Star U 38 special press and die questions

I apologize in advance, I have searched for answers unsuccessfully and today got a message saying I am banned from the Star Reloading forum.  Not sure why?  So reaching out here for help...

I have and have successfully used a Star reloader for 45 acp and love it.  However, i picked up a like new press on ebay this past year set up for 38 special.  It appears complete with a couple possible exceptions.  First a few observations

1. It did not come with a safety cam and spring but I do have one that came with my first press (45 acp)
2. The last station has no die and is open at the bottom to allow the completed cartridge to drop through.
3. The seating die appears to also put a *roll* crimp on the cartridge mouth. The seating post appears to have a round profile as for use with RN bullets.
4. There is no safety cam stop pin but i have one on the 45 cal press.

Can anyone help answer these questions?

1. I think there are separate seat and crimp dies.  Should i separate those operations?  
2. If so, I understand that there is a taper crimp style. Is that the way to go? 
3. I plan to load both 158 RN and 148 wadcutters. Different crimp style or use the same?
4. Do i need different seating post styles fir RN vs WC?
5. Dies anyone have a photo or diagram as to how the safety cam is set up and works?  Also i think it's superfluous if I use the last position for a separate crimp die, correct?

Many many thanks in advance for help.

Rod

Greetings,

#1. You can seat and crimp in two operations. You will need to remove the hollow bushing under the shell plate and replace it with a solid bushing. If the tool head has a 3/8" hole at the last station, the only dies that will fit are Taper Crimp. If the tool head is threaded 11/16-24 at the last station, you have the option of taper crimp or roll crimp. To roll crimp buy a spare seating die and remove the seating stems.

#2 Taper Crimp is more forgiving of case length than roll crimp. Taper crimping works the mouth less and leads to longer case life.

#3 Crimp may vary with the bullet used. For WadCutter Taper Crimp is more common. I have two RCBS 158 RN moulds. One has a crimp groove, the other does not.

#4 In a perfect world, you would use a seating punch that matches the bullet. So, yes, two seating punches.

#5 I have five Stars and all the Safety Cams are in a drawer. With the crimping die at the last station it interferes with the operation. Caveat. I "think" Star offered a modified cam to allow crimping and the safety cam to function.

Call Bruce Williams at Star Machine Works. He will gladly answer all your questions.

Cheers,

Dave,  RCB

Hi Dave,
In addition to always being a model gentleman, you are hands down at the too of my list for cogent, coherent knowledge.

Thank you!
Rod

Ps, last station in the tool head is threaded,. Taper crimp it is.

I find that using the Chrome browser that the Star reloaders forum works fine, using Firefox, it says I am banned

See if the different browser works