There's no need, but I think new reloaders are often well-served by minimizing the number of variables they are dealing with. I know many people reload mixed headstamp brass, but I would urge a new reloader to get their feet under them using only one headstamp (and a good one at that). Troubleshooting is made much harder when you don't know what inputs are responsible for the problems. Stuff that experienced reloaders navigate with sub-conscious competence can be a source of great consternation to the new reloader.
New reloader waiting for press to arrive, have brass question
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There's no need, but I think new reloaders are often well-served by minimizing the number of variables they are dealing with. I know many people reload mixed headstamp brass, but I would urge a new reloader to get their feet under them using only one headstamp (and a good one at that). Troubleshooting is made much harder when you don't know what inputs are responsible for the problems. Stuff that experienced reloaders navigate with sub-conscious competence can be a source of great consternation to the new reloader.
Your friend is an idiot.
I just picked up a handgun in a new caliber. .327 Fed Mag. I'm going to buy 500 Starline cases and be set for life. I also need to order some 10mm Starline brass.
Finding Starline brass in mixed range brass is like finding a gold nugget in your Sugar Babies.
I just picked up a handgun in a new caliber. .327 Fed Mag. I'm going to buy 500 Starline cases and be set for life. I also need to order some 10mm Starline brass.
Finding Starline brass in mixed range brass is like finding a gold nugget in your Sugar Babies.
1976B.L.Johns.
Member
Pretty much "ditto" to what most other posters have said, as I have *-* in 45 colt and 460 S&W. Good value and so far, so good.
[QUOTE="Toprudder, post:
I just wish the revolver guys would throw their brass on the ground like all the semi-auto guys do.
[/QUOTE]
Sometimes they do,but I have never found 44 Rem. Mag. or larger cases. I use those that I find with caution as I suspect that the cases were left on purpose or some non-loader/ kid does not know any better
[QUOTE="Toprudder, post:
I just wish the revolver guys would throw their brass on the ground like all the semi-auto guys do.
[/QUOTE]Sometimes they do,but I have never found 44 Rem. Mag. or larger cases. I use those that I find with caution as I suspect that the cases were left on purpose or some non-loader/ kid does not know any better
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
ATLDave is right, of course. However, my own stash includes several hundred same-headstamp .357 cases from factory ammo I shot. I agree with ATLDave that you should work with same headstamp brass, whether new or once-fired.
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WrongHanded
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I use Starline almost exclusively. It's been possible to find it on the floor in front on the fireline line at my range recently. But that's only because it's getting old enough now, that I'm kicking batches of it out of the booth.
I'm finally (after 7 or 8 loadings of .44 mag) starting to see cracks at the mouth. But it's served its purpose. I have 4 boxes (50 cartridges each) that I reload for range practice, and it's all getting old enough that rather than check each case carefully for wear, I'm just replacing it all. The .357 is at a similar point, with the same count of 200 pieces, and about the same number of reloads.
Early on I tried reloading some .44 Fiocchi brass, but it didn't run smoothly in the dies and never looked quite right. And I've also reloaded some other .357 brass, RP and Federal. The Federal was okay, but I remember having some issue with seating primers in the RP (I'm fuzzy on the details).
I'm finally (after 7 or 8 loadings of .44 mag) starting to see cracks at the mouth. But it's served its purpose. I have 4 boxes (50 cartridges each) that I reload for range practice, and it's all getting old enough that rather than check each case carefully for wear, I'm just replacing it all. The .357 is at a similar point, with the same count of 200 pieces, and about the same number of reloads.
Early on I tried reloading some .44 Fiocchi brass, but it didn't run smoothly in the dies and never looked quite right. And I've also reloaded some other .357 brass, RP and Federal. The Federal was okay, but I remember having some issue with seating primers in the RP (I'm fuzzy on the details).
Toprudder
Member
Pretty much "ditto" to what most other posters have said, as I have *-* in 45 colt and 460 S&W. Good value and so far, so good.
Toprudder said:I just wish the revolver guys would throw their brass on the ground like all the semi-auto guys do.
Sometimes they do,but I have never found 44 Rem. Mag. or larger cases. I use those that I find with caution as I suspect that the cases were left on purpose or some non-loader/ kid does not know any better
Well, I was speaking tongue-in-cheek, but still it does not happen often that I find 44mag, or even 357mag, on the ground at the range. Problem is, at the two ranges where I am a member, the shooters are supposed to sweep all their brass and dump them in the buckets, and once in the bucket the brass belongs to the range - off limits to scrounging. It doesn't make sense to throw your brass on the ground when you will have to pick it up anyway, so no revolver brass for Toprudder.
Sometimes I have been known to pick a lane next to someone based on what caliber they are shooting. Then I ask them if they are saving their brass. If not, I offer to take care of it for them.
Welcome to THR.
I'm another voice saying Starline is excellent brass.
As far as the "new" versus "used" question, manufacturing defects are likely to manifest on the first firing so the defective cases end up getting culled and never make it to the "used" population.
I'm another voice saying Starline is excellent brass.
As far as the "new" versus "used" question, manufacturing defects are likely to manifest on the first firing so the defective cases end up getting culled and never make it to the "used" population.
