STARLINE VS ALL OTHERS...

Ol Gabe · September 20, 2005, 10:28:59 AM

Had a fellow shooter tell me over the weekend that Starline Brass needs annealing and most others don't. The discussion came up when 45-70 loads in Starline Brass indicated 'blowback', i.e. a Barbershop pole type of streaking on the brass right after discharging. Seems that an improperly packed load will do this in Starline until its been annealled. hadn't read or heard that before, anyone else hear of this? Interested in all comments and suggestions.
Best regards and good loading!
'Ol Gabe

Cuts Crooked · September 20, 2005, 10:44:18 AM

Howdy Gabe,

I don't use Starline brass...it is the hardest brass out there...however I DO anneal! I've found that Remington brass gives me a lot of blow back, especially in my .45 Colts. I have taken to annealing all of my .45 Colt brass and 38 Special brass too, in order to cut down on blow back into the actions of my lever guns.

I also use only Winchester in 45-70 to avoid blowback. I don't like to anneal 45-70 because I'm looking fer extreme precision and I have no way evenly and perfectly apply heat to the cases. This is not as critical in the pistol calibers so I don't worry about it there, but when yer trying to achieve MOA in a big case like the 45-70 absolute perfection is what yer after and without a dedicated lab like set up you can't reach it with a LP torch.

If you are wanting the softest 45-70 brass out there, look for Winchester with the WW headstamp. Don't try the stuff witht eh full word WINCHESTER on the case head, it is a good bit harder than the WW stuff. I don't know why, but it is.

Howdy Doody · September 20, 2005, 11:26:04 AM

Cuts nailed it. Starline is tough brass. I only use winchester brass for long range too. When loading range brass for 45lc and 38spl on my Dillon, I can feel the extra tug it takes to size/deprime a Starline case. I am not hammering Starline at all. In fact I have yet to split one of their cases. The thing is that being thicker the case doesn't swell out into my chambers and help seal like the thinner softer brass does and therefore the starline does tend to allow blowback. That is my findings in my 38-55 and 45-70. I love the stuff in pistols and main match rifles though.
While we are on brass. Anyone have any experience with Top Brass?

john boy · September 20, 2005, 05:56:07 PM

QuoteI don't like to anneal 45-70 because I'm looking fer extreme precision and I have no way evenly and perfectly apply heat to the cases.

Cuts: May want to try this for even heat distribution during annealing ...

McMaster-Carr 650 degree crayon
Put a crayon line 1/3 distance down from the case mouth
Heat the lead in your casting pot up to 650 degrees (use a thermometer)
Dip the case half way in motor oil
Dunk the case mouth in the lead and when the crayon changes color...
Quickly throw the case in a bucket of ice water

Lou Graham · September 20, 2005, 06:53:02 PM

I use Starline for everything -- main match, 45-70, 30-30 and even .45 ACP for Wild Bunch. No blowback problems for me, but Wonnerful Hubby's loads spit sumthin' awful.

I used his ammo and rifle for WB last Sunday and I had little black specks all over my face. I'm cleaner shootin' my BP loads than after using his smokeless ones

Cuts Crooked · September 21, 2005, 07:57:04 AM

Thanx fer the info John Boy! Hoiwever I think I'll stick with the WW brass fer 45-70. It's too easy!

BTW, I happen to really like Starline brand! It's top notch stuff....jist not fer Black Powder.

john boy · September 21, 2005, 01:29:28 PM

Cuts: I like them 45-70 Starline's too. Have 200 of them and about 50 cases that have been shot 10 times with no annealing. The one major issue with these cases is that Starline does not extrude them to 2.10. Usually new cases are in the 2.085 to 2.090 range. After shooting them several times, they shrink down to the 2.075 range.

On the other hand, new W-W's out of the bag mic out at 2.10 to 2.105. The true case length and thinner wall thickness produce tighter patterns for me shooting BP

Standpat Steve · September 22, 2005, 12:52:37 AM

There is what I thought was a very interesting article in the current SHOOT Magazine (July/August 2005) on the making of Top Brass cases, and the way they are annealed by the induction heating method at the factory.

Steel Horse Bailey · September 22, 2005, 06:15:29 PM

Howdy!

Last I heard, like others have said regarding how tough Starline brass is, is because they make their cases to military specs; even the non- military calibers.

I, too have never split a Starline case or even seen one that was split.

Loading them (technically) to the same specs as you would other cases, you get slightly higher pressures and velocities due to the slightly reduced case capacity. Same as with Mil. brass. I'll bet that it would take a chronograph and a pressure gage to tell the difference, tho.

Wes Virginian · September 22, 2005, 07:01:20 PM

I've used Starline brass from the get go! Haven't found any reason to change.

Old Top · September 23, 2005, 01:30:06 AM

Good evening All,

I have split a few of the starline, but I am shooting 44-40 and the neck gets quite a workout so it can be done but over all I have had good success with the starline, nothing but bad luck with the CBC brand and I am still experimenting with Winchester and Remington.

Old Top