I have a Star and love it. I would have stopped casting years ago if it were not for the Star. I use a heater. It seems to be what works best for me. I use White Label Red lube which requires heat but other lubes just move more smooth with heat. Of course, I live in the Northeast and usually size bullets in the colder months.
The Magma website has good videos http://www.magmaengineering.com/magma-star-lube-sizer/ .
As for a die, I have no complaints about the Star dies but you can get the same quality cheaper. Look over at this site http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?62874-Lathesmith-s-Star-dies for a guy named Lathesmith. I just got a .501 die from him last week. Keep in mind that when you order Star dies, the seller will want to know the lube spacing separation of the bullet that you are sizing. This is just the distance between the lube grooves. If you talk to Lathesmith, ask about the standard lube spacing (which I believe is three rows at .125 inches apart). You can always plug the holes that you do not use.
Consider sizing bullets nose first. It is my opinion that it is much easier.
If you have never used a Star sizer, be patient. It takes some time to set up but it is fast when set up right.
Mark

Creker has the most knowledge on the Star than anyone I know . He has his running wit the bullet feed as well I would direct any questions his way.

Having used and rebuilt several over the years, I will throw out a few rambling comments.

The Star is a great sizer, elegantly designed - no larger or stronger than it needs to be for its job. That is also its weakness, more later.

Get a heater - some lubes are impossible without one, other lubes are at least helped.

Since it is a push through, it doesn't work like a Saeco, for instance. The primary lube pressure is only to feed the piston that actually pumps the lube to the die and bullet at the very end of the stroke. Had one where the piston/casting interface was worn so bad the lube pumped out the back. Reamed the casting and made an oversize piston to solve.

Plug unwanted die lube holes with birdshot. Since the holes are counterbored, press the shot into the hole with a pair of pliers. The soft shot is easily removed with a proper sized drill spun by your fingers.

Like the others, size nose first. That means flat based punches which simplifies things.

Back to the weakness. If you are sizing, say, relatively soft 230gr RN 45acp bullets, the Star will be perfectly happy. However, if you are sizing 20+bhn hardcast 350gr 45 slugs.... you will likely at least bend the handle. It wasn't designed or intended for that amount of force. All three of mine had bent/missing handles and sheared fasteners. Have seen many pictures of Star sizers with screwdrivers for replacement handles - keep in mind that just transfers the force to the next weakest link. After rebuilding, I proceeded to stick a few hardcast slugs. (Remove the die and drill out the center of the bullet to give it room to collapse, then you can reinstall the die and push it out) As has been mentioned, if sizing is requiring a lot of force, at least run a pre-sized and lubed bullet through every few cycles to keep the die lubed. It helps a lot.

Ended up buying a Ballisticast. It is essentially a Star, uses the same dies, but everything is at least twice the size and mass. Had them side by side on the bench for a long time; if a bullet stuck in the Star, it was a simple matter to transfer the die to the Ballisticast and easily push it out. The Ballisticast is a *lot* bigger, which might be an issue for some. It really for heavy or hard sizing.

Neither the Star or the Ballisticast are suited for installing gaschecks, but it can be done manually before sizing. I usually use my Saeco to set the GCs and then size in the Ballisticast.

Now that the super hardcast craze has subsided, the Star will likely not see as much abuse and can go back to cranking out sized and lubed bullets like popcorn.

John K.

Chris Smith aka Lathesmith redgreen@cooldude.com

Congrats. Good info at Magma's site on setting the punch. As much as possible allow the pressure to do the work & no more heat than needed for the lube. Most have covered what you need to know.

Here's a couple of videos I've made. Maybe they will help.

https://youtu.be/3mvgdYC_mzg

https://www.facebook.com/575376242613174/videos/587281721422626/

https://www.facebook.com/575376242613174/videos/581695125314619/