[Smoke Ratchet]

I'm thinking about ordering a couple hundred new pieces of brass. I have not bought any new stuff in the last 7 or 8 years. Does there seem to be any general consensus (at this time) as to the better quality of the three brands? I am especially interested in any information as to "case length" of the three different brands. Any experience or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time and attention ............ Smoke Ratchet

 

[22TallMn]

My preference is Starline as I have had good success with their brass. I cannot comment on case length but I am sure someone will come along shortly with some answers. Apparently there are some differences in case capacity between the various manufactures that is good to be aware of.

Starline sells their brass direct and can provide a nice savings. Here is their web site: http://www.starlinebrass.com/. When Starline shows a backorder situation I have found delivery to be very quick and not even close to what their backorder date claims.

Here is the link to case capacity: http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,80939.0.html

 

[rhendrix]

If I read this correctly and understand what I read, the Remington brass has a lower capacity indicating its brass has a thicker wall. Would this not be a safer brass to use and would endure more pressure? Being thicker walled and smaller capacity it would also mean a more concentration or compacting of the powder so would it create a greater pressure everything else being equal with the other brands of brass? Who makes the Hornady brass? I know it is shorter but what about the thickness of the walls of the brass? ??? ???

 

[riverhunter]

hey smoke!..well, i still use starline!..i found them thicker!.............yes, about the other post about remingtom, they have a smaller chamber.......larry

ps, is one of the old time posters from idaho still posting?? ..now there is a gent with some info!!..also coyote hunter??

 

[1895Gunner]

I've heard nothing but good stuff about Starline but the only cases from them that I have are 45 Colt. I've been reloading Hornady short cases and Winchester. I've gotten 12 reloads without any sign of failure on my Winchester 45/70 cases. Pretty sure that is close to the limit though. Have had to trim them repeatedly so I think I've about used up the case walls.......

 

[Crusty Deary Ol Coot]

Morn'in 45/70 shooters!

Ya might check over on the Cast Boolit forum.

In the "group buy" area, I saw - yesteday - a poster trying to get a 45/70 Starline brass group buy going.

Apparently there is a price increase coming SOON, so they are trying to be the increase.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

 

[Smoke Ratchet]

Maybe I should throw this into the mix: This new brass (which ever brand) will be used for 300 to 400 gr. cast bullets loaded over 5744 that will duplicate "black powder" velocities......

Smoke Ratchet

 

[rhendrix]

hey smoke!..well, i still use starline!..i found them thicker!.............yes, about the other post about remingtom, they have a smaller chamber.......larry

It appears from the data quoted that Winchester has the thinnest brass followed close by Starline with Remingto having the thickest brass unless there is another reason for the differences in the capacity of each.

 

[eaglesnest]

Maybe I should throw this into the mix: This new brass (which ever brand) will be used for 300 to 400 gr. cast bullets loaded over 5744 that will duplicate "black powder" velocities......

Smoke Ratchet

That is what I have been using in mine. I bought 100 Remington and 100 Starline and what I have found is I like the Starline better for one reason. The Remington brass has given me trouble when seating the bullet, in this case the bullet bulges the case neck out on one side whereas the Starline doesn't seem to do this. I have found a way to seat the bullets centered on the Remington cases but it is a bit of a hassle and involves not fully resizing the case with my Lee resizing die. I have had some say it is strictly cosmetic anyway and I can't argue, still I like the bulge to be uniform if at all possible.

Sounds like whatever you get, with the loads you are talking about it is going to last you quite a while..

 

[Crusty Deary Ol Coot]

eaglesnest,

I think you are correct in trying to not have an off sided bulge on your loaded ammo.

Maybe in the big picture you'll never see the difference in your shooting, but some shooters go to great lengths to make sure their cases are centered in the chamber before firing.

In fact, I am currently giving some thought to not or just barely sizing my cases before loading. Seems my chamber is nice and snug, giving no noticable bulging when fired and allowing a boolit to be reseated with a snug press fit.

Sooooooooooooo, seems reasonable to save some time, wear and tear on the brass and reload without sizing.

Bench rest shooters many times do it as a matter of course, but then their are working with tighter tolerences then most of us find in factory rifles.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

 

[eaglesnest]

eaglesnest,

I think you are correct in trying to not have an off sided bulge on your loaded ammo.

Maybe in the big picture you'll never see the difference in your shooting, but some shooters go to great lengths to make sure their cases are centered in the chamber before firing.

In fact, I am currently giving some thought to not or just barely sizing my cases before loading. Seems my chamber is nice and snug, giving no noticable bulging when fired and allowing a boolit to be reseated with a snug press fit.

Sooooooooooooo, seems reasonable to save some time, wear and tear on the brass and reload without sizing.

