appears to be a STAR or more likely a knock off Phelps or other.
Are sizing dies and top punches still available for either Star or Phelps?
Greetings,
Most likely a Phelps. It is not a Star.
For punches and dies, watch eBay.
Or, make friends with a good Machinist or Tool Maker.
The dies require machining, heat treating, OD grinding, and Honing. Not difficult if you have the right tools.
Going by memory, the Phelps used the same 1/2-27 thread for the punches. Yes, 1/2-27, not 1/2-28.
Magma made greasers, dies, and punches. They are now out of business.
Cheers,
Dave
Thanks for the replies. Guess I'll be looking for a luber/sizer that will support readily available components. Guess I can still use for .358 flat nose sizing. Thanks again.
Greetings,
Do not give up on the Phelps. While not as well finished as the Star they do function the same.
You might grow to like the bullets being ejected with only one down stroke.
Dies show up at Goon Shows and eBay. Although, the eBay prices are rather steep.
Look for dies that have "Star San Diego" engraved on the top. They have been machined properly.
Cheers,
Dave
Well I for one think someone will step up, and continue making parts/machines if Magma gets out of it, they just work too well!
Phelps for sure, dies and punches are interchangeable with Star dies and punches.
Phelps Lubricator-Resizer.pdf
Star Machine Works - Owner
The Original Blue Press - Made by Machinists not Machines.
NRA Patron Member
My problem is that I have .358 and .452 dies and punches but in need of a .321. Hard to find and don't really know any machinists. Lathesmith was the last one I knew to make them. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks again for all the responses.
I bet someone would swap you a good Lyman 450 heads up--Then you could get parts.
Member Ammohead just made some Star lube/sizer dies for me. They are not heat treated, but I doubt I will run enough Lead bullets through them to appreciably wear them.
Thanks. I could heat treat them if I knew what steel he uses. I'll give him a shout. Thanks again for the info.
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 |