    Newbie,to a star

    Just bought my first star sizer,,i actually stole it,,,,almost ashamed!!
    Anyhoo,,my question is,the guy before me,sized base first,so naturally,this machine has a rn shaped punch.
    Its set up with a .3575 die,,should be perfect for my 9,,,should i buy a flat punch,,or continue base first?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    winelover's Avatar
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    I purchased my first Star, because I specifically wanted to size nose first. Have a LAM for base first sizing. Flat punches are the way to go. No need/expense for nose specific punches.

    Winelover

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Mal Paso's Avatar
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    Flat punch. Lathesmith in the first thread can fix you up.
    Mal

    Mal Paso means Bad Pass, just so you know.

  4. #4
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    Base first sizing/lubing works well. In fact, Star never made a flat punch for their sizers, and refused to when asked. It was their belief that the machines should be used as designed, base first sizing and lubing. It was John Paul Jones who first started making the flat punches to sell for the Star machines, as he was a distributor for Star.

    If the round nose punch fits the profile of the bullet you're going to be sizing and lubing, go ahead and use it. I have a couple Stars set up for base first sizing and lubing, and several set up for nose first sizing and lubing. I find either way works, as long as everything is correctly adjusted.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    I would rather size nose up because if you have the correct nose punch it will keep the bullet centered. For most people nose first will be fine because the difference between the two is not a great amount though it does exist and only matters if you are in a competition and want to win.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy hermans's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ReloaderFred View Post
    Base first sizing/lubing works well. In fact, Star never made a flat punch for their sizers, and refused to when asked. It was their belief that the machines should be used as designed, base first sizing and lubing. It was John Paul Jones who first started making the flat punches to sell for the Star machines, as he was a distributor for Star.

    If the round nose punch fits the profile of the bullet you're going to be sizing and lubing, go ahead and use it. I have a couple Stars set up for base first sizing and lubing, and several set up for nose first sizing and lubing. I find either way works, as long as everything is correctly adjusted.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    Very interesting Fred!
    I have always wondered about sizing rifle boolits since I only cast for handguns. I suppose sizing a long sharp pointed rifle boolit base first would be better?

  7. #7
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    Sizing long rifle bullets works much better for me when sized base first, especially if they receive a gas check. Success also depends on having the proper nose punch. I've got a couple dozen different nose punches, so I'm able to try several until I find the right one.

    Another trick is if you have one slightly larger than the profile of your bullet, you can put a small amount of epoxy into the nose punch and lower it down on to a waxed bullet to form the proper profile. I do this on my drill press (not running, of course) to get the proper alignment. The wax acts as a mold release so the bullet doesn't get glued into the nose punch. I also wipe off any excess epoxy before it fully hardens. One done in this manner works perfectly.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Don't tell any one ... fill the RN cavity with J-B Weld Epoxy , let set , sand dead flat , let cure ...
    Flat punch .
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  9. #9
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    Use hot glue it is easy to get out and to shapes the correct profile in less time then epoxy.
    Steve,

    Life Member NRA
    Colorado Rifle Club member
    Rocky Mtn Gun Owners member
    NAGR member

  10. #10
    Boolit Master



    Springfield's Avatar
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    I use a Star and it has always been easier to keep the bullets straight with a flat punch as it aligns with the flat base, flat on flat. With a nose punch there was always more of a chance to get the bullet mis-aligned. On the few occasions I used gas checks they worked fine as long as they fit the bullet and I used a large enough flat punch.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check