Rifle brass - Starline vs Hornady

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rbernie

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Assuming that the choice was restricted to these two - which should I choose, and why? I've used both in the past for basic hunting loads, and not ever had reason to be cranky about either for my reasonably non-critical use. Is there something that would lead me to favor one over t'other?
 
Who makes Hornady brass? There are a number of brass makers, does Hornady own a facility or buy from manufacturers?

I have used a lot of Starline pistol brass, and picked up a fair number of Hornady rifle cases. Based on my Starline pistol experiences, I would not hesitate to buy Starline rifle brass, and the Hornady cases were good. All depends on the price. I would buy the least expensive, but all things being equal, I would buy Starline because they stamp their name on the brass and I know they are a cartridge brass maker.
 
I use Starline when buying. If I had started with Hornady, then I would stay with Hornady. Limit mixing headstamps. Pickup brass for practice and plinking is different. Not trying to limit component changes.
 
Starline is excellent brass and costs less than Hornady.
A good friend of mine has known Robert Hayden, one of Starline's owners, for years and says he is a great guy.
He also happens to be into running retrievers in field trials and we all know how cool those guys are:cool:.
I have not been there yet but he hosts field trials in the spring and fall near Sedalia Mo. I hear he provides a nice dinner party on his dime.
Nothing to do with the brass of course but it's nice to know when you're doing business with good people.
 
I have found Hornady to be short very short in some cases.
Also seems softer I get stretch rings with Hornady .
Not used much Starline rifle brass.
I have and do use lots of starline pistol it's always very good. So I would try Starline rifle
 
In my not professional, highly unscientific opinion, Starline just feels right.:thumbup:
They always have what I need. Valkyrie to Bushmaster, Thirty Two A.C.P. to Fifty A.E.
I find I am not needing a great bulk of brass lately, its worth it to buy better.


However. They don't call Lapua "the Cadillac of cases" for nothing...:D
 
Good question.

I use quite a bit of both, and have found neither lacking. Supposedly Hornady brass is less consistent than some other brands, but I've not found that to be true. I have had more issues with necks cracking on the second or third firing with Hornady, but most of that was factory loaded ammo.

I buy which ever is cheaper,.and the only brass I actively avoid is federal, as. I've had primer pockets stretch out on much less firings than other brands.
 
Never really had any bad hornady brass. Used there 243 brass a good amount. It is softer the normal, but not as much as some federal or even norma brass. I think hornadys brass is very over price.
 
Honestly, I haven't used much Hornady rifle brass and no Starline rifle brass. I have lots of Starline pistol brass (.357, .44 spl and mag, .45 Colt) and some once-fired Hornady rifle brass saved from shooting Hornady ammo. I haven't bought either brand of rifle brass; I'm just curious about the bases for opinion one way or the other. As I said in my first post in this thread, if I were buying for general use, I'd buy whichever was cheaper. If buying for a "mission critical" application, I probably wouldn't buy either one.

I've heard the same thing LoonWulf said about Federal shooting loose, although I have not yet experienced that. I have also heard that the rod used in the RCBS crimp swaging tool will tighten a loose primer pocket. I hope to have opportunity to test that at some point.
 
Good question.

I use quite a bit of both, and have found neither lacking. Supposedly Hornady brass is less consistent than some other brands, but I've not found that to be true. I have had more issues with necks cracking on the second or third firing with Hornady, but most of that was factory loaded ammo.

I buy which ever is cheaper,.and the only brass I actively avoid is federal, as. I've had primer pockets stretch out on much less firings than other brands.
There is a difference in Hornady factory and Hornady brass for reloading. Factory brass has looser primer pockets in my experience.
I was down on Hornady about their brass for a few years until I was forced to buy some because it was all I could find.
 
In another thread I ran some measurements on Starline brass, here are my Starline results for their .556 brass:

Test Equipment:

- Mitutoyo 115-313 ball anvil micrometer
- Mitutoyo 500-196-30 digital calipers
- My Weigh GemPro 250 digital scale

(Sample of 75, 25 unique pieces)
Average Neck Wall Thickness: 0.0132"
SD Neck Wall Thickness: 0.0004"
ES Neck Wall Thickness: 0.002"

(Sample of 25)
Average Weight: 100.22gn
SD Weight: 0.22gn
ES Weight: 0.88gn

(Sample of 25)
Average Length: 1.7489"
SD Length: 0.0016"
ES Length: 0.006"
 
In another thread I ran some measurements on Starline brass, here are my Starline results for their .556 brass:

Test Equipment:

- Mitutoyo 115-313 ball anvil micrometer
- Mitutoyo 500-196-30 digital calipers
- My Weigh GemPro 250 digital scale

(Sample of 75, 25 unique pieces)
Average Neck Wall Thickness: 0.0132"
SD Neck Wall Thickness: 0.0004"
ES Neck Wall Thickness: 0.002"

(Sample of 25)
Average Weight: 100.22gn
SD Weight: 0.22gn
ES Weight: 0.88gn

(Sample of 25)
Average Length: 1.7489"
SD Length: 0.0016"
ES Length: 0.006"
Not bad
 
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