Star Lubrisizer

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TexasMac
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Star Lubrisizer

Post by TexasMac »

I’ve got a lot of experience pan lubing and also using a Redding/SAECO lubrisizer. Bullets with deep grooves work great pan lubing but those with shallow grooves not so good as the lube tends to roll out of the grooves when pressing them out of the lube cake. The SAECO works on the shallow groove bullets but it's a slow process.

Does anyone use a star lubrisizer? If so how do you like it?

Wayne
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march41
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by march41 »

my star works great,if lube is at right temp.The push thru is quick.Bob. :roll:
Kurt
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by Kurt »

I use a Star for my pistol bullets and it has a hot plate they made for it under it for the hard lube.
I have a hole drilled through the bench and with the push through future it has you can lube a bunch in a short time. Mine I have set up with a jig in a drawer below the Star on a slant with a towel so they don't get damaged.
I been using it since the mid 60's and it's still going as good as it was new.
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bpcr shooter
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by bpcr shooter »

I've used a star for bpcr and pistol bullets. They work great. I now mainly use a Rcbs but, only because the dies are more readily available and cheaper
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TexasMac
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by TexasMac »

Thanks guys. Although I'm setup to load several handgun calibers I rarely shoot handguns these days since over 90% of my shooting is BPCR or 22 BPCRA. I can use my SAECO lubrisizer for lubing cast handgun bullets. What I'm looking for is a BPCR lubing solution other than pan lubing that's faster than the RCBS or SAECO lubrisizers.

march41, are you using your Star for BPCR?

bpcr shooter, ignoring the price of the Star unit and dies, assuming you have the Star dies for BPCR would you consider the Star a better solution than your RCBS unit?

Wayne
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AzTBH
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by AzTBH »

Wayne

I have used the Magma Star Lube-sizer for almost 10 years. Strictly for my 40-70SS bullets. I have no experience with RCBS. Although the Star dies are more expensive that RCBS dies, the Star does not need a custom nose for each bullet since the bullet is pushed through nose first. Magma is relatively local to me (65 mile drive), and I visited the shop a couple of times, when first setting up the unit. The Magna personnel were are extremely helpful, accommodating, and gave me a tour of the shop. If you send Magna a bullet they will position the holes in the die to match your particular bullet and also size the die to the diameter you specify. I use a lube recipe that Steve Rhoades provided me and I have never had a problem with the lube being too stiff to flow into the grooves. All my equipment is in the house, so it is always at room temperature.

Since switching to paper patch, the Star doesn’t get used much for lubing bullets. However, I do use the Star for final sizing my dual-diameter patched bullet. An alternative to using Magma factory dies is to order from Lathesmith from Cast Boolits forum http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthr ... hat-I-make. I ordered custom sizing dies (no grease grooves) for the paper patch bullets from Lathesmith. His sizing dies are definitely top-shelve and I would not hesitate ordering dies from Lathesmith in the future.

Good Shooting,
Ross
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TexasMac
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by TexasMac »

Thanks Ross. That's excellent info.

BTW, If anyone reading this has a Star that's not being used I'm interested.

Wayne
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desert deuce
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by desert deuce »

http://www.magmaengineering.com/magma-star-lube-sizer/

Wayne, the gadget you are inquiring about is apparently still being manufactured for $338.00, dies not included.

As others have said, they work great for pistol and revolver bullets cast pretty hard. Mine are very durable and low to no maintenance.

My advice would be to try one out for your purposes before you expend that kind of money unless money is no object because you could get past $500.00 pretty quick even if you were careful.

Somewhere in the treasure pile there is a .458 sizing die and a flat nose base punch for the die I seem to recall for a bullet with 5 grease grooves.
Catching the lubed and sized bullet as it came out the die worked best for me.
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TexasMac
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by TexasMac »

Thanks dd,

I had already checked the Star out concerning price and availability but I'd rather not spend the new price if I can find a good used one that's collecting dust for a reasonable price. I've placed a couple of inquiries to see if I can uncover anything.

Wayne
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TexasMac
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by TexasMac »

I found a used one in nice condition for a very reasonable price, less than half the new price. Once the unit is in my hands I'll need to order the necessary dies. The dies are not as universal and are much more expensive than those used with the RCBS or SAECO lubrisizers. Not only must they be made to the correct diameter but the lube holes are drilled prior to hardening to match the number and placement of the bullet lube grooves. Fortunately two custom dies should meet my needs, one for .40 & one for .45 caliber bullets with 4 lube grooves.

As noted earlier the main reason for the Star is to lube bullets with shallow grooves that do not work well with pan lubing. But it will interesting to see how using the Star compares to the time required for pan lubing deep groove bullets.

Wayne
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Etienne Brule
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by Etienne Brule »

Hi,

Doeing it since more than 10 years… Very fasssssst

https://www.facebook.com/Gerald.Bergero ... QRAbbxl_Yx

https://www.facebook.com/Gerald.Bergero ... QRAbbxl_Yx

Cal .45 with SPG
Kurt
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by Kurt »

Wayne,
You can adjust the lube flow plugins unneeded holes in the die using #7-1/2 shot. You might also look for the proper heater that is mounted under the press to soften the lube if needed for the shallow grooves.
I have to do some digging and look for the heater, it's made for the Star and I will take some pictures to show what the setup looks like if you would like to see it. I haven't used my sizer since maybe the late 80's when I quit the pistol bulls eye matches.

Also there is a flow down in Texas, I don't remember his name, that used to make custom dies for the Star at a very reasonable cost. I had him make a die to lube a .54 caliber Maxie for the muzzle loader hunting bullet.
The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

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TexasMac
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by TexasMac »

Kurt wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:48 am Wayne,
You can adjust the lube flow plugins unneeded holes in the die using #7-1/2 shot. You might also look for the proper heater that is mounted under the press to soften the lube if needed for the shallow grooves.
I have to do some digging and look for the heater, it's made for the Star and I will take some pictures to show what the setup looks like if you would like to see it. I haven't used my sizer since maybe the late 80's when I quit the pistol bulls eye matches.

Also there is a flow down in Texas, I don't remember his name, that used to make custom dies for the Star at a very reasonable cost. I had him make a die to lube a .54 caliber Maxie for the muzzle loader hunting bullet.
Thanks Kurt,

There's several YouTube videos on how everything works including the heater which I doubt I'll need since the BPCR lube I'm using is soft. The guy I'm getting the Star from was using it with SPG and he said a heater was definitely not necessary. There is a fellow on the Cast Bullets forum that makes custom dies plus some other stuff for the Star and reasonable prices, and is reputation is excellent with lots of feedback. It may be the same guy you're thinking of.

Wayne
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Kurt
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by Kurt »

You made a good choice getting the Star. I found using a flat punch and pushing the bullet through nose so you don't have to make a special nose punch to match the ogive.
The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"Winston Churchill
Kurt
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Re: Star Lubrisizer

Post by Kurt »

:D word of caution using the soft lube. Don't get to ambitious with the pressure screw :D
The star has a good pumping system.
The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery"Winston Churchill
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