Starline brass for SD loads?

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preacherJohn

preacherJohn

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Reading a recent article it was said that Starline brass is the best choice for self defense loads. Seeing how I have enough target loads now for the calibers I shoot most that will last me into another lifetime, I have decided to concentrate now more on loading and testing self defense loads for the 9mm and 45ACP. I've heard all the liability jazz about doing this and it's not of my concern. I'm looking at the time of if/when the crap really hits the fan, none of this would matter anyway. It was also quoted that the Starline brass has less volume (this is what I've read not tested), and loads that are already tried may need to be worked up again. So here's my question(s):

1. Have you tried Starline for this purpose; if so, what's your results or opinions about it?
2. What was your starting loads for 9mm or 45acp and what did you settle on for best results?
3. Which bullet(s) were best for SD loads (I just happen to have boot-loads of the Hornady XTP).
4. I'm looking for consistency and reliability across the board.

As for SD loads that grace my magazines now, HST is my first go-to ammo. Although I do have some Golden Sabre, and Hornady Critical Duty.

Sorry I haven't been a part of this forum for awhile guys, but I've been in some bad health for this past year and haven't really did much shooting during this time. I'm just now getting to the point where I can walk the stairs back to the basement where my reloading equipment is. Thanks in advance for your expertise and knowledge for these questions.
 
I've been loading SD loads since the days of the flying ashtray bullet.

However I'm now casting my own bullets. For .45 ACP, which is all I carry, I either use the Lyman Devastator bullet or this NOE bullet http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=41_367&products_id=2013

For the Devastator I've been using 5.3 gr Red Dot. Old school but it works. For the NOE bullet 6.9 gr Power Pistol. That's a load that is a handful in a LW Commander sized pistol so I'm still playing with that one.

I still have around 500 of the Hornady XTP from when I purchased a LnL and received 1000 free bullets. I feel that it's hard to beat a soft lead hollow point for expansion.

I haven't used Starline brass for this purpose as I have around 10 gallons of .45 ACP brass.
 
preacherJohn, I can't be of any help. As I have only minimal experience with Starline brass. I will be watching to see what experienced posters have to say.

I do know some of the reman ammo that I have seen use Starline. I think, IIRC, Underwood uses it too.

I hope your health improves this year.
 
I haven't used any of my Starline brass for SD loads yet, but I wouldn't hesitate to do so. I may actually end up doing just that in the near future as I need to make some 10mm HP ammo and Starline is the only decent brass I own in that caliber.
 
I can't understand why any new brass would be better for a specific purpose than another new, quality brass, unless it's Amerc. Every load I shoot a lot of has been worked up; for my 308 I use LC brass, reportedly smaller capacity, so I worked up loads with that brass. I also use Hornady brass and worked up loads with that brass. Same with handgun brass. My "hot" loads normally use the same headstamp brass. But many loads "cross over". So, if Starling brass has a smaller capacity, it won''t matter as each load is worked up in that brass. I have some "hot" loads of 200 gr LSWC over some CFE Pistol, in R-P brass for one of my SD loads. The same load may work with any other brass, but I haven't compared yet...
 
I use starline for my hunting loads in 10mm with xtp bullets. I don't carry them for sd, I carry ranger t at the moment in .40, and xtp wouldn't be my first choice but I wouldn't hesitate to use them if I needed to. Ive killed many whitetail which I figure is a good enough indicator for me. They always perform fine. If I carry it in the woods to hunt and defend against bear or coyote, I'd trust it for people too.
As far as the brass I'd use any new decent brass for sd if I loaded my own. Remington, hornady, starline, I wouldn't worry much about that. Amerc, armscorp, and nugent brass are the only brass I won't reuse
 
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I reload any brass that I can get my hands on so I have seen many brands. That said, the Starline is thicker walled than most (positively in 45Colt anyway) it seems and when new you do not have to trim it to get it all the same length. Other than it lasting longer (more reloading cycles) when reloading it there is little difference.The thicker neck might help with neck tension but unless you are using RP brass this is a moot point as well. SD loads are not reloaded as much as range ammo so the need for it lasting longer------??? I guess.:scrutiny: The only reason to use a specific head stamp would be to isolate it for a specific use or trim length like when using it in a revolver so as to get identical roll crimp results. I would remove and scrap those 9MM brass with an internal step just because 9MM is plentiful and I do not want to take the time to work up a different load so I can use the few cases i have of it.
 
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I will add, I just received and order of 500 357 mag. Starline brass. I decided this route of new brass to work on loads for a rifle.
 