Sure. Although brass does have a finite life (which varies greatly by cartridge, how it was used, make, etc.), and it is generally pretty close to impossible to figure out how much "life" a used piece of brass has. Sometimes, people will claim to be selling "once fired" brass. Since brass lacks an odometer, that's a claim most people have no way of truthfully making, and literally nobody has a good way to verify. I think you have to treat "once fired" as a statement of previous events, not a quantitative representation.
A: "Is this brass you're selling 'once fired.'?"
B: "Yeah, I once fired it in a Glock 17. I also fired it once in a Glock 19. Once it was fired in a CZ. And, presumably it was once fired before I found it empty on the range."
I've found all of those, but only enough of the 38 special to use as a sole/primary source of brass. I have a small stash of brass I have accumulated in calibers I don't currently shoot/load, and a handful of each of those is in that stash (well, less than a handful of the .327). 45 Colt was plentiful for a little while when the Judge/Governor things got popular... now it's pretty rare again.
Glockula
Member
I have used starline for my top end .357 mag loads for 6 years now. A stiff charge of 2400, starline brass, hornady xtp and winchester spp.
I ordered 2000 pcs of once fired/nickel plated 38 brass from Midway a long time ago...
How long ago?
It was a phone order from a phone with a dial on it, no buttons, and the guy's name who answered the phone and took my order...Larry Potterfield
I'm still loading/shooting that same brass today
How long ago?
It was a phone order from a phone with a dial on it, no buttons, and the guy's name who answered the phone and took my order...Larry Potterfield
I'm still loading/shooting that same brass today
glc24
Member
Wing Rider, like you, I am still relatively new at reloading. I started in 2013 when I bought my first pistol. A Glock G 23.
I initially bought once fire. Specifically 1,000 Winchester nickel 40 S&W cases. Why nickel, I really don't know. I only loaded 500 and didn't pick up the spent cases. I was going to scrap the other 500, but decided I might as well load them and shoot them too, and leave the cases.
After I loaded up those first 500, I decided no more once fired. That was 2014, and it's been new Starline brass ever since, for both 40 S&W and 45 ACP. My FN FNXT has only had Starline brass used in it from day one. That was 2014.
Being everything is Starline, I won't be buying brass for quite a while.
I initially bought once fire. Specifically 1,000 Winchester nickel 40 S&W cases. Why nickel, I really don't know. I only loaded 500 and didn't pick up the spent cases. I was going to scrap the other 500, but decided I might as well load them and shoot them too, and leave the cases.
After I loaded up those first 500, I decided no more once fired. That was 2014, and it's been new Starline brass ever since, for both 40 S&W and 45 ACP. My FN FNXT has only had Starline brass used in it from day one. That was 2014.
Being everything is Starline, I won't be buying brass for quite a while.
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Average Joe
Member
Starline is good brass. Been using it for years.
sequins
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Starline is by far the thickest, and highest quality brass I've ever encountered. I load anything I find once-fired, but I splurged on a thousand pieces each of 44 and 357 since I know I won't lose it, and I absolutely love the stuff.
I recommend Starline to anyone. It's not just a good choice, its the best choice. Your friend must be confused about which brand he found thin walls on.
I recommend Starline to anyone. It's not just a good choice, its the best choice. Your friend must be confused about which brand he found thin walls on.
Wing Rider
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Wow! What can I say except thanks for all the responses. I had read all the reviews and starline seemed to be a very good brass but I just wanted to get the opinions on here. My thought was exactly as mentioned above, since I am new at reloading, I wanted to start with new brass that way I would eliminate as many issues at possible. I am pretty sure I will be ordering a batch of starline brass to start with and go with that. I went to a gun show day before yesterday and bought a pound of 2400 and CCI primers based on the Lyman reloading manual. Funny part is I have not gotten the brass, bullets or a press yet. Thanks again for all the responses.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Welcome to THR,
lots of great people here.
Now you have to buy the brass, bullet and press to use up that powder.
Once you have a handle on reloading, range brass is easy enough to use.
Not as much an issue with a revolver, since you can recover all your brass.
Semi autos like to throw it in the weeds, down squirrel holes, etc...
You need to be careful, I have heard of people buying guns, dies, and stuff to load brass they have picked up at the range so it does not go to waste.
lots of great people here.
Now you have to buy the brass, bullet and press to use up that powder.
Once you have a handle on reloading, range brass is easy enough to use.
Not as much an issue with a revolver, since you can recover all your brass.
Semi autos like to throw it in the weeds, down squirrel holes, etc...
You need to be careful, I have heard of people buying guns, dies, and stuff to load brass they have picked up at the range so it does not go to waste.
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
This right there! When specifically ammo manufacturers use it, it must be good. They can choose anything they want. Nothing wrong with new brass but it's expensive without need.
Welcome to THR.
Mowgli Terry
Member
My use of Starline brass is limited to three rifle cartridges and five handgun rounds. Actually, one caliber is custom made by stretching a rifle case making 45-110 brass from 45-100. In the years of use I have zero problems. My experience is the opposite of your friends. I'd suggest not getting into an argument until after he helps get you started.
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