Bench rest shooters many times do it as a matter of course, but then their are working with tighter tolerences then most of us find in factory rifles.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

It took me a while but I realized that you can't neck size (with a regular resizing die) a 45/70 case like you can a 44 mag or 45 Colt because the 45/70 is slightly cone shaped. As you back the resizing die off it simply resizes the entire case less and less whereas with the straight walled 45 Colt you can back it way off and still get a full neck sizing. I started resizing the 45/70 with 3 turns from contact with the shellholder which seems about right for my Remington brass to not bulge off center. I suppose if I ever get another 45/70 I may have to resize more, but with just one it works well!

 

[Crusty Deary Ol Coot]

Your probably correct.

I saw on another post that there was a neck sizing die, but haven't looked for it.

Currently my chamber is so close that a new/unfired boolit does not fall down the neck like I have seen with most rifles. In fact, it takes a fair amount of hand pressure to push a boolit into the neck.

This is with Starline brass, and it is possibly it could be a totally different picture with other brass.

Anyway, it seems like it is worth while to give reloading unsized brass in my rifle/chamber.

Time will tell if this is a good idea or not.

Using a single shot, I won't have recoil or feeding issues, so that seems like it might up my chance of pulling it off.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

 

[rhendrix]

That is what I have been using in mine. I bought 100 Remington and 100 Starline and what I have found is I like the Starline better for one reason. The Remington brass has given me trouble when seating the bullet, in this case the bullet bulges the case neck out on one side whereas the Starline doesn't seem to do this. I have found a way to seat the bullets centered on the Remington cases but it is a bit of a hassle and involves not fully resizing the case with my Lee resizing die. I have had some say it is strictly cosmetic anyway and I can't argue, still I like the bulge to be uniform if at all possible.

Sounds like whatever you get, with the loads you are talking about it is going to last you quite a while..

Would that be because the Remington brass has thicker walls than does the Starlin? I am asking all these questions because I am about to get into reloading and I am trying to learn from all this knowledge you guys have. It will save me a lot of time getting a head start with you knowledge.

 

[Rowdy]

My problem with using *---* is they do not do a final anneal after case forming. If you go to their site, you’ll see they recommend annealing 45/70 brass so you don’t get blow-by for lower pressure 45/70 loadings like trapdoor… I'm kind of a lazy bum and don't want to mess with the brass...

Remington – about the same, they to cheap to anneal and skip it.

Win – I just got 100 but have not yet fired any.

They are all about 2.10”…I believe the only short brass you’ll find is the Hornady 325gr EV…

 

[Smoke Ratchet]

Thanks much, to all who replied. I appreciate your thoughts.

I have decided to order the Starline. I have about 200 of their cases in .40-65 that I bought some years back when they first made it available. It has served me well. Up to know, I have only used Win and Rem in the .45-70. The savings with buying Starline is substantial.

Thanks again everyone ..... Smoke Ratchet

 

[moonbat60]

I alsoi use mostly Starline. Good stuff at moderate prices.



Pete

 

[eaglesnest]

Would that be because the Remington brass has thicker walls than does the Starlin? I am asking all these questions because I am about to get into reloading and I am trying to learn from all this knowledge you guys have. It will save me a lot of time getting a head start with you knowledge.

It could be the thickness, or maybe like Rowdy mentioned, something about the annealing or rather lack of. I read somewhere that if there are imperfections in the brass that will make some parts of the brass softer (or weaker) and thus will give in that spot. Then again I know there is also an issue with my Lee dies and the shape of the 350 Laser Cast which tended to grip the bullet on seating and didn't let it float, thus if the bullet was slightly crooked the die held it that way all the way seated. It is really hard to tell, all I know is my Remington brass does it and my Starline don't. I did find a way minimize it, by instead of seating the bullet all in one thrust, to tap the lever it a bit, turn the case and tap some more. This doesn't always work but mostly it does, that and less resizing I think you need to be part scientist, part detective to get really good at handloading. I've only been at it a year so I am not the best source of info. I do learn a lot reading the posts in the reloading section of MO. Some of those people have forgotten more than I will ever know!

 

[sparky141]

Wideners has Starline 45-70 brass right now $20 for 50 . I think I'm going to order some on Monday.

 

[Crusty Deary Ol Coot]

I just checked Buffalo Arms Co. -- www.Buffaloarms.com -- and they currently have the following prices on Starline brass ------------------

$.47 each
$42.00 per 100
$103.00 per 250
$201.00 per 500

So the Wideners price is pretty good.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Wideners is hard to beat...they get a lot of my $$$ (they are only a 30 minute drive for me...no shipping charges or haz-mat fees)