Winchester or Starline Brass for 44 Mag?

salukijoe · August 21, 2002, 11:22 AM

My supply of Remington brass is going to be retired for mild loads only...need to order new for heavy loads. I can buy Winchester and Starline locally...is one better than the other? Winchester is a little more expensive by a few bucks for 500 but other than that......

Bacchus · August 21, 2002, 11:33 AM

I haven't heard anyone mention that one is better than the other. Lots of people like the Starline brass. I'd buy whichever is cheaper.

**Mal H** · August 21, 2002, 11:57 AM

Both are fine for any safe load you can concoct. I've found Starline to be more consistent especially in the flash hole area. If you decide on Starline, be sure to compare the local price with the price on their website. They pay shipping and there will no taxes added.

C.R.Sam · August 21, 2002, 01:53 PM

My findings coincide with Mal's.

If going with Starline, definately check factory delivered price. Usually cheaper to your door.

Sam

caz223 · August 22, 2002, 01:17 AM

For my money I'll take either starline, or remington.
I had some w-w brass, and it didn't impress me at all.

Johnny Guest · August 22, 2002, 10:36 AM

- - -But for the same money, I think the StarLine is a little better. Strong and uniform. Many local dealers buy big quantities of StarLine and bag it up in 100s. This is okay for just a few loads, but, if you can possibly afford it, order a thousand direct from StarLine. Excellent brass for a very reasonable price--Best of both worlds.

Best,
Johnny Guest

Ben Shepherd · August 24, 2002, 03:34 PM

Lots of playing around with heavy 44 mag loads over the last little while.

Test guns are 1 super redhawk, 1 redhawk, 1 super blackhawk.

In all three guns, without variation, starline held up the best by a small margin over winchester, with remington coming in a poor third by a fairly wide margin, usually around 1.5 grains less charge before non-linear velocity or excess pressure signs. Remington usually started blowing primers, nothing major or really dangerous, but deffinetly the end of the spectrum with these types of loadings.

Johnny Guest · August 25, 2002, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Remington usually started blowing primers, nothing major or really dangerous, but deffinetly the end of the spectrum with these types of loadings.

Unless this was heavily used brass, which you were torture testing, to see how many HOT loads you could fire in a given case, I believe you are into the "really dangerous" area. Either that, or some of your normally-high-quality Rugers have developed some SERIOUS problems.

I do understand that the point of your post goes to the relative merits of the different brands of brass. If you're blowing primers, either by piercing, or popping them out of the pockets, with Remington brass, then you're using up all your safety margin with ANY brand of .44 Mag cases.

I respectfully and STRONGLY suggest you stay well away from that level of loading. A bit of over-max experimentation is understandable, with strong guns, due care, and a strong dose of careful. I don't even mind seeing the earth shakers discussed on this forum, with appropriate bold face warnings. Your guns, your components, your eyes, your hands . . . . No one's telling you what you MUST do, but, please, do be careful.

Best,
Johnny Guest

C.R.Sam · August 25, 2002, 11:45 AM

I'll second what Johnny Guest just said.

Sam

Ben Shepherd · August 26, 2002, 06:12 PM

A little clarification on my part:

All but blown, top hatted very badly, no gas leakage or piercing.
Still just fall out of cylinder, base still within spec. when miced out.
Very simalar appearance in all three guns. Chrono gains still linear.

I have backed down, as I agree that I am at the end of safety margin.

Guns are expensive, fingers irreplacable.

Ben Shepherd · August 26, 2002, 06:17 PM

All new brass, same lot.
Only loaded heavy once.
Primer pocket still tight when I loaded them with plinker loads on second go round.

taco · August 28, 2002, 01:17 AM

I still have my first 1,000 starline 44 mag brass I purchased back about 10 years ago. First 2 loads in each brass were barn burner loads (preparing for Elk hunt) and then were used for mild range loads (240gr at 1,000-1,100fps). They have all been loaded over 10 times now and most were trimmed once or twice but not a single brass had gone bad yet.

I like them enough to buy 2,000 more since.

salukijoe · August 30, 2002, 11:50 AM

my Starline order has been shipped.

August 21, 2002, 11:22 AM	#1
salukijoe Member Join Date: March 22, 2001 Posts: 23	Winchester or Starline Brass for 44 Mag? My supply of Remington brass is going to be retired for mild loads only...need to order new for heavy loads. I can buy Winchester and Starline locally...is one better than the other? Winchester is a little more expensive by a few bucks for 500 but other than that......

August 22, 2002, 10:36 AM	#6
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	I've nothing against W-W brass - - - - - -But for the same money, I think the StarLine is a little better. Strong and uniform. Many local dealers buy big quantities of StarLine and bag it up in 100s. This is okay for just a few loads, but, if you can possibly afford it, order a thousand direct from StarLine. Excellent brass for a very reasonable price--Best of both worlds. Best, Johnny Guest

August 24, 2002, 03:34 PM	#7
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	Lots of playing around with heavy 44 mag loads over the last little while. Test guns are 1 super redhawk, 1 redhawk, 1 super blackhawk. In all three guns, without variation, starline held up the best by a small margin over winchester, with remington coming in a poor third by a fairly wide margin, usually around 1.5 grains less charge before non-linear velocity or excess pressure signs. Remington usually started blowing primers, nothing major or really dangerous, but deffinetly the end of the spectrum with these types of loadings. __________________ From my cold dead hands......... NRA certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor. Hunter education instructor

August 26, 2002, 06:12 PM	#10
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	A little clarification on my part: All but blown, top hatted very badly, no gas leakage or piercing. Still just fall out of cylinder, base still within spec. when miced out. Very simalar appearance in all three guns. Chrono gains still linear. I have backed down, as I agree that I am at the end of safety margin. Guns are expensive, fingers irreplacable. __________________ From my cold dead hands......... NRA certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor. Hunter education instructor

August 26, 2002, 06:17 PM	#11
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	All new brass, same lot. Only loaded heavy once. Primer pocket still tight when I loaded them with plinker loads on second go round. __________________ From my cold dead hands......... NRA certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor. Hunter education instructor

August 21, 2002, 11:33 AM	#2
Bacchus Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2001 Posts: 259	I haven't heard anyone mention that one is better than the other. Lots of people like the Starline brass. I'd buy whichever is cheaper.

August 21, 2002, 11:57 AM	#3
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,949	Both are fine for any safe load you can concoct. I've found Starline to be more consistent especially in the flash hole area. If you decide on Starline, be sure to compare the local price with the price on their website. They pay shipping and there will no taxes added.

August 21, 2002, 01:53 PM	#4
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	My findings coincide with Mal's. If going with Starline, definately check factory delivered price. Usually cheaper to your door. Sam

August 22, 2002, 01:17 AM	#5
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	For my money I'll take either starline, or remington. I had some w-w brass, and it didn't impress me at all.

August 25, 2002, 11:45 AM	#9
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	I'll second what Johnny Guest just said. Sam

August 28, 2002, 01:17 AM	#12
taco Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2000 Location: USA Posts: 936	Starline for me I still have my first 1,000 starline 44 mag brass I purchased back about 10 years ago. First 2 loads in each brass were barn burner loads (preparing for Elk hunt) and then were used for mild range loads (240gr at 1,000-1,100fps). They have all been loaded over 10 times now and most were trimmed once or twice but not a single brass had gone bad yet. I like them enough to buy 2,000 more since.

August 30, 2002, 11:50 AM	#13
salukijoe Member Join Date: March 22, 2001 Posts: 23	Thanks for the info - my Starline order has been shipped.