The " Stars" have aligned

35 Whelen

Active Member
Our little town of 10K people had their gun show this week. Typically it's mostly overpriced things that guys want to try and sell to get rid of. Today was one of those magical days when the Stars aligned ( pun intended ). I ended up with a new to me Star sizer/luber with heater, and a .358 die for my Whelen and .358 Win ( will have to mic a bullet and see if it will be a match for cast in my rifles) and an apparently unread copy of the Lyman Bullet casting handbook 3rd edition. The Star cost me $95 with heater and die and the book was $1. The elderly gentleman selling it all just wanted to pass it along to someone who was going to appreciate it for what it was. He had at least four lube/sizers for sale....he smiled when he saw me put my hands on the Star and said " you picked the best one...good for you" We talked for hours....he passed along his phone number for when he finds more of his treasured items. I always find it sad when due to age we have to part with the things we love to do the most, but glad the gentleman saw that I respected his equipment and took the time to talk with him about his passion. I hope we get a chance to speak again and unlock his knowledge, skills and keep the sport alive. He was like an Encyclopedia ....probably forgetting more than I will ever know. Thanks John...it was a pleasure meeting you.

9032
9033
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
$95???
That thing looks pristine! Killer score. Sounds like a nice fella.
Great job on a good score. Is this your first Star? I'm still trying to learn how to use mine.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Wow, what a find!
Both will provide you with years of enjoyment.
The Star really needs to be used to appreciate what it can do.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
What a deal . . . You stole it but if the seller is happy it's all good for both of you. That's the Midway heater, the same one I have under both of my Stars. Now you need to go to the Magma web site and order the air cylinder, makes a huge difference and well worth it, have it on both Stars.
 

35 Whelen

Active Member
Hi Waco....yes my first Star for me personally. I have a Lachmiller currently in use that does very well. The Lachmiller was the predecessor to the RCBS sizer. We had the Stars in the Vancouver Police Range when I was an Armorer there. We had a civilian loading practice ammo for us back then....And we also had about 6 Star loaders...god only knows where they ended up when they stopped reloading. I wished I knew when they sold them.
Rick....I didn't dicker with the seller on any of his items, I paid him full sticker price on all his goods. He also had a pair of Leica Trinovid binoculars that I wished I had another $200 for.
He was glad to pass them on to someone with similar interests. Started off when I picked up his two oak loading blocks from Buffalo Arms...I said those look like they would work for my 45-70....and the rest is history as his eyes lit up knowing I was shooting his caliber. ;)
 
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35 Whelen

Active Member
Thanks for the information Rick......I will look up the air cylinder. Luckily we have a fellow here in Canada who also makes very nice Star sizing dies, so I think I am set.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
that still has the original return spring.
look on the opposite [side from the picture] down on the main body you probably have or had a little rectangular gold sticker that says 'star san diego' on it.
that's either a late san diego or a very early magma.

it has both the drain and the burp plugs.
be sure to remove or loosen the allen head burp plug before pulling the size die.
and make sure you warm it up before pulling the size die.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Speaking of die removal . . . Did you get the die removal tool with it? If not they are available from Magma, not expensive and sooo worth it.

9041
 

35 Whelen

Active Member
Thanks Fiver for the tips...yes it does have the San Diego sticker and the return spring looks squarish in cross section
 

35 Whelen

Active Member
Hi Rick....I didn't get the die removal tool with it. I was thinking it would be pretty simple to thread a bolt up inside with an appropriately sized socket slid over to pull it up. We will see. Shipping stuff from the states is so expensive using our postal system..about three or four times the amount it should be.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I think the heater by itself costs about what you paid. Quite a find, for sure. Looks really good.

And you DO need the die extractor. The thread where you will thread your bolt are 1/2-27....good
luck finding a bolt that size, ever. Been there, done that, got the lathe to make top punches....and had to use
a special set of end gears to cut 27 TPI.

Bill
 
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35 Whelen

Active Member
Thanks Bill I saw the post about the 1/2-27 thread....talk about proprietary and forcing consumers to buy your product LOL. Or maybe seeing as you have the gearing to cut the correct thread we could work a deal on a removal die for some Palma 92 brass ;)
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Hmm. I'd make that deal if the quantity of brass was reasonable, no doubt.
Shoot me a PM if you are serious. OOPS, a conversation over here.

Bill
 
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