The only experience I have with Starline brass is loading for .357 magnum. It is my go to brass for hot loads as well as medium to light loads. I have had nothing but good results with it. It can be a little tight when resizing the first time. No problem though. I have so much Speer.45 ACP brass that I have not had to buy any in a good while. I would definitely buy Starline brass in .45 ACP if I needed it or in any other caliber for that matter. If you do decide to use Starline purchase it from Starline. It is usually a better price and free shipping from them. As far as I know Starline only sells in 500 round packages. Graff and MBC sells it in a 100 round packages but it is a little higher that way and you must pay shipping. I hope this helps. Happy trails.
 
lckdnldd said:
The only experience I have with Starline brass is loading for .357 magnum. It is my go to brass for hot loads as well as medium to light loads. I have had nothing but good results with it. It can be a little tight when resizing the first time. No problem though. I have so much Speer.45 ACP brass that I have not had to buy any in a good while. I would definitely buy Starline brass in .45 ACP if I needed it or in any other caliber for that matter. If you do decide to use Starline purchase it from Starline. It is usually a better price and free shipping from them. As far as I know Starline only sells in 500 round packages. Graff and MBC sells it in a 100 round packages but it is a little higher that way and you must pay shipping. I hope this helps. Happy trails.
Click to expand...

They also sell in 1,000 rd packages, and at less cost per brass than 500.

https://www.starlinebrass.com/order-online/all-cases.cfm
 
preacherJohn said:
This is the article I was reading on the Starline brass: http://reloadingpresso.com/best-brass-for-reloading/
Click to expand...

I think you've over-interpreted the article. Also, there is no evidence in that article of testing all the different brands and what those tests might have consisted of. It's just that person's opinion, and other people will have different opinions, some based on data. For example, the article listed below found that Starline brass expanded the most compared to other brands when tested in 9 Major handloads. This contradicts your author's statement that Starline is generally stronger than other brands. Also, Starline is the only company I know of that says their 9mm brass should not be used in Shield pistols at near max or +P loads or in S&W 9mm revolvers.

https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/9MM-Luger-Brass/

https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2018/1/9/how-to-use-9-major-in-a-short-barrel/
 
I use Nickel plated for any self defense load in 45acp, 38, 357 and plain brass for my LC. They are pretty consistent from case to case for weight and the best I have seen for OAL out of the box. I use Speer Deep curls, Sierra JHP and 300 XTP Mags in the LC so I run the gammut. No issues ever with any components.
 
Just remembered; my "Just in case" ammo, 45 ACP and 9mm uses mixed brass. I worked the loads to safely use any mixed brass in any gun chambered for it. I've got roughly 2,200 rounds, "just in case"...
 
Everything is great when it's new and shiny... Starline is no different. As far as I'm concerned, Starline is just as good as any other brass out there... not better, and not necessarily worse. They put out a lot of crazy brass, so they have endeared themselves to reloaders, and for good reason.

I have not had very good service out of some of their pistol brass... granted, it's going on 20 years old, but I have other cases that are that old, too... and they aren't splitting like the Starline stuff is. My .38 brass, that was not loaded hot at all, was splitting after 4 and 5 loads.
 
I don't think brass brand makes much difference, as long as the brass is in good shape and only used once or twice.

One summer, I experimented with five or six different hollow points when developing my carry ammo. I found them all to be equally reliable in terms of expansion in water jugs, even the no-name gun show mystery bullets performed as expected.

In the end, I went with a 9mm 115-gr Winchester JHP loaded exactly the same as my 9mm competition and target ammo. Same recoil and same reliability as all my practice ammo, and the same powder charge and die settings. I kept it simple and convenient, despite the urge to overthink it.
 
I've always used mixed brass reloading and kept my target loads pretty mild. So I never had an issue with pressures of having to worry about the dreaded kaboom. I have on occasion separated certain brass to see how consistent they would group and shoot. But this whole idea came about as wanting to load up something a little hotter for self defense. I wasn't really interested in a habit of firing these rounds repeatedly, I just wanted something that would hold up to the pressures I may be loading these to. Once testing is over, they'll be loaded and stored. I just thought maybe a new brass such as Starline would be a good starting point on these SD rounds.
 
Starline actually IS some of the best brass you can buy. It's very consistent in every detail from lot to lot, and that's exactly what you want when you build SD ammo.

The one other feature you want is nickle plating to reduce the chance of exterior corrosion, especially if the ammo is stored in a leather bandolier or other "iffy" environment.
 
Walkalong said:
I can't see why it would be better for self defense that any other new quality brass.
Click to expand...
Neither can I.

I don't use much Starline Brass because I don't buy a lot of new brass but the Starline Brass I have used seems to be of very high quality.

I can't see any name brand brass being bad to use. I have used Remington, Federal, Winchester, Speer and a bunch if others without issues. I suggest you use the same headstamp when loading ammo for consistency but that's all I would do with any name brand brass.
 
Don't we have a number of threads about the in print community over hyping things?

I have lots of Starline 45 ACP brass and it is good stuff.
 
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