If the clearance between the flat machined on the ratchet stem more closely matched the flat in the cylinder well, there would be less rotational play.
I have one SP that has excessive play, because the stem is a poor fit to the well, and times will not re-seat on the pins, because the holes no longer match up with the pins. A slight tap clock- or counter-clockwise then seats it. The act of loading rounds would accomplish the same thing, but this particular SP does not get the nod for carry duty.
Up to about 6 months ago, the holes drilled in the star were often quite a bit off, nearly touching an edge...there are photos of such poorly fit stars here in this forum. That may have been because the holes/pins in the cylinder were poorly located in the first place...misdrill the cylinder and now you have to misdrill the star to ensure correct timing!
I believe the new method is another cost-cutting measure, and maybe an attempt to improve quality, wherein they don't have to drill four holes (two in the star, two in the cylinder) and insert two pins. However, excessive rotational play, when the star is seated, is now ENTIRELY dependent on how small the clearances are between the star's arms and the cylinder cutout.
However, you've now lost the somewhat self-centering effect of the round pin ends (in effect cones) entering the cylindrical holes in the star.
For sure, (another) test before buying a new SP with this new star is to push the ejector rod all the way down, hold it, and rotate the star clock- and counter-clockwise to see how much rotational play exists...then let it seat, make sure it seats on its own, and see how much play exists when seated.
I have one SP that has excessive play, because the stem is a poor fit to the well, and times will not re-seat on the pins, because the holes no longer match up with the pins. A slight tap clock- or counter-clockwise then seats it. The act of loading rounds would accomplish the same thing, but this particular SP does not get the nod for carry duty.
Up to about 6 months ago, the holes drilled in the star were often quite a bit off, nearly touching an edge...there are photos of such poorly fit stars here in this forum. That may have been because the holes/pins in the cylinder were poorly located in the first place...misdrill the cylinder and now you have to misdrill the star to ensure correct timing!
I believe the new method is another cost-cutting measure, and maybe an attempt to improve quality, wherein they don't have to drill four holes (two in the star, two in the cylinder) and insert two pins. However, excessive rotational play, when the star is seated, is now ENTIRELY dependent on how small the clearances are between the star's arms and the cylinder cutout.
However, you've now lost the somewhat self-centering effect of the round pin ends (in effect cones) entering the cylindrical holes in the star.
For sure, (another) test before buying a new SP with this new star is to push the ejector rod all the way down, hold it, and rotate the star clock- and counter-clockwise to see how much rotational play exists...then let it seat, make sure it seats on its own, and see how much play exists when seated.
...but which they're also starting to correct themselves on. 
