Where the heck is all the brass?

[Potatohead]

Ive used once-fired-brass.com quite a few times. You may be looking for new brass though. My dealings w them have been pleasant.

 

[dickttx]

Get on the Notify Me list at Starline if you want new.
I have bought 1K of 38 Super and 1K of 45 ACP this year.
38 Super is cheaper new there than they want for used on Gunbroker.
I bought the 45 ACP within the past month. They notified me it was coming and I placed my order. Received it just a few days later.
Also, Starline shipping is included in the price.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have been haunting Starline but they only ever seem to have the obscure calibers like 38 S&W and 38-55 (which I've always wanted one) and the like.



I am already on their list for 327 fed mags as I have 500 ordered but don't no when they will get around to running them. The website says when they get enough orders but they are the only game in town for the .327s.

I always seem to miss the boat on midway and the other big suppliers. I haven't had any problem getting primers and powder as I already stated and Jake (Long Day Jake, Rocky Mountain Reloading) helped me out with the bullets for my pistol calibers and he seems to be well stocked now for the most popular pistol calibers.

Brass has been a real bite for me, always bad timing. I have thousands of 9mm and have a never ending supply for them. .357mag brass? Good God!
Again, thanks guys!

TT

 

[dickttx]

I was lucky a couple of years ago at a gun show. I happened on a table where a couple of guys were selling new old stock components. I bought 5k of CCI LPP for $100 that the box had 1992 penciled on it. While waiting to pay I saw a couple of sacks of new Starline 357 brass laying on the table (old stock too) priced at $10 each. I picked up one, thinking they were 50 in the sack. Gave the guy a $20 and while waiting for change I realized there were more than 50 in the sack so I quickly told him I would take the other sack too. I usually don't think that fast. I still feel good for getting new Starline for 10¢ each!!

 

[Swampman]

I feel for you regarding .357 Magnum availability!

None of my normal suppliers (the ground at local ranges) has carried it in quantity for YEARS.

Twenty five years ago you couldn't GIVE the stuff away, now it's scarce as hens teeth.

I blame the lack of good, modern revolvers with 15 to 19 shot cylinders. Criminals have become so tough since the 1980's that a weapon with less than 15 shots is obviously completely ineffective for serious defensive use.

 

[LiveLife]

If you are looking for 357 Mag brass, this is slightly cheaper than new at $26/100.

357 mag brass. Mixed head stamps $23.99 / 250 - http://www.americanspecialtyammo.com/handgun-brass.html

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Thanks for all the responses, I ordered enough to last me for a while. Remington brass, I never used it before but it won't be any worse than anyone else's today.
It use to be that I would have to trim new bulk brass to get it to maximum length after resizing it.

I've noticed lately that it doesn't make minimum trim length according to SAAMI specs or my loading manuals. It just keeps getting shorter and shorter.

Then to get a consistent crimp I have to trim them even shorter.

It's not just Winchester, it seems to be all brands.

How is new Starline brass as far as length of the cases go?

 

[FROGO207]

You must be buying that special combo 357/38SPL brass that MIGHT end up fitting either caliber firearm when you are done trimming it.

 

[LiveLife]

It use to be that I would have to trim new bulk brass to get it to maximum length after resizing it.

I've noticed lately that it doesn't make minimum trim length according to SAAMI specs or my loading manuals. It just keeps getting shorter and shorter.

How is new Starline brass as far as length of the cases go?

I just measured several handfuls of new unsized cases of 45LC brass I got from Starline this year and they averaged 1.276" - 1.278" with a few at 1.275".

Lyman #49's trim to length is 1.275".

 

[Wildbillz]

Use to be you could pick it up at the range pretty regular. Not so much any more. I had a buddy that use to tell me 9mm aint worth the effort to bend over and pick up. It sure was for a while there! In the last month or so I have started to see some brass left at the range again. With luck the old times will return.

WB

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I just measured several handfuls of new unsized cases of 45LC brass I got from Starline this year and they averaged 1.276" - 1.278" with a few at 1.275".

Good!

I will have to get on a notify list as suggested. My "hit and miss" approach isn't working so well these days.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I just received the Remington .357 mag brass that BDS pm me about and it has to be some of the nicest brass I have ever bought or even seen.

The flash holes are perfect, the over all length of this entire lot is all within a .003" window. (I can't believe that one).

I miked the wall thickness and it is the same a the Winchester, PMC, and Federal brass that I already have.

I am very happy with these.

Thanks everyone and especially BDS.

TT

 

[RealGun]

I have to say I haven't seen .357mag brass for over two years. Most all the popular caliber brass is non-existent.

Where the heck did it all go?

I an reminded of how the bazillion rounds ordered by fed agencies would have to tax the supply of components and raw materials. That is aside from the paranoia hoarding by lowly citizens.

Somehow I have accumulated 1000 new cases for .45 Colt, mostly Starline I think, the count of which is way more than I will likely use. I could be persuaded to share, but don't PM me if simply hoarding. Price would be fair but no steal.

I could probably spare an unopened bag of Winchester .357 Mag. Again, to those in need only. No bargains, no ripoffs.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Thanks for the offer Real Gun but I'm not in need anymore. .357mag brass seems to last a long, long time and if I didn't just buy 10k of primers I would have bought about 8 more bags of this Remington .357mag brass that I just received. I still can't believe the consistently of this stuff.

The last .357 mag brass I bought was in the 1990s and it was all over the place as far as trimming went. This stuff will be a breeze with all of it being a consistent .003"over max trim length. Big improvement over this crap I've been using.

Sweet!